Parts of Plants
G1-01-03
Plants have different parts. Each part has an important job. Today we will learn about leaves, flowers, roots and stems.
G1-01-03 — PARTS OF PLANTS
TEACHER GUIDE
PURPOSE OF THE LESSON
This Grade 1 lesson introduces the main parts of a plant and explains that each part has an important function. The lesson focuses on leaves, flowers, roots and the stem.
The lesson objectives say that leaves use sunlight, water and air gases to make food; flowers produce seeds so new plants can grow; some flowers produce fruit to protect the seeds; roots take in water and nutrients from the soil; and the stem holds up the leaves and flowers.
KEY SCIENCE IDEAS
Plants have different parts, and each part has an important job.
LEAVES
Leaves use sunlight, water and gases from the air to make food for the plant. At Grade 1 level, children do not need a detailed explanation of photosynthesis. The important idea is that leaves help the plant make its food.
FLOWERS
Flowers produce seeds so that new plants can grow. Some flowers produce fruit. The fruit protects the seeds.
ROOTS
Roots take in water and nutrients from the soil. Roots also help the plant stay in the ground.
STEM
The stem holds up the leaves and flowers. It is the supporting part of the plant that helps keep these parts in position.
IMPORTANT WORDS
Part — one piece or section of something.
Function — the job that something does.
Leaf — a plant part that uses sunlight, water and air gases to make food.
Flower — a plant part that produces seeds.
Fruit — a plant part that can protect seeds.
Root — the part of a plant that takes in water and nutrients from the soil.
Stem — the plant part that holds up the leaves and flowers.
Nutrient — something in the soil that a plant needs to grow.
TEACHING THE LESSON
Begin with a real plant if one is available. Ask the children to point to the different parts they can see.
Tell the children that plants have different parts and that each part has a job.
When teaching about leaves, show the children the leaves on a real plant. Explain that leaves use sunlight, water and gases from the air to help make food for the plant.
When teaching about flowers, show a flower if possible. Explain that flowers produce seeds. Some flowers also produce fruit, and the fruit protects the seeds.
When teaching about roots, show a plant with visible roots if possible, or use the lesson image. Explain that roots take in water and nutrients from the soil. Roots also help hold the plant in the ground.
When teaching about the stem, point to the stem of a real plant. Explain that the stem holds up the leaves and flowers.
Keep returning to the idea that each plant part has a different job.
QUESTIONS TO ASK THE CHILDREN
What are some parts of a plant?
What job do leaves do?
What do flowers produce?
What can fruit protect?
What do roots take in from the soil?
What does the stem hold up?
Can you point to the leaves on this plant?
Can you point to the stem?
Can you find the roots?
SIMPLE ACTIVITY
Give the children a real plant to look at if possible.
Ask them to find the leaves, flower, stem and roots.
Ask the children to match each part with its job:
Leaves — help make food.
Flowers — produce seeds.
Fruit — can protect seeds.
Roots — take in water and nutrients.
Stem — holds up the leaves and flowers.
If the roots cannot be seen, explain that they are usually in the soil.
COMMON MISUNDERSTANDING
Children may think that all plants have flowers or fruit that they can easily see. The source lesson says that some flowers produce fruit, so do not suggest that every plant always has a visible fruit.
Children may also think that the soil itself is the plant's food. Explain simply that roots take in water and nutrients from the soil, while leaves use sunlight, water and air gases to make food.
TEACHING NOTE
The lesson uses the word function to mean the job of a plant part. It is useful to repeat this word several times: "What is the function of the root?" means "What job does the root do?"
The source material does not require a detailed explanation of photosynthesis or plant transport systems. Keep those ideas at a simple Grade 1 level.
END-OF-LESSON CHECK
By the end of the lesson, a child should be able to name the main plant parts taught in the lesson and give a simple function for each one: leaves help make food, flowers produce seeds, some flowers produce fruit to protect seeds, roots take in water and nutrients, and the stem holds up the leaves and flowers.
TEACHER GUIDE
PURPOSE OF THE LESSON
This Grade 1 lesson introduces the main parts of a plant and explains that each part has an important function. The lesson focuses on leaves, flowers, roots and the stem.
The lesson objectives say that leaves use sunlight, water and air gases to make food; flowers produce seeds so new plants can grow; some flowers produce fruit to protect the seeds; roots take in water and nutrients from the soil; and the stem holds up the leaves and flowers.
