Plants have different parts that we can see from the outside. These parts are called external structures. Some of these parts include roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits.
Roots are special parts of a plant that usually grow down into the soil. They have a very important job! Roots help the plant get water and nutrients from the soil. These are like food and drinks for the plant, helping it to grow big and strong.
When the plant takes in water through its roots, the water travels up through the stem to the leaves. The leaves use this water to make food in a process called photosynthesis. Roots also help keep the plant steady in the ground. This means the plant won’t get washed away by rain or blown away by the wind.
There are two main types of roots that plants can have:
Some plants have lots of thin roots that spread out in the soil. These are called fibrous roots. They cover a large area and help the plant soak up lots of water when it rains.
Other plants have one big root called a taproot. This root grows deep into the ground to find water that is far below the surface. Taproots help the plant reach water even when it’s dry on top.
Plants have many other parts that do different jobs. You can learn more about these parts and how they help plants by watching more videos or reading more articles. Have fun exploring the amazing world of plants!
Root Observation Walk: Take a walk in a garden or park with an adult and look for different plants. Try to gently dig around a plant to see its roots. Are they fibrous or do they have a big taproot? Draw a picture of the roots you find and label them. Discuss with your adult helper why you think the plant has that type of root.
Root Water Experiment: Fill two clear cups with water and add a few drops of food coloring to each. Place a celery stalk with leaves in one cup and a carrot in the other. Over a few days, observe what happens to the celery and carrot. Write down your observations and think about how this shows the way roots help plants get water.
Root Role Play: Pretend to be a plant! Stand tall and imagine your feet are roots. Have a friend or family member play the role of rain. When they sprinkle water (using a spray bottle or pretend), show how your roots (feet) absorb the water and send it up to your leaves (arms). Discuss how this helps the plant grow.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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The parts of a plant that are observable on the outside are called external structures. These include roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits.
Roots are typically the external structures that grow down into the soil. The primary function of the roots is to take in the water and nutrients the plant needs to survive and grow.
The water moves from the soil through the roots and stem to the leaves, where it is used in the food-making process of photosynthesis. Another important function of roots is to hold the plant firmly in the soil, which helps to prevent it from being washed away by water or blown away by wind.
There are two main types of roots. Some plants have roots that are shallow and branch out to cover a large area; these are called fibrous roots. Fibrous roots help the plants to take up a lot of water when it rains. Other plants have one main root called a taproot, which grows deep into the soil to reach water that is deeper underground.
Learn more about other external plant structures and their functions in our related videos.
Catch you later!
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