How Plant Parts Work
Identify and describe the functions of different parts of flowering plants: roots absorb water and nutrients, stems transport materials, leaves make food, flowers enable reproduction
What a learner can do afterwards
- Describe the function of roots (absorb water and minerals from soil)
- Explain that the stem transports water up and food around the plant
- State that leaves use sunlight to make food and flowers produce seeds for new plants
The lesson
Every plant part has its own job to do. Roots grow down into the soil. They soak up water and tiny bits of food called minerals, just like a straw pulls up a drink.
The stem works like a highway. It carries water up from the roots to the leaves, and carries food back down to the rest of the plant.
Ben looks at his sunflower. Water travels up the stem to the leaves. The leaves catch sunlight and turn it into food. Then the flower uses that food to make seeds for new sunflowers.
Follow the path: roots drink water, the stem carries it, leaves cook food with sunlight, and flowers make seeds. Each part passes the job to the next one.
Roots drink water, stems carry it, leaves cook food with sunlight, and flowers make seeds for new plants.
Watch it
Where it sits
Learn first
Where this leads
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.