Year 3 - Science
The function of leaves
What plants do and what they need
Study Hub
Study Guides
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 describe why plants have leaves.
Key Notes
- Many plants have roots, stems, leaves and flowers.
- Plants can make their own food. This happens in the leaves of a plant.
- Plants make food in their leaves, using sunlight, carbon dioxide and water.
- To investigate why plants have leaves, a plant with leaves removed can be observed over time.
Vocabulary To Learn
- leaf: A leaf is the part of a plant where the plant makes its food using the process of photosynthesis.
- function: The task that something has is its function.
- carbon dioxide: Carbon dioxide is a type of gas that is in the air around us.
- photosynthesis: The way in which plants make food in their leaves is called photosynthesis.
- observation over time: In an observation over time investigation, we observe and record how something changes over a period of time.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may think that a plant's leaves are for the collection of water, due to their shape and the way we often appear to pour water over the leaves when we water plants.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
Many plants have roots, stems, leaves and flowers. Plants can make their own food. This happens in the leaves of a plant.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'leaf'
A leaf is the part of a plant where the plant makes its food using the process of photosynthesis. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: Pupils may think that a plant's leaves are for the collection of water, due to their shape and the way we often appear to pour water over the leaves when we water plants. Correction: Use the lesson resources to explain that the function of the leaves is to make food for the plant.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Comparing what plants need in different habitats Study Guide
- How water is transported in plants 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 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
Browse all guides in the Year 3 Science guide library.