Let Science Shine
On
The Life Cycle of Flowering Plants
Life Cycle
of a
Flowering Plant
• SC.4.L.16.1 - Identify processes of sexual
reproduction in flowering plants, including pollination,
fertilization (seed production), seed dispersal, and
germination. (Assessed as SC.3.L.14.1.)
• SC.3.L.14.1 - Describe structures in plants and their
roles in food production, support, water and nutrient
transport, and reproduction.
2
Schoolyard Field Study:
Observing a Wild Flower
Materials: A partner, plastic knife, hand lens,
paper towel, wild flower (weed)
Procedures:
• Pick a small plant to observe with a partner.
• Dig it out of the ground carefully and shake off the
dirt.
• Draw your plant and label the parts.
• Use a hand lens to observe each part and sketch
observations.
• Use sensory words to describe the your plant.
• Be ready to share with the class.
The Life Cycle of Flowering Plants
Plants Parts
Word Bank: roots
stem
leaf
flower
Purpose of a Flower
Are Flowers
More Than
Just Pretty?
Flower Power
• Essential Question: What are the parts
of a flower and the function of each part?
• Learning Goals:
Observe and identify flower parts.
Reconstruct a flower model.
Recognize the function of a flower,
identifying the processes of reproduction
including pollination, fertilization, seed
dispersal, and germination.
• Let’s visit a flower garden as we read our
Flower Power booklet
The Parts of a Flower
What are the three main parts of
flowers?
• petals
• stamens
• pistil
Parts of a Flower
The Stamen:
Male Reproductive Part
of a Flower
Anther:
pollen grains
(sperm cells) grow
in the anther.
Filament:
holds the anther
The Pistil:
Female Reproductive
Parts of a Flower
Stigma
Style
Ovary (carpel)
Eggs(ovules)
Let’s Explore the Parts of a Flower
http://naturalsciences.sdsu.edu/classes/lab2.6/lab2.6.html#anchor20015960
Materials: 1 flower, plastic knife, hand lens,
ruler, tweezers, dark sheet of paper
• Use the Flower Power Procedure and
materials/tools and Flower Power booklet to
dissect your flower.
• Examine each part with the hands lens.
• Complete the Parts of the Flower
Observation sheet.
The Parts of a Flower
• Sepals protect the bud
until it opens.
• Petals attract insects.
• Stamens make pollen.
• Pistil contain the ovary
which contains the
ovules (eggs).
• When fertilized, ovules
grow into fruits which
contain seed.
Parts of a Flower
Quiz
3. _____
5. ______
has two
parts:
a. anther
b. filament
5a..
5.b
3.
4a..
4b.
4c.
2. _____
1
4. ______has
three parts:
a. Stigma
b. Style
c. Ovary
2.
Word Bank:
petal
pistil
sepal
stamen
stem
Flower Puzzle Page
Assessment
Materials: scissors, glue stick, paper,
colored pencils, Flower Power booklet
• Cut out and assemble your flower puzzle.
• Glue into your journal.
• Label parts.
Flower Power
Writing
Why Do Plants Make Flowers?
Stories Must Include:
• Common & scientific
name
• Description of the flower
• Explanation of the role of
the flower in the life cycle
of the plant
• Use or value of the plant
Writing Assessment Rubric:
• Accuracy of information
• Creativity
• Use of vivid vocabulary
• Description of flower
• Plant’s use or value
What is Pollination?
Gizmos: Flower Pollination
Pollination is the act of transferring pollen
grains from the male anther of the stamen to
the female stigma.
• Pollen lands on a female pistil, sperm cells
move down to the ovary, fertilizing the egg
cells.
• Fertilization combines DNA.
• The result is a seed with a tiny plant inside.
• The ovary grows into a fruit to protect the
seeds.
Pollinators
• Animals, wind, and water can all help in
the transfer of pollen.
• We call animals or insects that transfer
pollen from plant to plant "pollinators ".
• The flower type, shape, color, odor,
nectar, and structure vary by the type of
pollinator that visits them.
Wind Pollination
• Some flowers, such as grasses, do not have
brightly colored petals and nectar to attract
insects.
These flowers are pollinated by the wind.
Flowering plants use:
•
•
•
•
•
the wind
insects
bats
birds
mammals
to transfer pollen from the stamen
(male) part of the flower to the stigma
(female) part of the flower.
Check Point
• What is pollination?
• How do flowering plants depend on other
living things in order to reproduce?
• Why are young plants like but not identical
to their parents?
Gone to Seed
Three main parts:
1. seed coat - a covering with two roles:
- Protects new plant called embyro
- Guards stored food called endosperm.
2. endosperm – stored food
3. embryo – The new plant with structures
called seed leaves or cotyledons.
Observing Seeds
Senses & Hand Lens
• Sight - Looks
• Touch - Feels
• Hearing – Sounds
when dropped
• Odor – Smells
Qualitative
Observations
Measurement Tools
• Ruler
• Tape measure
• Balance
• Gram mass pieces
Quantitative
Observations
Observing a Seed
1. Observe the outside of a dry bean seed with a
hand lens. Draw it and write down four or more
properties including length and width.
2. Get a wet bean seed to observe. Draw it and
write down four or more properties including
length and width.
3. Why is the wet seed larger?
4. Split it open and observe its parts. Draw and
label its inside including the seed coat,
cotyledon, and embryo.
Wet Bean
2nd Let’s explore …
1st
Lets make
Dry Seed
Observations:
Length:
Width:
Mass:
Color:
Texture:
How do seeds get dispersed
from a plant into the ground?
• Some seeds are hidden in
the ground by animals such
as squirrels as a winter
store.
• Some seeds have hooks on
them and cling to fur or
clothes.
How do birds and animals help
seed dispersal?
• Birds and
animals
eat the
fruits and
excrete
the seeds
away from
the parent
plant.
Ways Seeds are Carried Away from a Plant
•
•
•
•
•
Animal-carried
Animal-consumed
Water-borne
Wind-borne
Propelled
Seed Germination
What do seeds need to sprout?
•
•
•
•
Water
Oxygen
Proper temperature
Some require proper light
Seed Germination
What are the variables that affect germination?
Test your ideas on the Gizmo: Germination.
www.explorelearning.com
What did we learn?
•
•
•
•
Water
Proper temperature
Some require proper light
Oxygen
Guided Inquiry
Problem Statement: Do all seeds germinate at
the same time?
Hypothesis:
Design a Fair Test:
Variables: Test
Materials
Procedures:
Experiment:
Data Collection:
Results:
Conclusion:
Outcome
Control/Constants