How plants live and grow

For grown-ups: this lesson in words

Years 3 to 6 · Science

How plants live and grow: I can explain what each part of a plant does, what plants need, how water moves up and how flowers make seeds.

1. Here is a flowering plant. Its roots spread under the soil. They hold the plant firm and take in water and nutrients.

   The stem holds the plant up. It carries water from the roots to the leaves and the flower.

   The leaves use light, air and water to make food for the whole plant.

   The flower makes seeds, so that new plants can grow.

   Picture: A drawing of a flowering plant growing in soil. Labels: roots, stem, leaf and flower.

2. Your turn: A tree is a plant too. Its trunk is ringed. The trunk is the tree's thick, woody stem. What job does the trunk do?

   Picture: A drawing of a tree. It has wide, flat green parts and a round top. There is a ring round the thick wooden part going up from the ground.

   Choose one:

   • It holds the tree up and carries water to the leaves.
   • It makes seeds, so new trees can grow.
   • It takes in water from the soil.

   Answer

   The answer: It holds the tree up and carries water to the leaves.

   The trunk holds the tree up and carries water from the roots to the branches and leaves.

   Picture: A drawing of a tree. It has wide flat leaves and a round top. Labels: roots, trunk, branch and leaves. The trunk is ringed.

3. To live and grow, a plant needs five things.

   Its leaves need light and air. Air is all around us, even inside a balloon. Leaves use them with water to make food.

   Water and nutrients come from the soil. Nutrients are minerals that keep a plant healthy.

   A plant also needs room to grow. With space around it, it does not have to share its light, water and nutrients.

   Picture: Sorting into 3 groups: For the leaves, From the soil, Around the plant. For the leaves: Light (sun), Air (balloon). From the soil: Water (raindrop), Nutrients (pile of soil). Around the plant: Room to grow (seedling).