The Plant Kingdom: The Study of The Root

Age

6-9.

Presentation

Chart 3

HOW ROOTS MOVE IN THE DIRECTION OF THE WATER

1. Since water is essential to the growth of the plant and its basic survival, roots will seek water out in the soil if it is not immediately.

Experiment 2

ROOT HAIRS

MATERIALS:
A small clay flower pot, some radish seeds, water a drinking glass, two small transparent bowls.

1. Put some radish seeds in a glass and fill it half way with water.
2. Place the flower pot in one of the bowls which is then filled with water.
3. Place the flower pot in one of these bowls which is then filled with water.
4. After 24 hours, remove both the pot and the seeds from the water.
5. Inver the flower pot and try to make the seeds adhere to the bottom of the pot.
6. Then return the up-side-down pot to the bowl of water so that the seeds are out of the water.
7. Use the other transparent bowl up-side-down as a cover.
8. Keep the whole thing in the light.
9. Observe what happens every day and write down your observations.

Experiment 3

FORMATION OF ROOTS

MATERIALS: A jar with a rather narrow mouth, water, some twigs from a plant.

1. Fill the jar with water and immerse the twigs.
2. Observe the plants each day adding water if necessary.
3. Write your observations.

Experiment 4

ACIDIC REACTION OF ROOT HAIRS

MATERIALS: A jar containing germinated radish seeds, blue litmus
paper.

1. Put the litmus paper on the sucking hairs of the plant.
2. Observe what happens and write your observations.

Experiment 5

DIRECTION OF THE ROOTS

MATERIALS: A glass, ink-blotter paper, black construction paper, a rubber band, sand, bean seeds, water.

1. Cut the ink blotter paper to fit around the inside of the glass.
2. Place the bean seeds between the blotter paper and the sides of the glass making sure they are positioned differently.
3. Then fill the glass with sand and wet the sand.
4. Cut the black construction paper large enough to wrap around the outside of the glass, holding it in place with a rubber band.
5. The sand must be kept wet.
6. Do the same using other seeds.
7. Observe your glass every day.
8. Observe what happens and write your observations.

Chart 4

ROOTS OVERCOME ANY OBSTACLE

1. So strong is that need for the water and the minerals, the plant will not allow anything to be an obstacle.
2. Roots will grow around large objects in order to obtain what it basically needs to survive.

Chart 5

GIVE DRINK TO THE THIRSTY

1. By observing the leaves of a plant above the ground, we can understand the root system.
2. The width of the leaf system corresponds to the root expansion below the ground.
3. If the plant is long and thin, so is its root system, and so forth.