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Year 3 - Science

Plants without roots

What plants do and what they need

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 observe and describe what happens to a plant that has had its roots removed.

Key Notes

  • Roots anchor the plant in soil and provide it with the support it needs.
  • Roots absorb water and nutrients from soil to provide the plant with what it needs to grow and stay healthy.
  • To investigate why plants have roots, a plant with roots removed can be observed over time.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • root: The part of a plant that anchors it in the soil is called the root. Roots take in water and nutrients for the plant.
  • anchor: Roots help to anchor the plant by placing it firmly in the soil.
  • observe: To observe is to look very closely and use other senses too.
  • absorb: To absorb is to soak something up.
  • nutrients: A nutrient is any substance that plants or animals need in order to live or grow.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Pupils may think that plants can support themselves and stay upright without roots as the stem provides support.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.

Roots anchor the plant in soil and provide it with the support it needs. Roots absorb water and nutrients from soil to provide the plant with what it needs to grow and stay healthy.

2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'root'

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 plants can support themselves and stay upright without roots as the stem provides support. Correction: The task carried out in Learning Cycle 1 will demonstrate to pupils that plants need roots anchoring them in the soil in order to stay upright.

More Lessons In This Unit

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