Plant Parts Help a Plant Work

Plant Parts Help a Plant Work

What students learn

Students learn that plant parts do different jobs. Roots hold the plant and take in water, stems support the plant, leaves help make food, and flowers, fruits, and seeds help make new plants. Begin with Plant Parts: Why Plants Matter so students hear the big idea before naming each part.

Why it matters

Knowing the jobs of plant parts helps students understand why a plant is more than a pretty thing in the ground. Each part has a purpose. Use Plant Parts: Roots and Stems to slow down and name the lower parts of the plant.

Learn the idea

A plant is like a small living system. The roots gather water, the stem supports the plant, and the leaves help it make food. Plant Parts: Leaves Make Food shows how leaves help the plant stay healthy. Then use Photosynthesis and Parts: Plant Parts Move Materials to connect roots, stems, and leaves to moving water and food. Finally, Plant Parts: Flowers, Fruits, and Seeds reminds students that many plants can make new plants through seeds.

Try it

Draw a plant and label the parts. Ask the student to point to the root, stem, leaf, flower, fruit, and seed. If the child wants one more review, replay Plant Parts: Why Plants Matter and have them name each part out loud as they see it.

Parent guide

Use a real plant if you have one nearby. Ask what each part does before telling the answer. If the child confuses stems and roots, show the part above the ground and the part below the ground. End by asking the child to explain why a plant needs all of its parts together.