Welcome to our new unit about plants! Plants are living things, just like you. All living things have needs. If their needs are met, they grow. If not, they get weak and can die.
Plants need four main things. First, they need sunlight. Plants use light to make their own food inside their leaves. Second, they need water. Water travels from the roots up to every part of the plant. Third, they need air. Plants take in a gas from the air to help make food. Fourth, they need space and soil to grow. Soil holds the roots and gives plants nutrients.
Have you ever seen a plant in a dark corner? It turns pale and floppy. That plant is missing sunlight! This week we will plan an experiment to test what plants need.
1. Name the four main things plants need.
2. Where does a plant make its food?
3. What does soil give to a plant?
4. What happens to a plant kept in a dark corner? Why?
Write a definition or draw a picture for each word.
Sort each item. Does a plant need it to live, or not?
| Plants Need This | Plants Do NOT Need This |
|---|---|
Items to sort: Sunlight, Candy, Water, Television, Air, Toys, Soil, Music
1. Plants are living things.
2. Plants make their own food using sunlight.
3. Plants do not need water.
4. Roots take water up from the soil.
5. Plants need air to help make food.
6. A plant in the dark grows strong and green.
Draw a plant in sunlight
Draw watering a plant
Draw roots in soil
| Need | Do plants need it? | Do YOU need it? |
|---|---|---|
| Water | ||
| Air | ||
| Sunlight | ||
| Food |
Word Bank: sunlight water air soil roots living
1. Plants use ____________________ to make food in their leaves.
2. A plant drinks ____________________ through its roots.
3. Plants take in a gas from the ____________________.
4. The ____________________ holds the roots and gives nutrients.
5. The ____________________ grow down into the ground.
6. Plants are ____________________ things, just like animals and people.
Find a plant at home or outside. Study it like a scientist!
| Research Question | My Answer |
|---|---|
| Where does this plant get light? | |
| Where does this plant get water? | |
| What is this plant growing in? | |
| Does the plant look healthy? How can you tell? |
Coming Wednesday: We will plant seeds and set up a real plant experiment! We will take away one thing a plant needs and see what happens.
Think about it: Which need would you like to test — light or water?
Write your idea below: