All About Plant Roots

Aim of the Activity

To take a closer look at plant roots - comparing their similarities and differences and exploring their structure and function

Target Year Level

Year 2 - 6

Curriculum Alignment

Science

Things you will need

• plants, garden tools (to dig) magnifying glass or zoom camera function on a smartphone (optional)

For extension activities:

• container with water and food colouring

• clear plastic cup, potting mix and a seed

Description of the Activity

• We can all see what plants look like above the ground, but what about under the soil? Have your child share their ideas on what a plant’s roots look like and what they believe their function is. They could write or draw their ideas.

• Dig up some different plants (please do not dig plants up in a public space!). Grass, dandelion, cover for example). Compare how the different plant’s roots look. Use a magnifying glass or a zoom camera function on a smartphone to take a detailed look.

• Divide the roots into two groups based on how the root looks. Help them see (if they didn’t already) how the taproots (radish, dandelion, carrot) have a main root with smaller roots branching off. Help them also see that the fibrous roots (grass, clover, herbs) do not have one main root but branch out all over equally.

• Pick one of the plants and draw a detailed sketch of its roots. Then do the same for a plant with a different root type.

Extension activities:

• To explore a root’s function being to take up water, choose one of your plants and place it’s roots into a container of water and food colouring. Observe what happens over the course of a few hours. What is happening to the colour of the roots? Is there change to the colour of any other part of the plant/ Why is this happening?

• Plant a seed (broad bean seeds work well) in a clear cup close to the side so you can see the seed. Observe the changes to the seed and the root growth over a period of weeks. See Bean Experiment for example planting and care instructions.

• For upper primary children, explore the effects of soil quality on roots and plant growth. They could conduct an experiment similar to that explained here Science Fair Project for Testing Different Soils With Plant Growth.

Questions to talk about with your child

• What are the roots of a plant? Where do we find them?

• What do the roots do for a plant? (anchor the plant into the ground, bring water and dissolved minerals into the plant, store sugar and starch which is food made by the plant)

• What is the difference between a taproot and fibrous roots? Why do plants have different root types?

• Do you think desert plants have deep or shallow roots? Why do you think this? How could we find out?

• How would a plant’s growth be affected if we cut the roots of a plant off?

• Why do you think some plants (like the ones we call “weeds”) grow back after we pull them out of the ground?

• Can you think of some plant roots that we eat?

Links for further learning

• LEARNING ABOUT PARTS OF PLANTS has a series of slides that explain root systems, suitable for middle primary.

• Roots--introduction explains roots and their functions, suitable for upper primary to secondary

• The secret language of trees - Camille Defrenne and Suzanne Simard and How Trees Secretly Talk to Each Other in the Forest | Decoder are both YouTube videos exploring how trees use their roots to ‘communicate’.

• Make new plants by taking cuttings from other plants and watch them grow roots Taking Cuttings

• Do plant roots always grow downwards? Follow this link to complete an experiment to find out. Gravitropism | Science project