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Primary Science · Year 1Chapter 3 · Parts of a plant
Year 1 · Chapter 3

Year 1 Science Parts of a Plant: worked examples and questions with answers

By the end of this chapter you will be able to

  • Name the roots, stem, leaves and flower of a plant
  • Say what roots, stems and leaves do
  • Name the trunk, branches and buds of a tree
  • Explain how a flower can make fruit with seeds inside
  • Say which part of a plant a food comes from
  • Look closely at a plant with a grown-up and say what I can see

You should already know

  • Plants around us (Chapter 2): names of common plants and trees
  • Which trees keep their leaves all year and which lose them in autumn (Chapter 2)
  • Counting to 10 and on from any number

Where this leads

  • Animal groups (Chapter 4)
  • Seasons and weather (Chapter 9): how plants change through the year

National Curriculum for England, Key Stage 1 science, Year 1. Content: Identify the basic parts of a flowering plant: roots, stem, leaves and flower, Identify the parts of a tree: trunk, branches and buds, Identify petals, fruit and seeds, and what they are for, Say what each part of a plant does, in simple words.

Printable worksheets. Every lesson in this chapter has a free worksheet and an answer sheet to download and print.

Exercise P  Do you remember?

1
FWhich of these is a plant? Choose: a table, a daisy or a stone.
2
FWhich of these is a tree: an oak, a daisy or a tulip?
an oak
a daisy
a tulip
3
FTrue or false: plants need water to grow.
4
FWhich tree loses its leaves in autumn: an oak or a holly?
an oak
a holly
5
FCount on from 6. What are the next two numbers?
0123456??910
3.1

The parts of a plant

Year 1
Identify the basic parts of a flowering plant

Printable: Worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF) · Open this lesson on its own page

Video lesson: The parts of a plantComing soon
A garden full of plants.

Plants are living things. Most plants have the same main parts. Can you find them in the picture?

The roots grow down into the soil. The stem grows up from the roots. The leaves grow on the stem. The flower grows at the top. Each part has a job to do.

flowerleafstemroots
A plant with its parts labelled.

Key ideas

  • A plant has roots, a stem, leaves and a flower.
  • Roots are usually under the soil.
  • The stem holds up the leaves and the flower.
  • Each part has a job to do.
Worked example 3.1.1
Which part of the plant is under the soil?

Method. Look for the soil. Then find the part that is under it.

  1. Look at the picture. The brown ground is the soil.
    Soil at the bottom of the picture
  2. Find the part under the soil. Roots grow down into the soil.
    Roots go down into the soil
  3. Write the answer.
    The roots

Check. Roots stay in the soil and do not show above it. ✓

Watch out. The roots are under the soil, not on top of it.

Worked example 3.1.2
Which part holds up the leaves and the flower?

Method. Look at the part that goes up from the roots.

  1. Look at the long part that goes up. This part joins the roots to the leaves and the flower.
    The long green part in the middle
  2. Name the part. The part that holds up the leaves and flower is the stem.
    Long part = stem
  3. Write the answer.
    The stem

Check. Hold a pencil straight up. It is like the stem holding up the flower. ✓

Watch out. Leaves and flowers are not the part that holds the plant up.

Worked example 3.1.3
Which part of the plant is green, flat and grows on the stem?

Method. Look for the part that is green and flat.

  1. Look at the picture. Leaves are green and flat.
    A green flat shape
  2. Think about where it grows. Leaves grow on the stem of a plant.
    Leaves grow on the stem
  3. Write the answer.
    A leaf

Check. Most leaves are green and flat, like this one. ✓

Watch out. A flower is bright and soft, not flat and green.

Watch out

Watch out: a plant has more than a flower. Look for the roots, the stem and the leaves as well.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Find a plant in a pot or in the garden. Point to each part and say its name. Wash hands after touching plants and soil. Never eat any part of a plant unless a grown-up says it is safe.

Try it at home

With a grown-up, find a plant in a pot or in the garden. Do not pick it. Point to its stem and its leaves. Ask: Where are its roots? Wash your hands afterwards.

