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Plant parts

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visibility 129update 6 months agobookmarkshare

This Topic is About...

I will say what the leaf, flower, stem, and root of a plant do.
I will make a model of a plant.
I will draw some plant roots.
I will do some research about leaves.
I will stay safe while doing practical work.

You’re going to be a science explorer!

Key Words

absorb
allergic
transported

Tap to Learn the Meanings!

absorb: To take in or soak up a substance, like water into a sponge.
allergic: Having a bad reaction to something, such as pollen or certain foods.
transported: Carried or moved from one place to another.

Great job! You’re learning useful science vocabulary.

Roots, stems, leaves and flowers

Some plants are very small and some are very big. Most plants begin life as seeds which then grow.

Diagram showing the parts of a plant including roots, stem, leaves, and flowers — Parts of a plant: roots anchor the plant, the stem supports it, leaves make food, and flowers are for reproduction.

Look at the diagrams below to see what each plant part does.

Diagrams showing what plant parts do: leaves make food, flowers make seeds, stems hold the plant up, roots absorb water

All parts of the plant need water. Without water the plant will die.

The roots hold the plant down. They also absorb water by taking it in from the soil. The water is then moved or transported up the stem to all parts of the plant.

We can eat parts of some plants

Some plant parts are safe for people to eat. Some parts can be poisonous. The safe leaves, roots, stems and fruit are very good for you. We only ever eat safe plant parts. Which plant parts here are safe to eat?

Never eat parts of wild plants you find. Always check that plant parts are safe and clean before you eat them.

Different fruits and vegetables that show edible plant parts

FUN QUESTION

1. Do you know a plant or plant part that is dangerous to eat?

Show answer

Yes! Some plants or parts of plants are poisonous. For example, oleander and nightshade berries are dangerous to eat. Even the seeds of apples contain tiny amounts of poison, so they should not be eaten in large amounts.

Let’s Investigate!

Topic: Learning about leaves

You will need: Books about plants, the internet, some leaves

Do not eat plants that you find.
Wash your hands after touching any plants.
Tell your teacher if you are allergic to any plants.

Marcus is asking some great questions about leaves:

Why do some leaves fall each year?
Which is the biggest leaf?
Are all leaves green?
Is the top of a leaf the same as the bottom?

Method:

Look closely at different kinds of leaves.
Talk to a friend and think of new questions you have about leaves.
Use books and safe internet searches to find answers.
Always take care on the internet. Use your school’s safe systems.
Make a poster showing what you discovered.

This was a research enquiry because you were finding information from different sources.

How am I doing?

Pretend a friend is a plant. Use paper labels to mark their feet as roots.
Add more labels for the stem, leaves, and flower.
Explain what each part does.

Tap to See Example Answers

Why leaves fall: Some trees drop leaves in autumn to save water and survive winter.
Biggest leaf: Banana leaves or giant water lily leaves are among the biggest.
Are all leaves green? No—some have red, yellow or purple pigments.
Leaf surfaces: The top is usually smoother and collects sunlight; the bottom often has more stomata.

Great thinking! You explored real scientific questions by researching and observing leaves.

QUICK REVIEW

Today we learned what the leaf, flower, stem, and root do in a plant. We made models and drawings to show how plants work and used books and the internet to research leaves. We also practiced working safely during practical activities. Fantastic work exploring how plants grow and function!