Year 3 - Science
How water is transported in plants
What plants do and what they need
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit explores the functions of different parts of flowering plants, including roots, stems, leaves, and flowers. It investigates plant requirements for growth and the role of flowers in pollination, seed formation, and dispersal. Emphasis is on practical enquiries, and data presentation.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to investigate the way in which water is transported in plants.
Key Notes
- Plants use their roots to absorb the water they need from the soil.
- The functions of a stem are to provide support for the plant and to transport water and nutrients.
- Water travels from the roots, up the stem to the leaves and flowers.
- Changes in plants can be observed over time.
Vocabulary To Learn
- roots: The part of a plant that anchors it in the soil is called the root. Roots take in water and nutrients for the plant.
- stem: The stem of a plant supports the leaves and flowers.
- absorb: To absorb is to soak something up.
- transport: To transport something is to move it from one place to another.
- observe: To observe is to look very closely and use other senses too.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may think that water is taken into the plant through the leaves or flowers, due to the way water can sometimes be seen pooling there after rain.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
Plants use their roots to absorb the water they need from the soil. The functions of a stem are to provide support for the plant and to transport water and nutrients.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'roots'
The part of a plant that anchors it in the soil is called the root. Roots take in water and nutrients for the plant. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: Pupils may think that water is taken into the plant through the leaves or flowers, due to the way water can sometimes be seen pooling there after rain. Correction: Use the slide deck and lesson activities to support pupils' understanding that water is absorbed by the roots of a plant, then transported via the stem, and that the flowers and leaves are not able to take in water.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Comparing what plants need in different habitats Study Guide
- Life cycle of a flowering plant Study Guide
- Nutrients and fertilisers for plants (non-statutory) Study Guide
- Plants without roots Study Guide
- Pollination Study Guide
- Seed formation and seed dispersal Study Guide
- The function of flowers Study Guide
- The function of leaves Study Guide
- The function of roots Study Guide
- The parts of a flower Study Guide
- What plants need: do Study Guide
- What plants need: final review Study Guide
- What plants need: plan Study Guide
- What plants need: review Study Guide
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