Humans really need plants. They give us a lot of the oxygen we breathe, they’re a big part of what we eat, and they make our spaces look nice. We should definitely thank them! But wouldn’t it be cool if plants could talk? We have so many questions for them! Even though they can’t chat with us, humans have learned a lot about plants through science.
Scientists have a special way of finding answers to their questions about the world, including plants. They do something called an investigation. It starts with a question, like “How do plants turn light into energy?” or “Do plants need soil to grow?” After asking a question, scientists make a guess, called a hypothesis, about what the answer might be. But guessing isn’t enough, so they do investigations to see if they’re right.
Investigations can be experiments or just careful observations. Scientists look at the results to find evidence. If the evidence supports their guess, great! If not, they try again. Sometimes, they don’t find an answer right away, but that’s okay. They keep trying until they do.
Some scientists study cool plants like the Venus flytrap, which eats insects. They noticed that the flytrap’s leaves close when an insect walks on them, but not when it rains. This made them curious. They asked, “How does the Venus flytrap know when an insect is on its leaves?” Each scientist did their own investigation and shared their results. They found out that the flytrap has tiny hairs inside its leaves. These hairs need to be touched a few times in a row to make the leaf close. So, a wiggly insect will close the leaf, but a raindrop won’t. Question answered!
Another scientist, Charles Darwin, wanted to know how plants sense light. He noticed that plants on a windowsill bend toward the light. He guessed that something in the tip of the plant’s stem helps it sense light. To test this, he did an experiment. He grew several plants and treated them differently. Some had their tips cut off, some had their tips covered, and some had their middle parts covered. He found that plants without tips or with covered tips didn’t grow toward the light. This showed that the tips help plants sense light. Investigation success!
Even though we’ve learned a lot about plants, there’s still so much we don’t know. For example, scientists know that plants can communicate with each other, but they don’t know all the ways they do it. They’re also trying to find ways to stop plant diseases, especially in the plants we eat.
Scientists use investigations to answer questions and learn more about plants. Who knows what amazing discoveries they might make in the future? So, if you’re curious, start investigating! Just be careful with your family’s house plants—they probably want them to stay just the way they are.
Plant Detective: Go on a nature walk with an adult and choose a plant to observe. Look closely at its leaves, stem, and flowers. Can you see any insects visiting the plant? Write down or draw what you see. Try to think about why the plant might have certain features, like colorful flowers or thick leaves. Share your observations with your family or friends and discuss what you think the plant might need to grow well.
Light and Plants Experiment: Conduct a simple experiment to see how plants respond to light. Take two small potted plants and place one in a sunny spot and the other in a shaded area. Observe them over a week. Draw pictures of how each plant looks every day. At the end of the week, compare your drawings. Which plant grew more? Discuss why you think light is important for plants.
Question Time: Think of a question you have about plants, just like a scientist would. For example, “Do plants grow faster in warm or cold places?” or “Why do some plants have thorns?” Share your question with a teacher or parent and brainstorm ways you might find the answer. You could look for information in books, ask an expert, or even try a small experiment at home.
