Plants are amazing! They can be really pretty, give us shade, have lovely flowers, and some are even delicious to eat. But did you know they can do something most living things can’t? Plants take energy from the Sun and turn it into food through a process called photosynthesis. This helps them grow big and strong.
You might have noticed that some plants, like pineapples, only grow in certain places. Pineapples love tropical, warm, and sunny spots, which are also great vacation spots! But you won’t find pineapples where penguins live. Why is that?
The answer lies with the Sun. The Earth goes around the Sun every 365 days, and it does this while tilted on an invisible line called its axis. This tilt means the Sun’s light doesn’t hit the Earth evenly. Some parts of the Earth, like near the equator, get a lot of direct sunlight, which is strong and hot. That’s why it’s warm there all year long.
On the other hand, places near the poles get indirect sunlight, which is weaker and cooler. This is why you won’t find pineapples at the South Pole. They need lots of sunlight and warmth to grow, which they can’t get there.
Imagine you plant two bean seeds in the same room. You give them the same soil, water, and pots. But you put one in direct sunlight on a window sill and the other on a table away from the window. After three weeks, the plant in direct sunlight will be bigger and healthier because it got more sunlight for photosynthesis.
The window sill is also warmer, just like the equator. This is why plants like pineapples, which need lots of energy to grow, thrive near the equator but not at the poles.
The Earth’s tilt means areas around the equator get direct sunlight all year, making them warm. Areas near the poles get indirect sunlight, making them cold. Since plants need sunlight to grow, places with lots of direct sunlight have more plants, especially those that take a long time to grow. So, if you’re heading to the North or South Poles and love pineapples, remember to pack some with you!
Sunlight Observation Journal: Over the next week, keep a journal of the sunlight in different areas around your home. Each day, choose a spot like a window sill, a shaded corner, or the backyard. Draw a picture of what you see and note how much sunlight each spot gets. At the end of the week, discuss which spot you think would be best for a plant that loves sunlight, like a pineapple, and why.
Plant Growth Experiment: Try growing two small plants, like bean seeds, at home. Place one plant in a sunny spot and the other in a shaded area. Water them the same amount every day. After two weeks, compare their growth. Which plant grew more? Why do you think that happened? Draw pictures of your plants and share your findings with a family member or friend.
Sunlight and Warmth Exploration: On a sunny day, take two small cups of water. Place one cup in direct sunlight and the other in the shade. After an hour, feel the temperature of the water in each cup. Which one is warmer? Discuss how this experiment relates to why some plants grow better in sunny, warm places.
