seegongsik
Grade 5 (age 10-11)

grade 5 Plant Structure & Function

Plant Structure and Function

In a plant, the roots, stem, leaves and flowers each have their own job, and they work together to keep it alive. Water taken up by the roots climbs the stem to the leaves, and the leaves use that water, carbon dioxide from the air and sunlight to make food. This is photosynthesis. The food made this way is carried through the stem to every part of the plant, and the flowers make seeds for the next generation. Use the root, stem, leaf and flower buttons to see what each part does, then change the sunlight and watch how the oxygen bubbles from the leaf change.

What each part of a plant does

🌱 What the roots do
①Roots spread through the soil and take in water and the nutrients dissolved in it.
②Lots of fine root hairs give them a large surface touching the soil.
③They hold the plant firmly in the ground so it does not fall over.
④Some roots, like carrots and sweet potatoes, store food.

Photosynthesis in the leaf

70%
☀ What photosynthesis does
①The leaf takes in energy from sunlight.
②It makes food (glucose) from water brought up from the roots and carbon dioxide from the air.
③Oxygen is made at the same time and goes out into the air.
④Without light, photosynthesis stops, so neither food nor oxygen is made.
⑤Some of the food is turned into starch and stored in the leaf for a while.

Summary

Photosynthesis
Water + carbon dioxide + light energy → food (glucose) + oxygen
Plants use sunlight to make their own food.
Jobs of the plant parts
Root (take in) + Stem (carry) + Leaf (photosynthesis) + Flower (reproduction)
The four parts have to work together for a plant to grow.
🎯 Key points
①Roots: take in water and hold the plant in place.
②Stem: the path for water and food, and it holds the plant up.
③Leaves: make food by photosynthesis and let out water by transpiration.
④Flowers: make seeds after pollination.
⑤Photosynthesis: water + carbon dioxide + light energy → food (glucose) + oxygen.

Examples and Unit Test

Example 1
Which part of a plant takes in water, and which part makes food?
1
The roots take in water and the nutrients dissolved in it from the soil.
2
The leaves use sunlight to make food by photosynthesis.
▸ Taking in water: roots / Making food: leaves
The water taken in by the roots has to climb the stem to the leaves before the leaves can carry out photosynthesis.
Example 2
What does photosynthesis in a leaf need, and what does it make?
1
Photosynthesis needs water, carbon dioxide and light energy.
2
It makes food (glucose) and oxygen.
▸ Needs: water, carbon dioxide, light / Makes: food, oxygen
Turn the sunlight down to 0% in the second picture and no oxygen bubbles appear at all.
Unit-test style
Which statement about the structure and function of plants is correct?
①Photosynthesis takes place in the roots.
②Leaves make food by photosynthesis.
③The stem takes in water from the soil.
④Flowers carry water to the leaves.
⑤Photosynthesis does not need light.
▸ ② Leaves make food by photosynthesis.
1
Leaves are where the plant uses sunlight to make food by photosynthesis.
2
Water is taken in by the roots (①, ③), the stem carries water while flowers make seeds (④), and photosynthesis cannot happen without light (⑤).
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