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Backyard Explorer 3 to 5 / Week 05 / Monday
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Week 05 · Plants: Built From Air and Water

Monday

Three parts, three jobs
// Where the stuff of a plant really comes from
⏱ about 15 min

Monday: Three Parts, Three Jobs

Rocket tugs a weed from a crack in the sidewalk. A long white string hangs below the leaves.

"The bottom part was hiding underground," he says. "What is it for?"

Raven turns the plant over in her hands. "It kept the plant in the crack," she says.

Nova projects a cyan drawing of the plant with three glowing parts.

"Root, stem, leaf," she says. "Each one has a job. Can you guess them?"

Rocket holds a seedling in a jar while Raven measures a sunflower.

What a plant needs

Plants are living things. Like you, they need certain things to live and grow.

Plants need light. They need water. They need air.

Most plants also need a place to hold on. Soil or a crack in a rock will do.

A plant has parts that gather each of these things.

Roots, stems and leaves

Roots grow down into the ground. They hold the plant in place so wind cannot tip it.

Roots also take in water from the soil, along with tiny amounts of minerals.

The stem holds the plant up toward the light.

Inside the stem are thin tubes. They carry water from the roots up to the leaves.

Leaves are flat and wide. That shape catches lots of light.

Leaves have tiny holes too small to see. Air moves in and out through those holes.

Leaves use light, air and water to make food for the whole plant.

Plant partWhere it isIts jobs
rootsunder the groundhold the plant in place, take in water
stemabove the groundhold the plant up, carry water to the leaves
leaveson the stemcatch light, take in air, make food
WHICH PART DOES IT?
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Which part takes in water from the soil?
Which part carries water up to the leaves?
Which part catches light and takes in air?
StatementTrue or false?
Roots hold a plant in place.?
Leaves take in water from the soil.?
Air moves in and out of leaves through tiny holes.?
Plants need light, water and air.?
WHY THIS EXERCISERoots take in water. Leaves take in air and light. Plants need all three.
The plant part that holds it in the ground is the ____.
The plant part that holds up the leaves is the ____.
The plant part that makes food is the ____.
Try it
Find one plant outside or in a pot. Do not pull it up.
Point to the stem. Point to a leaf. Where do you think the roots are?
Look at one leaf. Is it flat and wide? Which way does it face?
Safety first
Look and point. Do not pick or pull plants that are not yours.
Never taste any plant or berry. Some plants make skin itch, so look with your eyes.
Stay with your grown-up outside. Wash your hands when you come in.
Which plant part takes in air through tiny holes?
WHY THIS EXERCISELeaves take in air and light to make food.
Draw a whole plant, roots and all. Label the roots, the stem and one leaf.

Nice part spotting! Tomorrow we ask a tricky question: what is a plant made of?