This week we learned about two plant parts. Roots grow down into the soil. They hold the plant in place. They also absorb water and nutrients from the soil.
The stem grows up from the roots. It supports the plant. It holds up the leaves and flowers. The stem also transports water. Water travels up the stem like juice through a straw.
Roots and stems work as a team. The roots soak up water. The stem carries that water to every part of the plant. Without roots, a plant would fall over and dry out. Without a stem, water could not reach the leaves. Every part matters!
1. Which part holds the plant in the soil?
2. Which part carries water up to the leaves?
3. How do roots and stems work as a team?
4. What would happen to a plant with no stem?
Write what each word means in your own words.
Step 1: Draw a whole plant in the box below. Include roots under the soil and a stem above.
Step 2: Draw a line for the soil.
Step 3: Label the ROOTS and the STEM with arrows.
Read each job. Write R for roots or S for stem.
| Job | R or S? |
|---|---|
| I hold the plant in place so it does not fall over. | |
| I hold up the leaves and flowers. | |
| I absorb water from the soil. | |
| I carry water up to the leaves like a straw. | |
| I soak up nutrients underground. | |
| On a tree, I am called the trunk. |
1. Roots grow up toward the sun.
2. The stem transports water from the roots.
3. Roots hold the plant in the soil.
4. A carrot is a root that we can eat.
5. Stems never hold up flowers.
6. Roots absorb water and nutrients.
Pretend you can talk to a root and a stem. Write one question you would ask each part. Then write what you think it would say back!
My question for the root:
The root answers:
My question for the stem:
The stem answers:
1. What was your favorite part of studying roots and stems this week?
2. Which plant part do you think has the harder job? Why?
| I can... | Yes! | Almost | Not yet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Name the two jobs of roots | |||
| Name the two jobs of a stem | |||
| Label roots and stem on a drawing | |||
| Explain how water moves through a plant |
Next week: We will learn about two more plant parts — leaves and flowers!