Four Parts of a Green Plant and the Functions of each Part

Hawthorne, Sarah F.                  Coles Elem. School
                                     1-312-933-6550
                       

Objectives

The learner will learn four parts of a green plant and the functions of each part. 

Apparatus Needed

     An apple; bag of tea; two stalks of celery (a stalk of raw celery and a stalk of 
celery in colored water); an onion in a cup/glass of water; one sweet potato in a 
cup/glass of water; four posters (each poster should show pictures or drawings of a 
part of the green plant.......roots, stems, leaves, and the flower); several packages 
of different green plant seeds; different kinds of green plants ( with and without 
flowers). Optional Four milk cartons (soil should be in each milk carton); four 5x7 
cards with the name of a part of a green plant on each card.   
 
Recommended Strategy

Display the following foods on a table: an apple, a bag of tea, an onion (in a cup or 
glass of water), and a stalk of raw celery. Have the students identify the foods on 
the table. Discuss what the foods have in common. Try to come to a general conclusion 
that the foods on the table come from green plants. 
 
Display a live green plant and ask students to identify the parts of the plant. As 
the students identify the roots, stems, leaves, and flowers, have another student 
point out the part that was identified. For each student that correctly  identifies 
the roots, stems,leaves, and the flower, give him/her a milk carton and a package of 
green plant seeds. 

After identifying the part of a green plant, have the students give the order in 
which the plant will grow starting with the seeds. As the students determine the 
order in which the plant will grow, display posters with pictures of each part of the 
green plant. 

     Discuss the functions of each part of the green plant:  roots a) take in water 
from the soil; b) take in minerals; c) store excess food; d) transport water and food 
to other parts of the plant; and e) hold or anchor the plant in the soil. 

     stems a) support the plant; b) expose the leave to sunlight; c) transport food 
and water to other parts of the plant; and d) sometimes, photosynthesis (food) is 
made in the stem. 

     leaves a) take in carbon dioxide; b) release oxygen (the exchange of 
gases.....taking carbon dioxide into the leaves and releasing oxygen out of the 
leaf...... is referred to as respiration); c) chlorophyll; d) photosynthesis; and e) 
take in energy from the sun. 

     flower a) sexual reproduction. 


Optional 
1. Have the four students that were given milk cartons with soil and seeds plant 
   their green plant seeds. The plants will remain in the classroom for class 
   observation. 
2. Play the game "Plant Charades". Divide the class into four groups. Give each group 
   a card with the name of a part of the green plant written on it. Each group will 
   have 5 minutes to suggest ways to demonstrate the part of the plant without 
   talking. The winning group will be the group that guesses the most parts of the 
   plant. 
3. Use the celery in colored water to demonstrate how water and minerals travel 
   through plants.