Higher:
Is able to explain their finished root drawing to their friends
Middle:
Can annotate a root drawing with descriptive comments
Lower:
Is able to draw an outline the shapes of roots
Higher:
Is able to explain how the functions of the root affect the life of a plant
Middle:
Can describe the functions of the root
Lower:
Is able to list the functions of the root
Mission Starter: Why is the rain important for plants? Explain your ideas to your talk partner.
Presentation - Starter Slide.
Answer questions and take part in activities during the presentation.
Presentation
In today's Expert Film Emma Bush who works as a tropical rainforest scientist. Emma talks about the root systems of some of the trees she studies.
Presentation - Expert Film
Prior Preparations
*This experiment will need to be prepared a week in advance, ready for teaching.*
Stick three cocktail sticks evenly around an onion, this is to allow it to rest on top of a glass of water.
Sit the onion on top of a glass of water so that the dried onion roots are just touching the surface of the water. You will need to top up the water regularly.
This preparation is shown in the mission assignment video.
Root Observations
After a few day new roots should begin to sprout and grow into the water. The longer you can leave the onion the more exaggerated the effect will be.
The children then use magnifying glasses to examine and draw the onions roots. They should note any interesting colours and textures.
The teacher can also cut the onion in half. This will allow the children to see and draw how the roots have emerged from the inside.
onions
cocktail sticks
glasses
magnifying glasses
Quiz
With their talk partners, the children are to go through the quiz at the end of the presentation and answer the questions.
Quiz in presentation
What are the functions of the root?
Why can we eat some roots?
Why are roots so important to keeping a plant alive?
1. Children to be allocated a mark out of 5 for their practical experiment.
2. Children to be awarded a mark out 5 for their experiment write up.
(Award children a practical mark out of 10 for the lesson).
Some root vegetables include.... (carrots, parsnips and onions).
Root vegetables grow because...
A root system is...
The Science behind the Science
In vascular plants, the roots typically lie underneath the surface of the soil. Roots can also be aerial roots, which grow up above the ground and above water. They often look like branches without leaves. Did you know that the first root that comes from a plant is called radicle? Plants rely on roots for four major things: absorption of water and nutrients, anchoring the plant to the ground and providing support, storing food and nutrients and, vegetative reproduction and competition with other plants.
The cells are arranged as follows in roots: the root hair, epidermis, epiblem, cortex, endodermis, pericycle, and the vascular tissue in the centre that transports water absorbed by the root hairs. The root hairs do not have leaves and are long and thin so that they can penetrate through the soil particles. They have a large surface area which aids in water and nutrient absorption and with microbe relation. This is where most water absorption takes place.
Plants have three types of root systems: fibrous (all roots are the same size), taproot (has a main taproot that is larger and grows faster than the branch roots), adventitious (roots that form on any plant part other than the roots). Fibrous root systems are typical of grasses, carrots, beetroots and turnips. Taproot systems grow vertically downwards and are typical of dandelions and most dicotyledonous plants. Adventitious root systems are common of monocotyledons such as orchids and bromeliads.
Root vegetables grow underground and because of this absorb a large amount of nutrients from the soil. They tend to be jam packed with a high concentration of antioxidants, vitamin C, B, A, and iron. These all aid in cleansing your system. They also contain carbohydrates and fibre which help to regulate the digestive system and your blood sugar. Did you know that root vegetables are also disease fighting and immunity and energy boosting?
Explore the parts that flowers play in the life cycle of flowering plants; including pollination, seed formation and seed dispersal.
Planet Earth - Biodiversity and interdependence - Through carrying out practical activities and investigations, I can show how plants have benefited society. SCN 2-02b
The study of the characteristics, systems, and behaviours of humans and other animals, and of plants; the interactions and relationships between and among them, and with the environment.
Making systematic and careful observations and, where appropriate, taking accurate measurements using standard units, using a range of equipment, including thermometers and data loggers.
Recording findings using simple scientific language, drawings, labelled diagrams, keys, bar charts, and tables
Grade 4 - Plant life.
Grade 3 - Life Science - Living things - A look at living things - Plants and their parts - How do roots and stem help plants? Grade 5 - Life Science - Diversity of Life - Kingdom of Living Things - Plants - What are roots?
Explain that plants are generally composed of roots, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds & these parts have corresponding functions to help plants maintain their own survival