1
Name ___________________________
The Structure of Plants
PRE-TEST
Directions: Write a definition for each of the terms listed below:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
roots
stems
leaves
xylem
phloem
root hairs
trunk
deciduous
photosynthesis
chlorophyll
Short Answer Questions:
1. What are the three main parts of plants?
2.
What role do roots play in helping a plant to survive?
3.
What is the job stems perform?
4.
How do leaves help a plant to grow?
5.
What is the role bark plays in a tree's survival?
6.
How can the age of a tree be determined?
7.
What is the process of photosynthesis?
8.
In some plants, such as carrots and beets, the roots do more than provide
support. What else do they do?
"The Structure of Plants
© 2000 Paul Fuqua & John Colgren
All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution.
2
Name ___________________________
The Structure of Plants
VIDEO QUIZ
Directions: At the end of the video production is a short quiz. You may write the
answers to the quiz on this sheet.
True or false section:
1. True or False A tree's stem is composed of its trunk and its branches.
2. True or False The three main parts of a typical green plant are its roots,
stem and bark.
3. True or False Wood is, for the most part, composed of dead xylem tissue.
Fill-in-the-blank section:
4. Leaves produce a green plant's _________________.
5. The long, thin leaves many evergreens produce are called ____________.
6. Straw and hay are made mostly of plant _______________.
7. Phloem tissue carries a plant's _______________.
8. The green colored chemical that is involved in a plant's food making
process is called _________________.
9. Root hairs absorb nutrients and ________________.
10. Water and minerals are transported through a plant's ___________ tissue.
"The Structure of Plants
© 2000 Paul Fuqua & John Colgren
All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution.
3
Name ___________________________
The Structure of Plants
CROSSWORD
DIRECTIONS: Use the clues at the bottom of the page to help yo fill in the blanks
of the crossword.
Across
Down
1. the chemical process plants
use to manufacture food
2. anchors the plant and collects
water and minerals from the soil
1. carry food manufactured
in leaves downward to all
parts of plant
2. transport water and minerals from the roots to the
leaves
3. where photosynthesis
takes place
4. supports the plant and
provides a link between
roots and leaves
"The Structure of Plants
© 2000 Paul Fuqua & John Colgren
All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution.
4
Name ___________________________
The Structure of Plants
COLLECTING LEAVES
Here are two ways you can collect and display leaves.
PRESERVING LEAVES: Collect a leaf while it is still fresh. Place it between several
sheets of newspaper. Lay something heavy on top of the newspaper so that it
completely covers the area taken up by the leaf. Let it sit for about a week. When
you remove the weight and newspaper, you will find a flattened leaf that can be
mounted on cardboard.
LEAF RUBBINGS: Cover a leaf with thin paper. Use charcoal or crayon to rub
over the area of the leaf. Use the broad side of the charcoal or crayon and
don't rub too hard. The image of the leaf and its veins will slowly show up on the
paper.
"The Structure of Plants
© 2000 Paul Fuqua & John Colgren
All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution.
5
Name ___________________________
The Structure of Plants
CUT-UPS
Many house plants will grow from parts of another plant. Ivy, coleus, African
violets, geraniums, and willow tree twigs are examples of plants that can grow
from cuttings.
To grow a plant from a cutting, just remove a leaf or stem and put it in water.
Once the roots begin to grow, transplant it into soil.
Some plants can grow from buds. When famers want to plant potatoes, they
usually only plant pieces of a single potato. They cut potatoes into sections that
each contain an eye or bud. A new plant will grow from the bud. You can try this
by placing a potato in a glass of water as shown.
Directions: Try one of the following as a home project.
1. Grow a new plant from a cutting.
2. Grow a new plant from a bud.
"The Structure of Plants
© 2000 Paul Fuqua & John Colgren
All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution.
6
Name ___________________________
The Structure of Plants
IF A STALK COULD TALK
PURPOSE:
of a plant.
To demonstrate how water is transported through the stem and leaves
MATERIALS: 1.
2.
3.
4.
PROCEDURES:
a celery stalk
knife
food coloring
two drinking glasses
1. Fill the glasses with water.
2. Add a different food coloring to each glass and mix well.
3. Use the knife to cut the celery in the following two ways:
a. Near the bottom of the celery, make a slanted cut.
b. Cut the length of the celery from the bottom of the celery
to within about an inch of the leaves. This cut should
divide the stalk in half with only the leaves and topmost
part of the stalk connected.
4. Place each stalk section in a glass of food coloring.
5. Move this set-up to a window so that the celery is in sunlight.
OBSERVATIONS: Make observations after a few hours have passed. Examine the
leaves and stalk (stem) of the celery. Take apart a section of stem and examine
the colored tubes. Describe what you see.
CONCLUSION:
How does this show that water can travel through the stem and
leaves of a plant?
"The Structure of Plants
© 2000 Paul Fuqua & John Colgren
All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution.
7
Name ___________________________
The Structure of Plants
LEAF SKELETON
PURPOSE: To examine the fibrous skeleton structure of a leaf. Leaves contain
woody hollow vessels that conduct water and glucose. Following the procedures
outlined below will allow you to see these tubes.
MATERIALS:
1.
2.
3.
4.
PROCEDURE:
1. Mix washing soda with water in the pot.
2. Place leaves in the pot and boil for an hour.
3. After boiling the leaves, place them in a solution of bleach
and water.
4. Let them sit in this bleach solution overnight.
OBSERVATIONS:
Draw what the fibrous skeleton looks like.
"The Structure of Plants
leaves
washing soda
bleach
goggles
5. water
6. pot
7. hot plate
© 2000 Paul Fuqua & John Colgren
All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution.
8
Name ___________________________
The Structure of Plants
POST-TEST
Directions: Answer the following questions in the spaces provided.
1.
Describe the roles each of these parts play for the plant's
survival.
a. roots
b. stems
c. leaves
2.
The transportation system of the plant is made up of xylem and phloem
tissue. What is the function of each of these tissues?
3.
What do the annual rings of a woody plant tells us?
4.
How are the leaves of conifers and deciduous plants different?
5.
The leaves of a plant make the food for the plant. What is the name of
this food-making process?
6.
What are the necessary ingredients for food making to take place in a
leaf?
"The Structure of Plants
© 2000 Paul Fuqua & John Colgren
All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution.