Edible Plants

Objective: Student will learn about parts of plants: roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruit and seeds. Students will learn what each part of the plant does and that for some plants, these parts are edible to humans.

Science Standards Addressed (From the Colorado Department of Education)

Standard 2-Life Science

  • Kindergarten: Outcome 1: Organisms can be described and sorted by their physical characteristics
  • 1st Grade: Outcome 2: An organism is a living thing that has physical characteristics to help it survive
  • 2nd Grade: Outcome 1: Organisms depend on their habitat’s nonliving parts to satisfy their needs
  • 2nd Grade: Outcome 2: Each plant or animal has different structures or behaviors that serve different functions
  • 4th Grade: Outcome 3: There is interaction and interdependence between and among living and nonliving components of systems
  • 5th Grade: Outcome 1: All organisms have structures and systems with separate functions
  • 7th Grade: Outcome 4: Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are important processes by which energy is acquired and utilized by organisms

Materials:

  • paper plates
  • baby carrots
  • celery stalks
  • spinach leaves
  • cherry tomatoes
  • broccoli florets
  • sunflower seeds

Anticipatory Set/Hook

  1. Ask students what parts of a plant they can name.
  2. Ask students what do we use plants for? Students may give several answers, but the main reason is for food.

Procedure/Guided Practice:

  1. Give each student a paper plate.
  2. Have students name parts of a plant that they know. When they get to roots, discuss what roots do (take in water and nutrients). Ask them what kinds of roots we eat (examples: carrots, radishes, etc.). Give each student a carrot to place on their plate.
  3. Ask students where the nutrients and water go after the roots (answer: stem). Discuss how the stem transports water and nutrients to all parts of the plant. Ask them what kinds of stems we eat (examples: celery, asparagus, etc.). Give each student a celery stalk and have them place it about the carrot.
  4. Discuss that leaves taken in sunlight and make food for the plant. Ask them what kinds of leaves we eat (examples: spinach, lettuce, cabbage, etc.). Give each student a spinach leaf and have them place it above the celery stalk.
  5. Discuss flowers and that plants use them for reproduction. Ask them what kinds of flowers we eat (examples: broccoli, cauliflower etc.). Give each student a broccoli floret and have them place it above the celery stalk.
  6. Discuss fruits and that plants make fruits to transport their seeds away. Ask them what kinds for fruit we eat (they should be able to provide several examples very easily). Give each student a cherry tomato and place it above the celery stalk.
  7. Discuss seeds. Seeds make new plants. Ask them what kinds of seeds we eat (examples: sunflower seeds, pistachios etc.). Give each student a sunflower seed and have them place it above their celery stalk.
  8. Allow students to eat their plant.

Reference