Plants and Growth

Plants are living things that grow all around us.

What Plants Need to Grow

1. Water — plants drink water through their roots
2. Sunlight — plants use light to make food
3. Air — plants need carbon dioxide
4. Space — room to grow
5. Nutrients — minerals from the soil
6. Warmth — the right temperature

Parts of a Plant

• Roots — anchor the plant and absorb water
• Stem — carries water and holds the plant up
• Leaves — make food using sunlight (photosynthesis)
• Flower — attracts insects and makes seeds

Activity: Grow a Bean Plant

1. Put a bean and wet tissue in a clear plastic cup
2. Keep the tissue damp
3. Watch the roots and shoot appear over 1-2 weeks
4. Plant it in soil when it has leaves

Life Cycle of a Plant

Seed to Seedling to Growing Plant to Flowering Plant to Seed (and repeat!)