FIFTH GRADE PLANT LIFE

FIFTH GRADE

PLANT LIFE

2 weeks LESSON PLANS AND

ACTIVITIES

LIFE CYCLE OVERVIEW OF FIFTH GRADE

ORGANISMS WEEK 1. PRE: Identifying animal and plant cell parts. LAB: Exploring the different organelles of a cell. POST: Exploring the importance of RNA and DNA. WEEK 2. PRE: Explaining the importance of reproduction. LAB: Comparing asexual and sexual reproductive strategies. POST: Comparing characteristics of the 5 kingdoms.

HUMAN BIOLOGY WEEK 3. PRE: Comparing functions of specific body systems. LAB: Calculating calorie intake. POST: Comparing how and where digestion takes place. WEEK 4. PRE: Comparing the three types of muscle tissue. LAB: Calculating reflex time. POST: Defining different components of the medical profession.

PLANT LIFE WEEK 5. PRE: Analyzing the structure of plant cells. LAB: Observing different plants under the microscope. POST: Demonstrating photosynthesis. WEEK 6. PRE: Exploring the diversification of plant reproduction. LAB: Comparing reproduction of a gymnosperm and angiosperm. POST: Discovering how seeds are dispersed.

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT WEEK 7. PRE: Exploring coral species. LAB: Exploring and distinguishing the different types of corals. POST: Discussing the requirements of corals. WEEK 8. PRE: Comparing autotrophs and heterotrophs. LAB: Exploring the eating habits of an owl. POST: Interpreting data obtained from owl pellets.

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LIFE CYCLE - PLANTS (5A) PRE LAB OBJECTIVES:

Students use worksheets to examine the structure of plant cells.

1. Analyzing the structure of plant cells. 2. Comparing plant and animal tissues.

VOCABULARY:

cell wall chloroplast phloem photosynthesis vacuole xylem

MATERIALS:

worksheets crayons

BACKGROUND:

A plant cell is different from an animal cell in that it possesses a cell wall, chloroplasts, large vacuoles, and starch grains (amyloplasts). The cell wall is the outer wall that surrounds plant cells. Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll and function during photosynthesis. Vacuoles store food molecules, water and salts. Starch grains are used to store starch which will provide food for the plant. Plants are made up of many cells that work together to form tissues. There are many types of plant tissues.

The growth of plants occurs in the meristematic tissues. In these tissues the cells are actively dividing, and new cells are continually being produced. Apical meristems are located in roots and stems. Vascular cambium is a meristematic tissue located between the bark and wood (or phloem and xylem). Different types of plants have different types of tissues. Leaf tissue has an upper and lower epidermis which forms a relatively waterproof layer because the cuticle protects the inner cells. Cutin, a fatty material, is secreted by the epidermal cells and forms a waxy layer. There are also guard cells between which are located pores called stomata that are used when the plant transpires and in photosynthesis. Between the epidermal layers is the mesophyll which is divided into the palisade layer and a mass of loosely arranged, irregularly shaped cells called the spongy layer. The vascular bundles of the leaf are enclosed in one or more layers of compactly arranged cells forming the bundle sheath. The xylem and phloem which form a way for cells to move nutrients and water up and down a plant is a complex permanent

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tissue. The xylem is the principal water conducting tissue in plants and the phloem is the principal food conducting tissue.

PROCEDURE:

1. On the worksheet students are to color the stated tissue by finding the tissues on the diagrams. Discuss with students the various parts of a plant. The key part is to illustrate the many components, not to memorize them.

2. Please note that these pictures are the "ideal" plant. Have students look back at Human Biology (4A) Post and Human Biology (5A) Pre so they can compare plant and human tissues. They should notice that there are few similarities between plant and animal tissue. But then, a plant and a human are quite different!

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LIFE CYCLE - PLANTS (5A)

PRE

color the xylem and phloem tissue (blue), spongy layer (green), palisade layer (yellow), upper epidermis (red), and the lower epidermis (pink).

nucleolus vacuole

m ito ch on drio n

nucleus

cell wall cytoplasm

plastid

upper

e p id e rm isx y le m

spongy phloem

layer palisade

layer

lower epidermis

upper epidermis

palisade layer

xylem phloem

spongy layer

guard cells stoma

lower epidermis

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