starting plants from cuttings?

Easy one! When you use a fresh pineapple, cut the top off leaving a small amount of the fruit...stick this in dirt, keep damp and a new plant will grow out the TOP of the green area. Carrots will often do the same thing. Beets, potato, sweet potato (not a real potato), celery will reroot if kept damp and in dirt.

Mostly agree with Gold...cut off the bottom portion of cellery about 2" long and place in clear container of water...same for carrot.

Pineapple, remove several of the lower leaves and place in damp soil, covering the bare stem where leaves were.

Potato pieces with eyes will grow planted directly in soil - keep moist.

Basil roots in water.

Plant apple, orange, lime, lemon seeds...in potting soil, be sure the pot has drain holes...even bell pepper, chili...seeds will sprout.

Dried beans will germinate and grow.

Fun project!

We would every now and then impale an avocado seed with three toothpicks (avocado seed being longest vertical) horizontally. Place in glass of water (toothpicks rest on rim of glass). Seed will root and can be planted in soil if you wish. Seeds of all kinds are interesting to watch. Smaller seeds placed on a wet paper towel (placed in container so as to be kept damp) germinate and will grow leaves. Also try bamboo. Thank you for interacting with children. You are training them in a very honorable and interesting endeavor. Gardening...Search out garden clubs in your area. They will have ideas and want to help.

The only plants that will grow from cutting as you say are potatoes and sweet potatoes. For other fruits this will not work as the fruit of a plant does not contain meristem tissue. Meristem tissue is where growth occurs and is found in roots and stems of plants.