Unit 12 — Plants: Living and Growing

Welcome back!

Look around outside.

You will probably see plants almost everywhere.

Plants grow in:

• forests
• gardens
• fields
• parks
• deserts
• mountains
• even between cracks in sidewalks

Plants are living things.

They need certain things to stay healthy and grow.

What Makes Something Living?

Living things have several important characteristics.

Living things:

• grow
• need water
• need air
• need energy
• reproduce
• respond to their surroundings

Plants are living because they do all of these things.

What Plants Need

Most plants need:

• sunlight
• water
• air
• nutrients from the soil
• space to grow

If one of these is missing, the plant may not grow well.

Parts of a Plant

Most plants have several main parts.

Roots

Roots grow underground.

They hold the plant in place and absorb water and nutrients.

Stem

The stem supports the plant.

It carries water and nutrients between the roots and leaves.

Leaves

Leaves collect sunlight.

Plants use sunlight to make the food they need to grow.

Flowers

Many plants produce flowers.

Flowers help plants produce seeds.

Seeds

Seeds can grow into new plants.

Every large tree once began as a tiny seed.

How Plants Grow

A plant's life often begins with a seed.

First:

the seed absorbs water.

Next:

a small root begins to grow.

Then:

a stem grows upward.

Soon:

leaves appear.

As time passes, the plant grows larger and stronger.

Some plants eventually produce flowers and new seeds.

Different Kinds of Plants

Plants come in many shapes and sizes.

Some examples are:

• grass
• flowers
• bushes
• vines
• trees
• vegetables
• fruits

Although they look different, they all need the basic things required for life.

Activity

Observe a plant near your home or school.

Draw what you see.

Can you identify:

• the roots (if visible)
• the stem
• the leaves
• any flowers
• any seeds or fruit

Visit the same plant several times during the week.

Did anything change?

Practice

Answer these questions.

What does a plant need to grow?

What do roots do?

Why are leaves important?

Where do many new plants begin?

Name three different kinds of plants.

Review

Today you learned:

• plants are living things
• plants need sunlight, water, air, nutrients, and space
• roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and seeds each have important jobs
• plants grow and change over time
• careful observation helps us understand nature

Every tree, flower, and garden begins with a tiny seed and the right conditions for growth.

Looking Ahead

Next we will learn about animals.

We will discover:

• how animals meet their needs
• different habitats
• animal life cycles
• how animals help one another and the environment

The living world is filled with amazing diversity.