Purpose: to establish why plants are useful or essential
Procedure:
1. Groups of four
2. Brainstorm with partners to list as many reasons
why plants are important, useful, or essential
(7 min.) Make notes on scrap paper.
3. Discuss these as a class.
4. Compare what the class results to the following
notes.
NOTES
1. Photosynthesis – plants make their own food
 Source of O2 (atmosphere)
 Sink of CO2
2. Foods / Drinks, source of oils, waxes, gum
3. Construction (wood → homes, fences, bridges…)
4. Fuel (petroleum based & other) E.g. gasoline, wood,
natural gas, kerosene, coal, ethanol, …)
5. Petroleum products ( fuels, plastics, others)
6. Clothing / Textiles / Dyes
7. Paper / paper products
8. Habitat / Shelter for animals
9. Aesthetics (decorations, jewelry, art, scenery)
10.
Landscaping
11.
Source of making a living (farming, tourism, logging)
12.
Erosion prevention
13.
Essential part of food chain
14.
Crucial to Water and Carbon cycles
15.
Medecine / Drugs
E.g.
Drug
Source
Use
Quinine
Cinchona tree
treat malaria
Cinchona
Tree
Aspirin
willow bark
Analgesic
(pain reducer)
Morphine
White willow
tree
Salix alba
poppies
Digitalis
foxglove
pain reliever /
anesthetic
treat irregular
heartbeat