--- title: "Water Transport in Plants" description: "Investigate how water is transported within plants, using observations such as coloured water being drawn up through a stem" canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/water-transport-in-plants-mt_GF6L7J4MNN source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/water-transport-in-plants-mt_GF6L7J4MNN.md retrieved: 2026-10-19 --- > **Agent view.** This is the Markdown twin of the page, for tools and assistants. > When to use this site, and the call that answers each job: https://lightmysky.com/agent-instructions.md > API description (OpenAPI 3.1): https://lightmysky.com/openapi.json · Authentication: https://lightmysky.com/auth.md > Pricing: https://lightmysky.com/pricing.md · Catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms.txt · Full catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms-full.txt > Every machine-readable file on this domain: https://lightmysky.com/.well-known/ai-catalog.json > Ask for Markdown with `Accept: text/markdown`, a `.md` address, or `?mode=agent`. # Water Transport in Plants Investigate how water is transported within plants, using observations such as coloured water being drawn up through a stem Subject: Science · Area: Organisms & Life Processes · Ages 7 to 8 Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/water-transport-in-plants-mt_GF6L7J4MNN ## Ready when they can - Describe an investigation using coloured water to track water movement in a plant - Explain that water travels from roots through the stem to the leaves and flowers - Draw or label a diagram showing the path of water through a plant ## Lesson: Water's Journey Through a Plant Roots absorb water from soil. Thin tubes called xylem carry water through the stem to leaves and flowers. Leaves and flowers are separate destinations; water need not pass through a leaf to reach a flower. Much of the water later leaves the plant as water vapour through tiny openings in its leaves. *(drawing: Water passes through the stem to leaves and flowers. They share the last box because neither must come before the other.)* **Example.** Ask an adult to prepare a fresh white flower's cut stem. Stand its cut end in water mixed with food colouring. White petals make added colour easier to notice than dark petals. After several hours or the next day, coloured patches may appear. Dye travels with water through the stem. This flower has no roots attached: water enters at its cut stem. To draw the soil-water route, label the roots, stem, leaves and flowers. Draw arrows from roots into the stem, then from the stem towards leaves and flowers. For a cut flower in a cup, start the arrows at the cut end of the stem in the water. **Example.** Compare matching fresh white flowers in equal amounts of water. Add red food colouring to just one cup. Leave both for the same time. Both flowers can take in water, but only the dyed water can leave red patches. White petals in clear water do not mean that no water moved. Record the petal colour before the test and check again later. A visible change can take hours or longer. White petals after five minutes do not show that stems cannot carry water. Wait and record what you actually see. Do not drink the test water or eat the test plants. **Recap.** Water starts at the roots, travels up the stem, and reaches the leaves and flowers. ## Practice 8 questions on this page, each with its working shown. ## Needs first - [How Plant Parts Work](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/how-plant-parts-work-mt_6xsEXxKdUX) ## Opens up - [Plants Grow from Air & Water](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/plants-grow-from-air-and-water-mt_3-ii06P4YS)