Background Info

• The basic parts of most land plants are roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds.
• Roots anchor plants in the soil and absorb nutrients and water that are needed by the rest of the plant.
• Stems support the upper part of the plant and act as a transport system for nutrients, water, sugar, and starches.
• Leaves are the parts of the plant where photosynthesis usually occurs—where food for the plant is made. The green substance, chlorophyll, captures light energy and uses it to convert water and carbon dioxide into plant food and oxygen.
• Flowers are the reproductive parts of plants. They often have showy petals and fragrances to attract pollinators such as birds, bees, and other insects. Most flowers have four main parts: petals, stamen (anther and filament), pistil (stigma, style, and ovary), and sepals. After flowers are pollinated and fertilized, they produce seeds in the ovary of the flower.
• Fruits are the fleshy substances that usually surround seeds. They protect the seeds and attract animals to eat them. This helps in seed dispersal.
• Seeds contain plant material that can develop into another plant. This plant material is called an embryo. Seeds are covered with a protective seed coat and have one or two cotyledons. Cotyledons are the food for the baby plant until it can make its own food from light and are often the first embryonic leaves of the plant.

Topics/Goals/Learning Objectives

• For students to learn the six basic plant parts and their functions.
• For students to make their own plan part salad.

Opening/Hook

Plants have six basic parts. Each of these parts has an important function, or role, in the life of the plant. What are some examples of different plant parts that we know? Who remembers our plant part song?

Today, we will be making a six plant part salad! We need to start by identifying what plant part each ingredient belongs to. (Hold up vegetable and fruit and seed cards and have students tape the card onto the appropriate position on the poster.)

The Plan/Procedure/Lesson Activities

Prep:

• Download and print a large picture of a plant (tomato plants work really well for this demonstration!) or create your own. If creating your own, your prep time will increase.
• Gather ingredients for the salad (pumpkin seeds = seeds, carrots = root, celery = stem, collards = leaves, broccoli= flower, apple = fruit) and either make your own simple lemon vinaigrette (lemon juice, olive oil, and salt) or bring a pre-made dressing.
• Have the ingredients already chopped and in bowls, ready to go by the time the students come in.

1. Introduce the lesson by asking students what the picture on the poster is. (Answer: a plant.)
2. Ask the students if anyone would eat that plant, or any part of it. What are the different parts?
3. Hold up images of vegetable ingredients. See if students can correctly place their cards onto the plant poster. After each is taped on, go over the function of the plant part.
4. Once poster is complete and all parts have been identified, have students start creating their plant part salads. Place the leaves (collard) at the start of the assembly line (place ingredients on desks and have students follow a line to create their salads). Next, place the roots (carrots) a few desks down, followed by flowers and stems (broccoli and celery), fruit (apple), and seeds (pumpkin). At the end, allow students to dress their salads before returning to their seats.
5. Have the students look and smell their food, and then let them eat! 

Wrap up and Reflection

Have students brainstorm other plant parts/ingredients for the salad. What are other roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds that we could have used?

Extensions/Adaptations/Games

Sing the 6 plant part song or do plant part yoga.

Assessments / Successes / Challenges

This was a simple recipe that the students really enjoyed!

Lesson Resources