Exercise 3A  Naming the parts of a plant

1
FWhich letter shows the flower?
ABCD
2
FWhich letter shows a leaf?
ABCD
3
FWhich letter shows the stem?
ABCD
4
FWhich letter shows the roots?
ABCD
5
FMatch each part to its letter.
ABCD
(a)leaf
(b)stem
(c)roots
6
FWhich part of the plant holds up the leaves and the flower?
7
FFill the gap: The ______ grow down into the soil and hold the plant in place.
8
FFill the gap: The ______ are usually green and flat. They catch sunlight.
9
PSAli says, “The roots grow on top of the soil.” Is he right? Explain how you know.
10
PSCount the main parts of this plant: roots, stem, leaves and flower. How many parts are there?
11
RWorking scientifically: Look at a plant in a pot on a windowsill. Which main part can you not see if you only look at the pot? Explain.
3.2

Roots: holding on and drinking

Year 1
Identify roots and say what they do

Printable: Worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF) · Open this lesson on its own page

Video lesson: Roots: holding on and drinkingComing soon
A farm, where food plants grow.

The roots are the part of a plant that grows down into the soil. They hold the plant firmly in the ground, so it does not fall over. They also soak up water from the soil.

The carrot we eat is a root. The leafy top of the carrot plant grows above the soil.

leavescarrot root
A carrot plant. The leaves are above the soil. The carrot is a root.

Key ideas

  • Roots grow down into the soil.
  • Roots hold the plant in the ground.
  • Roots soak up water from the soil.
  • A carrot is a root that we can eat.
Worked example 3.2.1
Which part of the carrot plant do we eat?

Method. Look for the part that grows under the soil.

  1. Look at the picture. The orange carrot is under the soil.
    Orange carrot under the soil
  2. Name the part. A part that grows under the soil is a root.
    Under the soil = root
  3. Write the answer.
    The root

Check. The carrot is the part that grows down, so it is the root. ✓

Watch out. The leaves are above the soil, and we do not eat them as a carrot.

Worked example 3.2.2
What do roots do for a plant?

Method. Think about what would happen to a plant with no roots.

  1. Think about holding on. Without roots, a plant can fall over in the wind.
    Roots hold it in the soil
  2. Think about water. Roots soak up water from the soil for the plant to use.
    Roots take in water
  3. Write the answer.
    They hold the plant in the soil and soak up water.

Check. A plant with roots stands up in the soil. ✓

Watch out. Roots do not make flowers or seeds.

Worked example 3.2.3
Is the carrot above the soil or below the soil?

Method. Look at where the orange carrot is.

  1. Look at the soil line. The soil is the brown ground.
    Soil line in the middle
  2. Find the carrot. The carrot is under the soil line.
    Carrot under the line
  3. Write the answer.
    Below the soil

Check. The leafy top is above the soil, and the carrot is below it. ✓

Watch out. Leaves are above the soil. Carrots grow below it.

Watch out

Watch out: a carrot is a root, but the leaves on top of a carrot plant are not roots. The leaves grow above the soil.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Look at pictures of roots together, or see roots on a plant that has been lifted from a pot with help. Remind your child that roots stay in the soil. Wash hands after handling soil.

Try it at home

Grow a bean. With a grown-up, put a dried broad bean seed (from a garden centre or seed packet) between a damp paper towel and the side of a clear jar. Keep the towel damp and look at the bean each day for about two weeks. Do not eat the beans. Wash your hands afterwards.

Exercise 3B  Roots: holding on and drinking

1
FWhat do roots do? Choose one: (a) make flowers (b) hold the plant in the soil (c) make seeds
2
FRoots soak up ______ from the soil.
3
FWhich letter shows the carrot root?
AB
4
FWhich is hidden under the soil: the leaves or the roots?
5
FTrue or false: roots grow above the soil.
6
FTrue or false: roots help the plant to stand up.
7
FWhich of these is a root: carrot, lettuce or apple?
carrot
lettuce
apple
8
PSRavi pulls up a weed. The roots come out of the soil with the plant. Why do you think the roots came out?
9
PSA plant has no roots. It is just placed on top of the soil. Explain why it might fall over.
10
FFill the gap: The ______ takes in water from the soil.
11
RWorking scientifically: Your bean is in a damp jar. What do you think will happen to its roots over the next week? Explain.
3.3

Stems and trunks: holding up and carrying water

Year 1
Identify the stem and say what it does

Printable: Worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF) · Open this lesson on its own page

Video lesson: Stems and trunks: holding up and carrying waterComing soon
A park, with plants and trees.

The stem holds up the leaves and the flower. It has tiny tubes inside it. Water goes up these tubes from the roots to the leaves and the flower.

A tree has a very thick stem called the trunk. The trunk holds up the branches and the leaves.

A plant in a pot. Its stem holds up the leaves.

Key ideas

  • The stem holds up the leaves and the flower.
  • Water goes up the stem from the roots.
  • A tree’s thick stem is called the trunk.
  • Some stems are thin and soft, like a flower stalk.
Worked example 3.3.1
How many leaves are on this stem?

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.

  1. Count the leaves. Touch each one once, so you do not miss one or count one twice.
    1, 2, 3, 4
  2. Look at the last number you said. The last number tells us how many there are.
    The last number is 4.
  3. Write the answer.
    There are 4 leaves.

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.

Worked example 3.3.2
Which part carries water from the roots up to the leaves?

Method. Think about the part that joins the roots to the leaves.

  1. Think about the path of the water. Water starts in the roots and goes up.
    Roots -> up -> leaves
  2. Find the part on the way. The stem is the part between the roots and the leaves.
    The stem is in the middle
  3. Write the answer.
    The stem

Check. Look at the stem in the picture. It goes from the pot to the leaves. ✓

Watch out. The roots take the water in, but the stem carries it up.

Worked example 3.3.3
What is the thick stem of a tree called?

Method. Think about the big stem of a tree.

  1. Think about a tree. A tree has a big, thick stem going up from the ground.
    A big stem = trunk
  2. Name it. The thick stem of a tree is called the trunk.
    Trunk
  3. Write the answer.
    The trunk

Check. The trunk holds up the branches. ✓

Watch out. Thin flower stalks are stems, but they are not trunks.

Watch out

Watch out: the stem is not the root. The stem grows up above the soil. The roots grow down into the soil.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Take a cut flower from a vase, with help, and look at its stem. Ask your child to count the leaves on the stem. On a walk, touch a tree trunk (wash hands after) and ask: Is it thin or thick?

Try it at home

With a grown-up, put a stick of celery with its leaves into a glass of water with a few drops of food colouring. Leave it for one day, then look at the leaves. Do not eat the celery afterwards. Wash your hands.

Exercise 3C  Stems and trunks

1
FHow many leaves are on this stem?
2
FHow many leaves are on this stem?
3
FHow many leaves are on this stem?
4
FFill the gap: The stem holds the ______ up towards the light.
5
FWhich part carries water up to the leaves? Choose one: roots, stem or petals.
6
FTrue or false: all stems are thick.
a flower stalk
a tree trunk
7
FWhat do we call the thick stem of a tree?
8
PSStem A has 4 leaves. Stem B has 2 leaves. How many leaves are there altogether?
Stem A
Stem B
9
PSSam cuts a flower off its stem and leaves it on the ground. What will happen to the flower? Say why.
10
RExplain how the stem helps the leaves to get water.
11
RWorking scientifically: A celery stick is standing in coloured water. What do you think will happen to its leaves, and why?
3.4

Leaves: catching sunlight

Year 1
Identify leaves and say what they do

Printable: Worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF) · Open this lesson on its own page

Video lesson: Leaves: catching sunlightComing soon
A woods, with trees and plants.

Most leaves are green and flat. Their flat shape helps them to catch the sunlight. Leaves use sunlight to make food for the plant.

The thin lines on a leaf are called veins. The veins carry water and food around the leaf.

vein
A leaf, with the sun shining on it. The thin lines are veins.

Key ideas

  • Most leaves are green and flat.
  • Leaves catch sunlight.
  • Leaves use sunlight to make food for the plant.
  • The thin lines on a leaf are called veins.
Worked example 3.4.1
What colour are most leaves?

Method. Look at the leaf in the picture, and think about the leaves you have seen.

  1. Look at the leaf. The leaf in the picture is green.
    Green
  2. Think about other leaves. Most leaves on plants are green.
    Most leaves are green
  3. Write the answer.
    Green

Check. Look at the leaves on a tree or in a park. Most are green. ✓

Watch out. Some leaves turn other colours in autumn, but most are green in summer.

Worked example 3.4.2
Why are most leaves flat?

Method. Think about what the leaf needs to do.

  1. Think about sunlight. The leaf needs to catch sunlight.
    Leaf catches sunlight
  2. Think about the shape. A flat shape has a large space to catch more sunlight.
    Flat = catches more sunlight
  3. Write the answer.
    So they can catch more sunlight.

Check. Hold a flat card in the sun and a ball of paper. Which one catches more light? ✓

Watch out. The flat shape helps the leaf catch more sunlight.

Worked example 3.4.3
What are the thin lines on a leaf called?

Method. Look closely at the leaf.

  1. Look at the lines on the leaf. The thin lines run through the leaf.
    Thin lines
  2. Name them. The thin lines on a leaf are called veins.
    Veins
  3. Write the answer.
    veins

Check. Find the veins on a leaf from the park. ✓

Watch out. The veins carry water and food around the leaf.

Watch out

Watch out: a leaf is not a petal. Leaves are usually green and flat. Petals are often bright and soft.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Collect a few fallen leaves from the ground in a park or garden. Do not pick leaves from living plants. Let your child sort them by size and look at the veins. Wash hands after.

Try it at home

Make a leaf rubbing. With a grown-up, find a fallen leaf on the ground. Put it under a sheet of paper and rub gently over it with the side of a crayon. Look at the veins that show up. Wash your hands afterwards.

Exercise 3D  Leaves: catching sunlight

1
FWhat colour are most leaves?
2
FFill the gap: Leaves grow on the ______.
3
FTrue or false: most leaves are flat.
4
FLeaves catch ______ to help the plant make food.
5
FWhat are the thin lines on this leaf called?
6
FTrue or false: a leaf can help the plant to make food.
7
FWhich of these is a leaf: lettuce, apple or carrot?
lettuce
apple
carrot
8
PSMei picks all the leaves off a plant. Why might this be a problem for the plant?
9
PSA plant has 4 big leaves and 3 small leaves. How many leaves are there in total?
10
RWhich is the odd one out: lettuce, cabbage, carrot or spinach? Explain why.
lettuce
cabbage
carrot
spinach
11
RWorking scientifically: How could we find out which leaf in the park is the biggest? Give one way.
3.5

Trees: trunks, branches and buds

Year 1
Identify the trunk, branches and buds of a tree

Printable: Worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF) · Open this lesson on its own page

Video lesson: Trees: trunks, branches and budsComing soon
A park with trees.

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.

trunkbranchleaves
A tree with its parts labelled.

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.
Worked example 3.5.1
How many branches does this tree have?

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.

  1. Count the branches. Touch each one once, so you do not miss one or count one twice.
    1, 2, 3
  2. Look at the last number you said. The last number tells us how many there are.
    The last number is 3.
  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.

Worked example 3.5.2
What is a bud?

Method. Look at the small bump at the tip of the twig.

  1. Look at the picture. The bud is a small bump at the end of the twig.
    Small bump at the tip
  2. Think about what it grows into. A bud grows into a new leaf or a new flower.
    Bud -> leaf or flower
  3. 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.

Worked example 3.5.3
Which part of a tree is thick and holds up the branches?

Method. Think about the big, strong part of a tree.

  1. Think about the tree. The branches grow out from one big part.
    Branches come from one part
  2. Name it. The thick part that holds up the branches is the trunk.
    Trunk
  3. 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

1
FHow many branches does this tree have?
2
FHow many branches does this tree have?
3
FHow many branches does this tree have?
4
FWhat is the thick part of a tree called?
5
FFill the gap: A bud grows into a new ______ or a new flower.
6
FTrue or false: branches grow out from the trunk.
7
FWhich letter shows a bud?
ABC
8
PSA tree has 2 branches on the left and 3 branches on the right. How many branches are there altogether?
9
RWhich is the odd one out: trunk, branch, bud or root? Explain why.
10
RExplain how a branch helps a tree.
11
RWorking scientifically: Look at the buds on a tree in spring. What do you think will happen to them?
3.6

Flowers, fruit and seeds

Year 1
Identify petals, fruit and seeds, and what they are for

Printable: Worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF) · Open this lesson on its own page

Video lesson: Flowers, fruit and seedsComing soon
Food from plants.

A flower often has bright petals. The petals can attract insects, such as bees. After a flower, a fruit can grow. A fruit often has seeds inside it. A seed can grow into a new plant.

A flower. Its petals are bright and soft.

Key ideas

  • A flower has petals.
  • Petals are often bright to attract insects.
  • A fruit grows from a flower and has seeds inside.
  • A seed can grow into a new plant.
Worked example 3.6.1
How many petals does this flower have?

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.

  1. Count the petals. Touch each one once, so you do not miss one or count one twice.
    1, 2, 3, 4, 5
  2. Look at the last number you said. The last number tells us how many there are.
    The last number is 5.
  3. Write the answer.
    There are 5 petals.

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.

Worked example 3.6.2
Which part of a plant has seeds inside it?

Method. Think about the part that grows from the flower.

  1. Think about an apple. An apple grows from a flower and has seeds inside.
    Apple: seeds inside
  2. Name the part. A fruit grows from a flower and holds the seeds.
    Fruit holds the seeds
  3. Write the answer.
    The fruit

Check. Cut an apple across the middle with a grown-up. The seeds are inside. ✓

Watch out. Do not eat seeds from plants.

