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Plant Paint

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There are over 300,000 different species of Angiosperms, also called flowering plants. Monocots and dicots make up a large part of this group. Can you determine the difference between monocots and dicots? Start your investigation of these interesting flowering plants.

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What are the characteristics of a monocot plant?

Monocots generally have parallel veins in their leaves, fibrous roots, and a stem with vascular bundles distributed evenly throughout the stem.

What are the characteristics of a dicot plant?

Dicots generally have branched veins in their leaves, a large single tap root, and a stem with vascular bundles arranged in a ring or circular pattern in their stem.

What are the functions of leaves?

The main function of leaves is to act as a site for photosynthesis to occur. Chloroplasts inside the leaves contain chlorophyll that captures sunlight to supply the energy for the photosynthetic chemical reaction to occur.

What are the functions of stems?

The main functions of stems are to aid in the transportation of water, sugar, and other substances throughout the plant and to provide structural support for the leaves.

What are the functions of roots?

The main functions of the roots are to secure the plant in place, to absorb water and minerals from the ground for the plant, and to store needed substances.

What is photosynthesis?

Photosynthesis is the process in which sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water combine to form sugar, oxygen, and stored energy. The sugars made during this process are glucose and fructose that combine to make the disaccharide sucrose.

What is respiration?

Respiration is the process of extracting energy from stored chemical bonds to carry out the functions for survival of the plant or animal. In the respiration process, sugar and oxygen combine to form carbon dioxide, water, and energy for necessary processes such as growth and other metabolic activities.

What is transpiration?

Transpiration is a passive process in which water is moved through a plant via the xylem. Water evaporates from the spongy mesophyll cells and exits the leaves in the vapor phase through the stomata. This action pulls adjacent water molecules up the plant since the water molecules have strong cohesive properties. Transpiration is a unidirectional process, moving water from the roots to the stem to the leaves.

What is translocation?

Translocation is an active process in which sucrose and amino acids move from the site of their production (the leaves) to other parts of the growing plant. A high sugar concentration at the source creates a low solute potential. This solute potential draws water from the xylem into the phloem, creating a high-pressure potential or high turgor pressure. The high-pressure gradient pushes the sugars throughout the plants to sites where needed. The sugars are rapidly removed where needed, which causes the water to leave the phloem and return to the xylem.

Here are some definitions to help you in your Grade 3-5 Lesson 1 investigation.

Plant - an organism made up of many cells
Structure - how the parts of something are arranged
Leaf - the site of photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis - the process in which leaves capture sunlight to supply the "food" and energy for the plant
Stem - provides structure to support the plant and allows the movement of watering and nutrients from the roots to higher parts on the plant
Root - attaches the plant to the ground to secure the plant in place and to absorb water and nutrients from the ground for the plant
Node - the part on a stem where a leaf attaches to the stem.
Internode - the part of the set between two nodes.
Flower - the part of the plant that helps the plant reproduce
Observation - the process of gaining information by sight, sound, touch, smell, or taste
Compare - to note how two or more things are alike or different
Contrast - to note how two or more things are very different

Here are some definitions to help you in your Grade 3-5 Lesson 2 investigation.

Plant - an organism made up of many cells
Scale - how large the drawing of something is compared to its size in real life
Embryo - a part of a plant still developing in the plant seed
Flower - the seed-bearing part of a plant
Stem - the main body or stalk of a plant
Leaf - the flattened part of a plant attached to the stem
Root - the part of a plant that attaches the plant to the ground

Here are some definitions to help you in your Grade 3-5 Lesson 3 investigation.

Photosynthesis - the process plants use to change sunlight into food and energy
Carbon dioxide - a gas found in the air
Glucose - a simple sugar made by plants
Oxygen - a gas found in the air
Stoma - an opening in a leaf for gas exchange
Xylem - a tube that carries water in a plant
Phloem - a tube that carries sugars in a plant
Epidermis - an outer covering on a plant leaf
Cuticle - the outer-most covering on a plant leaf
Mesophyll - the inner cells of a plant leaf

Here are some definitions to help you in your Grade 3-5 Lesson 4 investigation.

Respiration - the process of burning sugar to make energy
Photosynthesis - the process plants use to change sunlight into food and energy
Carbon Dioxide - a gas found in the air
Glucose - a simple sugar made by plants
Oxygen - a gas found in the air
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