1. Lesson 4 : Roots, water and minerals
Lesson aims
To study the uptake and movement of water in plants, looking at root structure, path through plant and importance of minerals.

2. Lesson outcomes By the end of the lesson pupils should
be able to describe how substances from soil enter and move through a plant
describe how these substances are used
be able to describe how roots are adapted to take in water
know root cells require oxygen for respiration from air in soil

3. Plant growth
Plants grow using food they make through photosynthesis. So what else do they need?
Plants also need three important minerals to keep healthy. They absorb these through their roots.

4. Roots The roots of a plant provide:
A way of getting water from the ground.
Stability for the plant by anchoring it into the ground.
The water absorbed by the plant is used for:
Photosynthesis.
Keeping the plant rigid (turgidity)
All the chemical reactions in the plant
To move dissolved minerals (nitrates) to cells

5. The passage of water through plants
Draw diagrams to describe your observations and answer these questions
1. Roots
How do the roots get a large surface area ? Why is this helpful?
2. Stem
How does water and nutrients travel from the roots to the leaves
3. Leaves
How can water escape form leaves?
Spectrum Biology P may help

7. C A B E D

8. Plant roots are made of “root hair cells” which have a large surface area and a thin cell membrane to help absorb the minerals, water and oxygen:
Root hair cells
Large surface area
Thin cell membrane

9. 1.Why do you think
plants take in
oxygen through
their roots?
2. Why do plants
take in minerals
through their
roots?

10. The three main types of nutrient are:
Nitrogen in the form Nitrates – used to make proteins
Phosphorus in the form of Phosphates – used to provide phosphorus to help photosynthesis and respiration
Potassium – helps the enzymes that are needed for photosynthesis and respiration

11. Lack of the three minerals would lead to a “Deficiency Symptom”:
Lack of nitrates:
Small plant, yellow leaves
Lack of phosphates:
Small roots and purple leaves
Lack of potassium:
Yellow leaves with dead bits

12. Can you?
Describe how substances from soil enter and move through a plant
Describe how roots are adapted to take in water
Why do root cells require oxygen from air in soil?
Can you describe how plants use water?
Do you know why plants need minerals?
- branched, root hairs, large surface area
photosynthesis, transport minerals, for cell growth,
form fruits, cool leaves

13. Homework
Draw a poster showing every thing you know about plants (include why plants need phosphates, nitrates and potassium and happens to a plant if it suffers from a deficiency of each nutrient)