Worked example 3.6.3
What can a seed grow into?
seedseedlingyoung plant

Method. Look at the pictures of the seed growing.

  1. Follow the arrows. The seed first grows into a seedling, then into a young plant.
    seed -> seedling -> young plant
  2. Name the new thing. A seed grows into a new plant.
    New plant
  3. Write the answer.
    A new plant

Check. Watch a bean seed in a jar grow over time. ✓

Watch out. A seed is a new plant waiting to grow.

Watch out

Watch out: do not eat seeds, berries or other parts of plants unless a grown-up says they are safe.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Look at flowers from the garden, or from a shop bought bunch, but do not pick flowers from a park. Count the petals together. Cut an apple across the middle, with the grown-up using the knife, and look at the seeds. Do not eat the seeds. Wash hands after.

Try it at home

Apple cut. With a grown-up cutting the apple, cut it in half across the middle. Look at the seeds in the middle. Do not eat the seeds. Wash your hands afterwards.

Exercise 3F  Flowers, fruit and seeds

1
FHow many petals does this flower have?
2
FHow many petals does this flower have?
3
FHow many petals does this flower have?
4
FWhich part of a flower is often bright and colourful?
5
FWhat do seeds grow into?
6
FHow many apples are there on the tree?
7
FWrite the part of the plant each food comes from: apple, carrot, lettuce, tomato. Choose fruit, root or leaf.
appletomatocarrotlettuce
(a)apple
(b)carrot
(c)lettuce
(d)tomato
8
FFill the gap: A seed is often found inside a ______.
9
PSThe pictures show a seed growing. Which letter shows the seed?
ABC
10
PSRavi says an apple is a fruit because it grows from a flower and has seeds inside. Is Ravi right? Explain.
11
RWorking scientifically: Cut an apple across the middle. What did you notice about where the seeds are?

Chapter summary

SkillMethod
RootsHold the plant in the soil and soak up water.
StemHolds up the leaves and flower, and carries water up.
LeavesCatch sunlight to make food for the plant.
Flower and petalsBright petals attract insects to the flower.
Fruit and seedsA fruit grows from a flower and has seeds inside. A seed can grow into a new plant.
Tree partsThe trunk holds up the branches. A bud grows into a leaf or a flower.

Can you…?

  • I can name the roots, stem, leaves and flower of a plant
  • I can say what roots and stems do
  • I can say what leaves do, and name their veins
  • I can name the trunk, branches and buds of a tree
  • I can explain how a flower makes fruit with seeds inside
  • I can say which part of a plant a food comes from

Key terms

root
the part of a plant that grows into the soil and takes in water
stem
the part that holds up the leaves and the flower
trunk
the thick stem of a tree
branch
a part that grows out from the trunk of a tree
leaf
a flat part of a plant that catches sunlight
vein
a thin line inside a leaf that carries water and food
flower
the part of a plant that often has bright petals
petal
one of the bright parts around the middle of a flower
fruit
the part that grows from a flower and has seeds inside
seed
a small part that can grow into a new plant
bud
a small bump that grows into a new leaf or a new flower

Exercise 3Z  Check-up

1
Which letter shows the roots?
ABCD
2
What do roots do? Write one job.
3
How many leaves are on this stem?
4
Which part carries water from the roots up to the leaves?
5
How many branches does this tree have?
6
Which part of a plant grows into a fruit?
7
What is a bud?
8
Match each part to what it does.
(a)roots
(b)leaves
(c)trunk
9
Tom says a carrot is a fruit. Is he right? Explain.
10
Working scientifically: Explain why flowers often have bright petals.

Total 16 marks. Allow about 16 minutes.

Exercise 3X  End-of-chapter quiz

1
FWhich letter shows the stem?[1 mark]
ABCD
2
FWhat do leaves catch to make food for the plant?[1 mark]
3
FHow many petals does this flower have?[1 mark]
4
FWhat is the thick stem of a tree called?[1 mark]
5
FName three parts of a plant.[2 marks]
6
RAli says the trunk of a tree is its root. Is he right? Explain.[2 marks]
7
RMei puts a white flower into coloured water. The colour goes up the stem into the petals. What does the stem do?[2 marks]
8
FWrite fruit or root for each: apple, carrot.[2 marks]
apple
carrot
(a)apple
(b)carrot
9
RExplain how the roots and the leaves both help the plant.[2 marks]
10
RWorking scientifically: Ali has a seed in damp soil in a warm place. What do you think will happen? Give one reason.[2 marks]

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