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Physical Characteristics of Plants to Meet Their Needs

Physical Characteristics of Plants to Meet Their Needs

TEKS Objective

The student is expected to observe, record, and compare how the physical characteristics of plants help them meet their basic needs such as stems carry water throughout the plant.

Essential Understanding

The student knows that organisms resemble their parents and have structures and processes that help them survive within their environments.

Science Background

Plant Parts, Biology of Plants: Missouri Botanical Garden (website) - Basic information about the function of different plant parts and botanical terminology (e.g., photosynthesis, pollination, etc.).

Plant Parts, Biology of Plants
Missouri Botanical Garden, www.mbgnet.net

Plant Parts and Functions: University of Arizona (website) – The functions of plant parts–stems, leaves, buds, roots, flowers, fruit, and seeds—are explained in short paragraphs and illustrations.

Plant Parts and Functions
University of Arizona, ag.arizona.edu

Signature Lesson

Plant Parts Have Different Jobs: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (PDF) - Use Lesson 2 on pages 5 through 16 to observe, compare and understand the function of plants’ physical characteristics (e.g, stem, flowers, leaves, roots, etc.) that help them meet their basic needs and survive in their native environments.

Plant Parts Have Different Jobs
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, www.wildflower.org

Supporting Lessons

Plant Parts Have Different Jobs: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (PDF) - Use Lesson 2 on pages 5 through 16 to observe, compare and understand the function of plants’ physical characteristics (e.g, stem, flowers, leaves, roots, etc.) that help them meet their basic needs and survive in their native environments.

Plant Parts Have Different Jobs
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, www.wildflower.org

Potato Maze - Make a Plant Obstacle Course: Education.com (website) - Plants need light to grow, and go to great lengths to find it. Create an obstacle course for a potato plant to observe this adaptation in action.

Potato Maze - Make a Plant Obstacle Course
By Danielle Wood, Education.com

Elaboration Lessons and Extensions

School Gardens, Aggie Horticulture Just For Kids: Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University (website) - Create a schoolyard or classroom garden to observe the physical characteristics of plants as they grow.

School Gardens, Aggie Horticulture Just For Kids
Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University, aggiehorticulture.tamu.edu

Which Soil Do Plants Like Best? Science and Health Education Partnership University of California (website) – Students observe and compare how plants grow, and investigate which soils best support the needs of plants.

Which Soil Do Plants Like Best?
Science and Health Education Partnership University of California, www.seplessons.org

Assessment Ideas

Image Gallery: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (website) - Print several pictures of different plants from the website. To assess your students’ abilities to observe, record and compare how plants’ physical characteristics aid plant survival, have students verbally describe or write a brief paragraph about how the characteristics of each plant help it to meet its basic needs.

Image Gallery
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, www.wildflower.org

Literature Connections

What is a Plant? Kalman, Bobbie. (ISBN-13: 978-0865059825)

From Seed to Plant. Fowler, Allan. (ISBN-13: 978-0516273075)

A Tree is a Plant. Bulla, Clyde Robert. (ISBN-13: 978-0064451963)

Related Science TEKS

(2.1A) Science Safety
Identify and demonstrate safe practices as described in the Texas Safety Standards during classroom and outdoor investigations, including wearing safety goggles, washing hands, and using materials appropriately.

(2.2A) Ask Questions
Ask questions about organisms, objects, and events during observations and investigations.

(2.2B) Plan and Conduct Descriptive Investigation
Plan and conduct descriptive investigations such as how organisms grow.

(2.2C) Collect Data
The student is expected to collect data from observations using simple equipment such as hand lenses, primary balances, thermometers, and non-standard measurement tools.

(2.2D) Record and Organize Data & Observations
The student is expected to record and organize data using pictures, numbers, and words.

(2.2E) Communicate and Justify Explanations
Communicate observations and justify explanations using student-generated data from simple descriptive investigations.

(2.2F) Comparing Results of Investigations
Compare results of investigations with what students and scientists know about the world.

(2.3A) Identify, Explain and Propose a Solution to a Problem
Identify and explain a problem in his/her own words and propose a task and solution for the problem such as lack of water in a habitat.

(2.3B) Make Predictions
The student is expected to make predictions based on observable patterns.

(2.3C) Explore Scientists
The student is expected to identify what a scientist is and explore what different scientists do.

(2.4A) Tools for Collecting and Analyzing Information
Collect, record, and compare information using tools, including  computers ,hand lenses, rulers , primary balances, plastic beakers, magnets, collecting nets, notebooks, and safety goggles; timing devices, including clocks and stopwatches ; weather instruments such as thermometers , wind vanes, and rain gauges; and materials to support observations of habitats of organisms such as terrariums and aquariums.

Related Math TEKS

2.13A  The student is expected to explain and record observations using objects, words, pictures, numbers, and technology.

Additional Resources

The Life Cycle of Plants: Birmingham Grid for Learning (website) - Use this interactive set of activities to familiarize students the life cycle of plants, from seed to dispersal.

The Life Cycle of Plants
Birmingham Grid for Learning, www2.bgfl.org

Nature Kids Wildflower Bingo: Nature Discovery Center (PDF) - Play wildflower bingo by observing flowers in the schoolyard, at home or at a local park, and then completing a “bingo” sheet showing all the colors in the flowers students find.

Nature Kids Wildflower Bingo
Nature Discovery Center, www.naturediscoverycenter.org

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