Year 1 Science: Trees: trunks, branches and buds
Part of the Year 1 Science parts of a plant chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page · Download worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF)
Trees: trunks, branches and buds
A tree has a trunk. The trunk is thick and strong. Branches grow out from the trunk, and the leaves grow on the branches.
Look at a twig. You may see a bud. A bud is a small bump. It will grow into a new leaf or a new flower.
Key ideas
- A tree has a thick trunk.
- Branches grow out from the trunk.
- Leaves grow on the branches.
- A bud is a small bump that grows into a leaf or a flower.
Key words. To count is to say one number for each thing, in order: 1, 2, 3, and so on.
Method. Touch each one once and say its number. The last number is how many.
- Count the branches. Touch each one once, so you do not miss one or count one twice.1, 2, 3
- Look at the last number you said. The last number tells us how many there are.The last number is 3.
- Write the answer. There are 3 branches.
Check. Count again from the other side. You still get 3. ✓
Watch out. Move each one to one side as you count it. Do not count the same one twice.
Method. Look at the small bump at the tip of the twig.
- Look at the picture. The bud is a small bump at the end of the twig.Small bump at the tip
- Think about what it grows into. A bud grows into a new leaf or a new flower.Bud -> leaf or flower
- Write the answer. A small bump that grows into a new leaf or a new flower.
Check. Look for buds on a twig outside, with a grown-up. ✓
Watch out. A bud is not a dead leaf. It is young and growing.
Method. Think about the big, strong part of a tree.
- Think about the tree. The branches grow out from one big part.Branches come from one part
- Name it. The thick part that holds up the branches is the trunk.Trunk
- Write the answer. The trunk
Check. Put your hand on a tree trunk. It is thick and strong. ✓
Watch out. The leaves and branches are not the trunk.
Watch out
Watch out: a bud is not a dead leaf. A bud is a young part that will grow into a new leaf or a new flower.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Go on a tree walk in a park or garden. Stay on the path, and do not climb trees. Count the branches on a small tree and look for buds on the twigs. Do not pick the buds. Wash hands after touching the tree.
Try it at home
Tree walk. With a grown-up, walk to a tree in a park or the garden. Look at its trunk and its branches. Draw the tree and label the trunk, a branch and the leaves. Do not pick any buds or leaves. Wash your hands afterwards.
Exercise 3E Trees: trunks, branches and buds
Key words. To count is to say one number for each thing, in order: 1, 2, 3, and so on.
Method. Touch each one once and say its number. The last number is how many.
- Count the branches. Touch each one once, so you do not miss one or count one twice.1, 2, 3, 4
- Look at the last number you said. The last number tells us how many there are.The last number is 4.
- Write the answer. There are 4 branches.
Check. Count again from the other side. You still get 4. ✓
Watch out. Move each one to one side as you count it. Do not count the same one twice.
Key words. To count is to say one number for each thing, in order: 1, 2, 3, and so on.
Method. Touch each one once and say its number. The last number is how many.
- Count the branches. Touch each one once, so you do not miss one or count one twice.1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- Look at the last number you said. The last number tells us how many there are.The last number is 5.
- Write the answer. There are 5 branches.
Check. Count again from the other side. You still get 5. ✓
Watch out. Move each one to one side as you count it. Do not count the same one twice.
Key words. To count is to say one number for each thing, in order: 1, 2, 3, and so on.
Method. Touch each one once and say its number. The last number is how many.
- Count the branches. Touch each one once, so you do not miss one or count one twice.1, 2, 3
- Look at the last number you said. The last number tells us how many there are.The last number is 3.
- Write the answer. There are 3 branches.
Check. Count again from the other side. You still get 3. ✓
Watch out. Move each one to one side as you count it. Do not count the same one twice.
Method. Think about the big, thick part of the tree.
- Think about the tree. The trunk is the thick part that goes up from the ground.Thick part, up from the ground
- Name it. The thick part of a tree is called the trunk.Trunk
- Write the answer. trunk
Check. The trunk holds up the branches. ✓
Watch out. The branches are thinner than the trunk.
Method. Think about what a bud grows into.
- Read the sentence. A bud is young, and it grows into a new part.young and growing
- Name the part. A bud grows into a new leaf or a new flower.Leaf
- Write the answer. leaf
Check. Look at a bud on a twig and see the new leaf coming out. ✓
Watch out. Buds can also become flowers, but the answer here is leaf.
Method. Think about the parts of a tree.
- Look at the tree picture. The branches are joined to the trunk.Joined to the trunk
- Decide. Branches grow out from the trunk, so the sentence is true.True
- Write the answer. True
Check. Look at a tree outside. Follow a branch back to the trunk. ✓
Watch out. Branches do not grow from the roots.
Method. Find the bud in the picture, then read its letter.
- Look for the bud. The bud is the small bump at the tip of the twig.The bud is shown as A.
- Read the letter next to it. Each part has its own letter.Bud = A
- Write the answer. A
Check. Point to the letter A with your finger. ✓
Watch out. Check the letter is next to the right part, not the part above or below it.
Method. Add the branches on the left and the right.
- Count the left branches. There are 2 branches on the left.2 left
- Add the right branches. There are 3 branches on the right. Add them to 2.2 + 3 = 5
- Write the answer. 5
Check. Count all the branches again. There are 5. ✓
Watch out. Add both sides together.
Method. Think about where each part is.
- Look at the trunk, branch and bud. They are all above the ground, on a tree.Above the ground
- Find the one that is different. A root grows under the soil, so it is the odd one out.Root: under the soil
- Write the answer. root. It is under the soil; the others are above the ground.
Check. Look at a tree and point to its trunk, a branch and a bud. ✓
Watch out. The odd one out is the only part that grows under the ground.
Method. Think about what the branches hold.
- Look at the tree picture. The leaves grow on the branches.Leaves on branches
- Think about the branch’s job. A branch holds its leaves out, up to the light.Holds leaves up to the light
- Write the answer. It holds the leaves up to the light.
Check. Look at the leaves on a branch. They spread out to catch sunlight. ✓
Watch out. Say what the branch holds: the leaves.
Method. Think about what a bud does.
- Think about what a bud is. A bud is young, and it is waiting to grow.Young and waiting
- Think about spring. In spring, the buds open and grow into new leaves or flowers.Open and grow
- Write the answer. They will open and grow into leaves or flowers.
Check. Look at the same buds each week and draw what you see. ✓
Watch out. Accept any answer that says the buds will grow into leaves or flowers.