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Youth will investigate two important plant parts this week, roots and stems. We will continue observing our pea plants as they grow, and also do some activities to learn more about roots and stems. In this unit, youth will learn the following:
What is the purpose and importance of the following plant parts:
Roots
Stems
Leaves
Flowers
Just like humans have body parts, plants also have plant parts. There are five main plant parts: roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds. We investigated seeds in unit 1. In this unit, we will take a closer look at the remaining four plant parts.
Supplies
Pencil
Tape
Pipe cleaners
Scissors
A simple flower (e.g. petunia, begonia, lily, daylily)
A celery stem or a white carnation flower
Water
Food coloring
A cup
Newspaper
Heavy cardboard
4 sturdy rubber bands
Heavy weights (e.g. books)
Leaves and flowers
Roots
Roots
Roots grow underground. They help stabilize the plant and absorb water and nutrients. Check out the video and activity to learn more!
Build your own root system.pdfStem Transport.pdfStems
Stems
Stems act as a transport system in the plant, bringing water and nutrients from the roots to the leaves. Try out the activity to see stem transport in action.
Look at the stem of your peas. Peas climb using tendrils to grab onto whatever they can climb. You may want to add some stakes so your peas can grow tall in your garden!
Leaves & Flowers
Leaves & Flowers
Leaves and flowers are often the most noticeable part of a plant. Leaves are important because they perform photosynthesis to make food for the plant. Flowers attract pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, so that the plant can later develop fruit and seeds to reproduce. Use the activities below to investigate these plant parts futhers.
Leaf shape checklist.pdfLeaf Identification
Leaves help us to identify different plants. You can look at the physical characteristics to describe the leaves and figure out what your plant's identity is. What shape is the leaf? Are the edges smooth or jagged? What color are the leaves? How big are the leaves? Use the checklist from NC 4-H to help you describe leaves you find in your garden, yard, or at a park.
Flower Dissection
You can take apart a simple flower to learn about the different parts of a flower. Flowers such as lilies, daylilies, petunias, and begonias are great to use for this activity from NC 4-H. Print out the dissection chart to guide you as you discover the parts of a flower and their functions!
Flower Dissection Chart.pdfPlant Press.pdfPlant Press
Using recycled materials, you can make your own plant press at home. Use it to collect and preserve a variety of leaves and flowers from the garden.
How many different shapes of leaves can you find? What different flowers can you discover?
Once you've pressed leaves and flowers, use them to create a fun craft!
Want more?
Plant Parts We Eat
Watch the video from North Carolina 4-H to learn about plant parts that we eat. See the PDF for a printable diagram of the plant parts.
Plant Parts We Eat.pdfflower_to_seed_seed_to_flower_3rd-5th_usbotanicgarden.pdfFlower to Seed, Seed to Flower
Flower to Seed, Seed to Flower
Activity guide from the United States Botanic Garden. This lesson is designed for grades 3-5 and includes seed dissection, flower dissection, and creating a wearable greenhouse.
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