8
Flashy Plant
Parts
Activity 2
Summary: To learn
about plant parts and their functions
through the use of “lash” cards.
Materials: Flash cards, pencil,
drawing materials and notebook
(botany journal)
Location: Indoors
Time Required: 40 minutes
Background Information
Plant Parts and Function
Plants are made up of different parts. Each part has a certain job. These parts can also help us to identify plants.
Roots: Help provide support by anchoring the plant and
absorbing water and nutrients needed for growth. They can
also store sugars and carbohydrates the plant uses to carry out
other functions. Plants can have either a taproot system (such
as carrots) or a ibrous root system (such as turf grass).
Stems: Carry water and nutrients taken up by the roots to
the leaves, and then the food produced by the leaves moves to
other parts of the plant. The cells that do this work are called
the xylem cells (move water) and phloem cells (move food).
Stems also provide support for the plant allowing the leaves to
reach the sunlight they need to produce food.
Leaves: Are the food making factories of green plants. Leaves
come in many different shapes and sizes. Leaves are made to
catch light and have openings to allow water and air to come
and go.
Curriculum
Links
100-28
identify and describe
parts of plants and
their general function
203-2
identify common
objects and events,
using terminology
and
language that others
understand
203-5
identify and suggest
explanations and
discrepancies in the
growth rate of similar
plants grown in vary
ing conditions
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Leaves: Leaves are the site of the food making process called photosynthesis. In this
process, carbon dioxide and water in the presence of chlorophyll (the green pigment)
and light energy are changed into glucose (a sugar). This energy rich sugar is the source
of food used by most plants. Photosynthesis is special to green plants! It supplies food
for the plant and oxygen for other forms of life.
Flowers: Flowers not only look pretty but, in fact, are important in making seeds. Flowers have some basic parts. The female part is the pistil. The pistil usually is located in the
center of the lower and is made up of three parts. The male parts are called stamens
and usually surround the pistil. The stamen is made up of two parts. During the process
of fertilization, pollen lands on the stigma, a tube grows down the style and enters the
ovary. Male reproductive cells travel down the tube and join with the ovule, fertilizing
it. The fertilized ovule becomes the seed, and the ovary becomes the fruit.
Fruit: The fruit is the ripened ovary of a plant containing the seeds. After fertilization,
the ovary swells and becomes either leshy or hard and dry to protect the developing
seeds. Many fruits help seeds spread (like those of the maple tree). Many things we call
vegetables are really fruits (tomato, cucumber, beans).
Seed: A packaged little plant with food around it (endosperm) and a covering protecting it (seed coat).
Trunk: The part of the tree that is between the roots and the branches, consisting of
wood on the inside and bark on the outside. Only trees have a trunk.
Bark: The protective and generally rough outside covering of the trunk. Only woody
plants have bark (trees and shrubs).
activity
1. Review the background information and divide the class into smaller groups that
will work well together.
2. Distribute the plant “lash” cards and appoint a tester for each group. The tester
is the person responsible for quizzing students with the cards. Both sides of the
cards will be used for the person being tested (one side with diagram to be identiied and the other with function to be identiied). This part of the activity will last
less than 10 minutes and is a fun way to review the plant parts and functions.
3. Have students take out their writing and drawing materials and notebook
(botany journal). Draw the following ive plants that are found in the Grand
Lake Meadows on the blackboard for the students to copy and add color to. Alternatively, photocopy the student worksheets, making one for each student.
4. Have students label the plant parts for each of the selected plants and write what
the plant parts are for.
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Silver Maple Tree
Ostrich Fern (Fiddlehead)
Spotted Jewelweed
Watershield
Coon-tail
Flower
Flower
Fruit
Flower
Fruit
Fruit
(Caulilower head)
(Apple)
(Hot Pepper)
(Broccoli head)
(Rose)
(Cucumber)
Fruit
Fruit
Fruit
Fruit
(Tomato)
(Zucchini)
Leaf
(American Elm)
(Sweet pepper)
(Squash)
Fruit
(Strawberry)
Leaf
Leaf
Root
Leaf
Root
Root
(Lettuce)
(Carrot)
(Onion)
(Maple leaf)
(Grass)
Seeds
(Pine cone scales)
Root
(Turnip)
Seeds
Seeds
Seeds
Seeds
(Peas)
(Sunlower seeds)
(Kidney beans)
(Peanuts)
Stem
(Daffodil)
Stem
(Asparagus)
Trunk
Stem
Trunk
Trunk
(Birch)
(Rose)