KEY SCIENCE IDEAS
Plants have different parts, and each part has an important job.
LEAVES
Leaves use sunlight, water and gases from the air to make food for the plant. At Grade 1 level, children do not need a detailed explanation of photosynthesis. The important idea is that leaves help the plant make its food.
FLOWERS
Flowers produce seeds so that new plants can grow. Some flowers produce fruit. The fruit protects the seeds.
ROOTS
Roots take in water and nutrients from the soil. Roots also help the plant stay in the ground.
STEM
The stem holds up the leaves and flowers. It is the supporting part of the plant that helps keep these parts in position.
IMPORTANT WORDS
Part — one piece or section of something.
Function — the job that something does.
Leaf — a plant part that uses sunlight, water and air gases to make food.
Flower — a plant part that produces seeds.
Fruit — a plant part that can protect seeds.
Root — the part of a plant that takes in water and nutrients from the soil.
Stem — the plant part that holds up the leaves and flowers.
Nutrient — something in the soil that a plant needs to grow.
TEACHING THE LESSON
Begin with a real plant if one is available. Ask the children to point to the different parts they can see.
Tell the children that plants have different parts and that each part has a job.
When teaching about leaves, show the children the leaves on a real plant. Explain that leaves use sunlight, water and gases from the air to help make food for the plant.
When teaching about flowers, show a flower if possible. Explain that flowers produce seeds. Some flowers also produce fruit, and the fruit protects the seeds.
When teaching about roots, show a plant with visible roots if possible, or use the lesson image. Explain that roots take in water and nutrients from the soil. Roots also help hold the plant in the ground.
When teaching about the stem, point to the stem of a real plant. Explain that the stem holds up the leaves and flowers.
Keep returning to the idea that each plant part has a different job.
QUESTIONS TO ASK THE CHILDREN
What are some parts of a plant?
What job do leaves do?
What do flowers produce?
What can fruit protect?
What do roots take in from the soil?
What does the stem hold up?
Can you point to the leaves on this plant?
Can you point to the stem?
Can you find the roots?
SIMPLE ACTIVITY
Give the children a real plant to look at if possible.
Ask them to find the leaves, flower, stem and roots.
Ask the children to match each part with its job:
Leaves — help make food.
Flowers — produce seeds.
Fruit — can protect seeds.
Roots — take in water and nutrients.
Stem — holds up the leaves and flowers.
If the roots cannot be seen, explain that they are usually in the soil.
COMMON MISUNDERSTANDING
Children may think that all plants have flowers or fruit that they can easily see. The source lesson says that some flowers produce fruit, so do not suggest that every plant always has a visible fruit.
Children may also think that the soil itself is the plant's food. Explain simply that roots take in water and nutrients from the soil, while leaves use sunlight, water and air gases to make food.
TEACHING NOTE
The lesson uses the word function to mean the job of a plant part. It is useful to repeat this word several times: "What is the function of the root?" means "What job does the root do?"
The source material does not require a detailed explanation of photosynthesis or plant transport systems. Keep those ideas at a simple Grade 1 level.
END-OF-LESSON CHECK
By the end of the lesson, a child should be able to name the main plant parts taught in the lesson and give a simple function for each one: leaves help make food, flowers produce seeds, some flowers produce fruit to protect seeds, roots take in water and nutrients, and the stem holds up the leaves and flowers.
Leaves Make Food
Leaves help the plant make food. Leaves use sunlight, water and gases from the air. This helps the plant make its food.
Flowers Make Seeds
Flowers produce seeds. Seeds can grow into new plants. Some flowers also produce fruit.
Fruit Protects Seeds
Some flowers produce fruit. The fruit can protect the seeds inside it. The seeds can grow into new plants.
Roots Take In Water
Roots grow in the soil. Roots take in water and nutrients from the soil. Roots also help hold the plant in the ground.
The Stem Holds Up the Plant
The stem holds up the leaves and flowers. It helps keep these parts in the right position.
What Do the Plant Parts Do?
Leaves help make food. Flowers produce seeds. Some flowers produce fruit to protect the seeds. Roots take in water and nutrients. The stem holds up the leaves and flowers.
🌱 Parts of Plants Quiz
Well Done!
You have finished the Parts of Plants lesson.