Elementary Science

Science Focus LessonSC.3.L.14.1Plant Structures

Polk County Public Schools

SC.3.L.14.1Benchmark: Describe structures in plants

and their roles in food production, support, water and nutrient transport, and reproduction.

Essential Question:

How do the structures of plants support their roles in food production and reproduction?

Vocabulary:nutrients reproduce flower leaf root seed

stem

Plant StructuresPlant structures are specialized to take care

of all the needs of a plant.

Plant StructuresRoots pull water and nutrients (minerals) from the ground. They also store extra food.

Plant StructuresStems transport (move) food and water and

provide the plant with support.

Plant StructuresLeaves undergo photosynthesis. In this

process they use the Sun’s energy to convert carbon dioxide, water and nutrients into food for the plant. They release oxygen

in the process.

Flowering PlantsFlowers help plants reproduce. Flowers are the parts of a plant where seeds are made.

Seeds produce new plants. 1. An insect visits the flower.

2. It rubs against the stamens.

3. Pollen sticks to the insect.

4. As the insect explores, some pollen rubs off onto the pistil.

5. This pollination allows male cells in the pollen to burrow down into the ovary and join with the egg there.

6. The fertilized egg develops into a seed!

Flowering PlantsSeeds contain tiny undeveloped plants and a

supply of food for the plant. New plants germinate from seeds which allows plants to

reproduce themselves.

Flowering PlantsOften seeds are contained within fruit. Fruit is produced from the flower of some plants.

Summarizing3-2-13- Name 3 plant structures

2- Name 2 functions performed by plant structures

1- Explain how plants reproduce

Plants respond to stimuli Plant behaviors are inherited (a plant can’t

learn!). Plants respond to a stimulus in their environment…this response is called a tropism!!

Plants respond to LIGHT!!

If you put a houseplant near a window, its leaves will turn toward the sunlight. Plants use the Sun’s energy to make food into their leaves. When the leaves turn toward light, they collect more energy to make food!

Plants respond to stimuli Plant behaviors are inherited (a plant can’t

learn!). Plants respond to a stimulus in their environment…this response is called a tropism!!

Plants respond to Gravity!!A plant can sense the pull of gravity. Its roots grow downward, toward the pull of gravity. Its stems grow upward, away from the pull of gravity. Roots growing downward let the plant get water and nutrients from the soil. Stems growing upward put the leaves closer to sunlight so they can make food for the plant.

Plants respond to stimuli Plant behaviors are inherited (a plant can’t

learn!). Plants respond to a stimulus in their environment…this response is called a tropism!!

Plants respond to moisture!!Plants need water to survive. A plant’s roots will grow towards moisture in the soil. If a pond or stream is nearby, the roots will grow toward the water.

SummarizingWrite a summary paragraph to

describe ways that plants respond to stimuli. Remember to have a topic sentence and 3 supporting sentences.

Guided Instruction:

Work with shoulder partner to answer each question.

1. What is the name of the part of the root that allows water and minerals enter?

a.   root hairsb.   epidermisc.   phloemd.   phyla

The answer is ARoots are adaptations for taking in water and minerals from the soil. Small hairs coming from the root allow more area for water and minerals to be taken in.

Guided Instruction:

2. Which structures are responsible for reproduction in plants? 

a. cytoplasm and chloroplastb. stamen and pistilc. xylem and phloemd. sepal and petal

The answer is BInsects pick up pollen from the stamen. The pollen sticks to the insect’s body and then rubs off onto the pistil. This is called pollination and a seed develops. This is how a plant reproduces itself.

Guided Instruction:

3. Where does photosynthesis take place in plants?

a. phloemb. rootsc. leavesd. flowers

The answer is CThe leaf contains chloroplasts which capture the energy from sunlight. The leaf uses the energy to combine water (from the roots) and carbon dioxide (from the leaves) into a kind of sugar called glucose. Glucose is the plants food. This process is called PHOTOSYNTHESIS.

SummarizingDiscuss with your

shoulder partner: How are a plants

structures important to a plant’s survival?

Check Your Understanding

1. Katie put a flowering plant on her kitchen table. How would the flowers respond to light coming through the window?

a. The flowers would begin to wilt. b. The flowers would change color. c. The flowers would lean toward the window. d. The flowers would open facing away from the

window.

Record your answers. Check them at the end.

Check Your Understanding2. What might occur if a seed were to be

planted upside down?

a. the roots would grow up instead of downb. the stem would grow downc. the roots would turn so that they were

growing downd. the seed would not grow

Check Your Understanding3. What might occur if all of the leaves were

removed from a plant

a. the plant would not be able to support itselfb. the plant would not be able to take in water

and nutrientsc. the plant would not produce seedsd. the plant would not be able to survive

because it could not make food

Check Your Understanding4. Which plant structure helps the leaves to

reach toward the sunlight?

a. rootsb. stemc. flowerd. fruit

Check Your Answers1. c-plants turn toward sunlight2. c-roots grow downward, toward the

pull of gravity3. d- the leaves of a plant are where

photosynthesis takes place, the production of food for the plant

4. b- the stem supports the plant which lifts up the leaves toward the sunlight

A: Tell B which plant structures help with food production

B: Tell A which plant structures help with plant reproduction

Summary Question