1. Parts of a plant

2. Roots • 3 main functions • Anchor the plant into the ground • Absorb water and minerals • Store food • The more root area a plant has, the more it is able to absorb and store.

3. Roots • There are two types of root systems • Fibrous • Consists of many similarly sized roots that form a dense, tangled mass • They take soil with them when tried to be pulled out • Examples: lawn grass, corn, onions • Taproot • One long, thick main root with many smaller roots branching off • It is hard to pull out of the ground. • Examples: Carrots, dandelions, cacti

4. Stem • 2 main functions • Carries substances between the plant’s roots and leaves • Provides support for the plant and holds up the leaves • 2 types of structures • Herbaceous-contain no wood and are often soft • Coneflowers, pepper plants • Woody- hard and rigid • Maple trees, roses

5. Leaves • Leaves capture the sun’s energy and carry out the food-making process of photosynthesis • Leaves vary greatly in size and shape. • Now, take out your leaves and share with those around you what tree yours came from and what are its characteristics. We will highlight some of them as a class.

6. Photosynthesis • Plants are important because they carry out the process of photosynthesis. • The process by which plants capture and use light energy to make food from carbon dioxide and water. • Carbon dioxide enters the leaf through small pores called stomata. • Water is absorbed by the roots and travels up through the stem to the leaf.