Projekt Globální vzdělávání pro UR reg. č. CZ.1.07/1.1.00/14.0143
Work sheet
Science
Plants
Plant Basics
If you're not a microbe and you're not an animal, chances are you are a plant. There are loads of
species of plants on Earth. Just as there is a system of classification for animals, there is also a system
of classification for plants. Because plants adapt so well to any climate, scientists need a way to
organize the hundreds of thousands of species.
What Makes a Plant?
What do they all have in common? The big thing that connects plants is photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis is the process that allows plants to take energy from the Sun and create sugars. Not all
plants go through the process of photosynthesis. As with all of biology, there are exceptions and you
may learn about plant species that are parasites. Plants also have cell walls. In the cells tutorials we
explained that all cells have a membrane. Only plants have an additional cell wall made from cellulose.
Let's look at photosynthesis. Plants are able to turn sunlight into energy but not directly. Plants are
actually able to store energy in some chemical bonds that can be used later. Before we get into
details, we'll explain that there are two processes on Earth: Photosynthesis and Respiration.
Photosynthesis stores the energy and respiration releases that energy. It all starts with the Sun. Check
out the tutorial on photosynthesis.
Learning from Plants
Not only do you see plants everywhere in the real world, but they are also all over the scientific world.
Scientists use them for studies in genetics. A guy named Gregor Mendel used pea pods and their
flowers to come up with some of the first ideas on how traits are passed from one generation of
organism to another (genetics). We also use plants for food. Scientists are constantly developing new
plants that are more resistant to disease and insects. Scientists also help create plants that grow faster
and make more food.
Assignments:
1. Work in pairs.
2. Read the whole text carefully. Look up the new words in the dictionary. Put down the new
words to your dictionary.
3. Read the first paragraph once again. One of you will put the questions, so that the second one
will give the answers based on the text.
4. Read the second paragraph and exchange the roles.
5. Keep questioning till the end of the text.
6. Think of new sentences using new vocabulary. Ask your partner to add the missing words.
Sources:
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http://www.biology4kids.com/files/plants_main.html
http://blog.healthkismet.com/
Gymnázium Globe, s.r.o.