Plant Structure: Roots, Stems, and Leaves
Learning how plant parts help a plant live and grow
Plant Structure: Roots, Stems, and Leaves
Learning how plant parts help a plant live and grow
Biology - Grade 4-5
- 1
What is one main job of roots in a plant?
Think about the part of the plant that is underground.
One main job of roots is to absorb water and minerals from the soil for the plant. - 2
How do stems help a plant?
Stems help a plant by holding it upright and carrying water and food between the roots and leaves. - 3
What is one important job of leaves?
Leaves are the plant part that usually catches sunlight.
One important job of leaves is to make food for the plant using sunlight, air, and water. - 4
A plant has healthy leaves but damaged roots. Explain one problem the plant might have.
The plant might not get enough water and minerals because damaged roots cannot absorb them well from the soil. - 5
Why is it helpful for many plants to have strong stems?
Think about what would happen if the plant bent over onto the ground.
Strong stems help plants stand upright, reach sunlight, and support flowers, fruits, and leaves. - 6
Describe how roots and stems work together in a plant.
Roots absorb water and minerals from the soil, and stems carry those materials to the rest of the plant. - 7
A leaf is often called a food-making part of the plant. Explain why.
Think about photosynthesis, even if you only know the basic idea.
A leaf is called a food-making part because it uses sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide from the air to make food for the plant. - 8
Which plant part usually anchors the plant in the soil, and why is that important?
The roots usually anchor the plant in the soil, and this is important because it helps keep the plant from falling over. - 9
If a plant is kept in a dark room for many days, how will its leaves be affected?
Think about what leaves need in order to make food.
Its leaves will have trouble making food because they need sunlight to do their job well. - 10
Explain the path water takes through a plant from the soil to the leaves.
Water is absorbed from the soil by the roots, moves up through the stem, and then reaches the leaves. - 11
A student says, "Leaves only make a plant look green." Explain why this statement is incorrect.
Think about the function of leaves, not just their appearance.
This statement is incorrect because leaves do much more than make a plant look green. They also help the plant make food using sunlight. - 12
Name the three plant parts studied in this worksheet and give one job for each part.
The three plant parts are roots, stems, and leaves. Roots absorb water and minerals, stems support the plant and carry materials, and leaves make food for the plant.