In this unit, students explore the traits and structures of plants. They explore how plant traits are inherited from parent plants and how the structures of plants enable them to survive in specific environments. Students also investigate how, surprisingly, plants build all of those structures using just the air and water from their environment.
This lesson was revised on May 31, 2024. Here is a link to the previous version.
In this lesson, students examine plant traits and use that information as evidence to help them identify an unknown fruit. In the activity, Fruit Market Mysteries, students look for similarities and differences in the leaves, flowers, and fruits of plants found at the grocery store to sort them into groups and identify patterns of inheritance.
In this lesson, students make observations of external and internal parts of trees in order to collect evidence that these structures work together as a system to help plants survive in a particular environment. In the activity, Tree Detective, students use models of roots and branches to explore their functions and then construct an argument about how these structures must work together in order to support the survival of trees in the unique environment of the frozen taiga.
This lesson was revised on June 14, 2025. Here is a link to the previous version.
In this lesson, students discover how it is possible for plants to grow and gain tremendous amounts of weight without eating anything. In the activity, Plant Matter Mystery, students gather evidence from a series of virtual experiments related to plant growth. Then, they use that evidence to create an argument that plants get matter they need for growth chiefly from air and water.
We suggest students work in pairs. Homeschool students can work on their own.
This lesson presents a series of virtual activities so that students can gather evidence and make a claim about what plants use for their growth: soil, water, or air.
Each student needs a Plant Matter Mystery worksheet for the duration of the lesson.
Plan Your Time
If you have limited time, you can divide this lesson into two sessions. We have marked a natural stopping point after students gather evidence about soil and water.
Part 1: Soil & Water Experiments.
Part 2: Air Experiments & Making a Claim begins here.
Students will need the Weighing Air worksheet in Part 2.
Lesson 8: Tree Adaptations
No materials required.
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