1. Chapter One Plants and How They Grow
How do the different parts of a plant help it live and grow?

2. Chapter One Vocabulary
system- a set of parts that interact with one another
deciduous- loses its leaves in the fall and grows new ones in the spring
pollinate- move pollen from the part of a flower that makes pollen
coniferous- does not lose its needle-like leaves in the fall
seed leaf- part of a seed that has stored food
germinate- begins to grow
seedling- a new, small plant that grows from a seed

3. Compare and contrast
Knowing how to compare and contrast can help you understand what you read and the things you observe.
We compare when we say how things are alike.
We contrast when we say how things are different.
Words and phrases such as similar, like, all, both, or in the same way are used to compare.
Words and phrases such as unlike or in a different way are used to contrast.
Let’s try this reading skill by looking at a science article about plants and animals.

4. Plants and Animals
Both plants and animals are living things that need food, air, water, and space to live. Unlike most plants, most animals don’t stay in the same place. They move around. Unlike animals, most plants have roots that keep them in the same place.
What is alike?
What is different?
Let’s apply the skill. Make a Venn Diagram and use the information above from the science article to fill it in.

5. You are there!
It’s a cool spring day and you are walking along a river in Alaska. Tall trees rise above the river. Why do some have flat, broad leaves, while others have sharp needles? Lots of other kinds of plants are growing here too. Even though they may look different, every plant needs the same things to live and grow. Listen. You hear a splash. An Alaskan brown bear bounds out of the trees into the river. The bear needs certain things too.

6. Lesson One: What are the main parts of a plant?
Most plants have four main parts. These parts are leaves, roots, stems, and flowers. In different kinds of plants, these parts may look similar. They may also look very different.
What All Living Things Need
food
air
water
space

7. Why plants need leaves
A plant’s leaves make up its leaf system. A system consists of parts that work together. This leaf system makes food for the plant. Here’s how:
Water enters the leaf from the roots and stem
Carbon dioxide enters the leaf through tiny
holes on its underside
The leaves make sugar for food that passes
through the stems to the rest of the plant
Plants make and let out oxygen gas when they make sugar
Plants need energy from the Sun to change carbon dioxide and water into sugar and oxygen

8. Types of leaves Some trees have leaves that look like needles
A pecan tree leaf is made up
of many smaller leaflets that
grow across from each other
This oak leaf is more like the
pecan leaves than the
needle-like leaves.

9. Other ways leaves help
Leaves help plants to balance the amount of water plants take in. If there is too much water in the plant, leaves will let some water out through the tiny holes on their underside. Plants in dry places may have leaves with waxy or fuzzy coatings to help keep water in. A plant’s leaves may also help to protect the plant from being eaten. Leaves might be poisonous, sharp, or tough to chew.

10. Lesson Review 1. List the main parts of most plants.
2. How does a leaf help a plant live?
Scientist’s Journal
Compare and Contrast- Describe ways that leaves are alike and different. Use a graphic organizer.
Journal Entry- Let’s pretend we’re botanists for the day. We will research a native plant, make drawings, and write a description.

11. Lesson Two: Why do plants need roots and stems?
Along with their leaves, plants need their root and stem systems to live and grow.
Cool Fact: The deepest root system ever recorded is that of a wild fig tree in South Africa. The roots of the tree extended 120 meters (393.7 feet) below the surface!

12. How roots help plants A plant’s root system:
takes in water and minerals
holds the plant in place
stores food the plant makes
A taproot is a large root that stores food.

13. What are root hairs?
At the tips of roots are tiny root hairs. Plants take in water through their root hairs.
Root branches with their many root hairs grow far into the soil to reach water.
Water travels through tubes to the plant’s stems and leaves.

14. Roots that we eat

15. How stems help plants A plant’s stem system:
supports the plant’s leaves, flowers, and fruits
have tubes that move water and minerals from the roots of plants to leaves

16. Kinds of stems Stolons are thin and grow along the
surface of the ground.
Tree trunks serve as stems.
Vines grow parts that wrap around
objects that support the plant.
Cactus stems swell up as they
store water and shrink as they
use water. They also have a thick,
waxy covering to keep them from losing water.

17. Lesson Review 1. How do stems help a plant?
2. How are roots and stems alike and different?
Scientist’s Journal
Write a paragraph that describes the special features of a cactus. Explain how these features help the cactus.
Find examples of different kinds of plant stems. Make a collage.

18. Lesson Four: How do new plants grow?
Most plants make seeds that grow into new plants. Sometimes a stem or root grows a new plant. When seeds scatter, they are moved away and have room to grow.
Ways That Seeds Scatter
Wind
Wind scatters seeds that have
parachutes or wings.
Water
Water scatters seeds that float, such
as coconuts.
Carried by Animals
Animals scatter seeds that can stick to
fur.
Eaten by Animals
Animals scatter seeds when they eat
fruit.

19. Germinating and growing
Seeds come in many different shapes, sizes, and colors. But they all have the same parts.
Seeds need certain things to start to grow, or germinate. They need the right temperature, the right amount of water, and air. When conditions are right, a seedling begins to grow.
Stored food
seed coat
embryo

20. Life cycle of a peanut plant
2. Germinating Seeds
When a peanut
germinates, a stem
grows upward and a
root grows downward.
Seeds in Fruit
The part of a peanut
you eat is a seed.
3. Seedling
As the small peanut plant grows leaves, it can begin making sugar for food.
4. Adult Plant with Seeds
Adult flower stalks grow downward. The peanut flowers make their seeds underground. When the adult plant dies, it becomes part of the soil.

21. Lesson review 1. What are the parts of a seed?
2. Describe the life cycle of a plant.
Scientist’s Journal
George Washington Carver was an agricultural researcher who studied how to use many different types of plants, including peanuts. Research and write a short report about some of the product Carver made from plants.

22. Lesson three: how are plants grouped?
Trees that lose their leaves are
deciduous.
Coniferous trees do not lose all their leaves in the fall. These leaves look like needles or brushes.

23. Making seeds
Flowering plants grow flowers that make seeds. Flowers have parts that make pollen or seeds. Animals or wind pollinate a flower when they move pollen to the flower part that make seeds.
After a flower is pollinated, seeds form near the center of the flower. A fruit often grows to surround and protect the seeds.
Pollen sticks to the bodies of bees as bees look for food. They carry this pollen to the part of the flower that makes seeds.
A flower’s petals attract insects and other animals
The tip of this part of the flower makes pollen
Pollen put on the tip of this part helps form seeds down here

24. Two types of cones
Coniferous trees make two kinds of cones: small pollen cones and large seed cones. When pollen attaches to the seed cone, seeds begin to grow. A seed grows under each scale of the seed cone. When the seeds are ripe, they fall to the ground. If conditions are right, each seed can start growing into a new plant.
Larger cones grow with seeds inside. Coniferous seeds glide to the ground.
Wind blows pollen from these small cones to larger cones to larger cones on other trees.

25. Lesson Review 1. What are two ways to group plants?
2. Describe two kinds of plant parts that can make seeds.
Scientist’s Journal
Write a paragraph that explains at least 3 different ways flowers can be pollinated. Illustrate and label.