STC Plant Growth and
Development
Lesson 6: Observing: Leaves
and Flower Buds
Kennewick School District
STC Plant Growth and Development
Lesson 6: Observing: Leaves and Flower Buds
Materials list
For each student:
 Student notebook
 1 quad of plants with
buds
For every two students:
 1 hand lens
For the class:
 Life Cycle Cards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
6 (Appendix E)
STC Plant Growth and Development
Lesson 6: Observing: Leaves and Flower Buds
Observe your quad of plants with a hand lens.
Look for the following:

Differences between the seed leaves and
the true leaves

Number of both kinds of leaves

Color, size, shape, and number of buds
STC Plant Growth and Development
Lesson 6: Observing: Leaves and Flower Buds
Draw and label the plant using a
full sheet of paper. Your drawing
should show the following:





today’s date
the age of your plant in days
the differences between the two kinds of
leaves
the buds
the right number of leaves and buds
STC Plant Growth and Development
Lesson 6: Observing: Leaves and Flower Buds
Write several descriptive
sentences about your plant.
Hints on what to write:
•Describe how the two kinds of leaves are
different
•Describe the size and shape of each kind of leaf.
•Tell how the two kinds of leaves feel. But touch
the leaves very carefully.
•Describe the colors of the buds.
STC Plant Growth and Development
Lesson 6: Observing: Leaves and Flower Buds
Clean up. Return your plant to
the water mat and put the hand
lenses away.
STC Plant Growth and Development
Lesson 6: Observing: Leaves and Flower Buds
Update your Table of Contents
STC Plant Growth and Development
Lesson 6: Observing: Leaves and Flower Buds
How old are the plants today?
Our plants have changed a lot
since Day 1. What was the first
stage of the plant’s life cycle?
STC Plant Growth and Development
Lesson 6: Observing: Leaves and Flower Buds
At about 24 hours after planting, the
embryonic root emerges.
STC Plant Growth and Development
Lesson 6: Observing: Leaves and Flower Buds
After about 28 hours, the seedling emerges
from the potting mix. The seed coat is split
and the white cotyledons or seed leaves are
visible.
STC Plant Growth and Development
Lesson 6: Observing: Leaves and Flower Buds
During Day 2 and 3, both the root system and
the cotyledons, which are now green, continue
to grow.
STC Plant Growth and Development
Lesson 6: Observing: Leaves and Flower Buds
On Day 4 or 5, the first true leaves appear at
the growing tip of the plant, between the seed
leaves.
STC Plant Growth and Development
From Days 4 through
7, the true leaves
continue to emerge
and grow at a
remarkably rapid
pace.
Lesson 6: Observing: Leaves and Flower Buds
STC Plant Growth and Development
By Day 8 or 9,
the yellow-green
flower buds
appear in a tight
cluster.
Lesson 6: Observing: Leaves and Flower Buds
STC Plant Growth and Development
Lesson 6: Observing: Leaves and Flower Buds
What do you think will happen to
the plants next?
Write your predictions in your
notebook.
STC Plant Growth and Development
Lesson 6: Observing: Leaves and Flower Buds
Class Predictions
Draw a red "Line of Learning" under your own predictions. Write the predictions of other
students below the line.
STC Plant Growth and Development
Lesson 6: Observing: Leaves and Flower Buds
Add this vocabulary word and its meaning to your glossary.
true leaves
Larger leaves which develop after the
seed leaves with wavy, irregular
edges, and a rougher texture.
STC Plant Growth and Development
Lesson 6: Observing: Leaves and Flower Buds
Add this vocabulary word and its meaning to your glossary.
flower buds
A flower that has not yet opened.