A strong wind blows across a field where a tall sunflower is growing, but the plant stays upright. How do the sunflower's roots help it survive the wind?

A gardener pours water onto the soil around a tomato plant every morning. How do the plant's roots help the tomato plant survive after that water soaks in?

A young bean plant grows a tall, sturdy stem while the plants around it stay low to the ground. How does the stem help the bean plant survive?

A gardener accidentally crushes the stem of a young pepper plant. Within a day, the leaves above the crushed spot droop and wilt. What does this show about the stem's job?

The broad, flat leaves of a maple tree spread out wide at the ends of its branches. How does this wide, flat shape help the tree survive?

A cactus lives in a desert where rain falls only a few times each year. Its thick stem stores water inside. How does this stored water help the cactus survive?

A deer walks up to a wild rose bush to nibble the leaves, then backs away from the sharp thorns along the stems. How do the thorns help the rose survive?

Bees fly from one sunflower to the next, drawn by the bright yellow petals. How do the petals help the sunflower reproduce?

In its first year, a carrot plant fills its thick root with stored food. The next spring, the plant grows flowers. How does the stored food help the carrot plant?

Before winter comes, a maple tree drops all of its leaves. The ground then stays frozen for months. How does dropping its leaves help the tree survive the winter?

A potted plant sits on a windowsill. Over a few weeks, its stem bends so the leaves face the window. How does this behavior help the plant?

A plant's stem helps the plant by carrying food made in the leaves down to the roots and out to its other parts.

Two bean plants get the same amount of light and water, but the one growing in nutrient-rich soil grows much taller and greener than the one in poor soil. Which structure took in the extra nutrients that helped the plant grow taller?

A tree trunk is a thick, woody stem covered with bark. What is one main job of the bark?

A plant kept in a dark closet for two weeks grows pale and eventually stops growing, even though it is watered every day. What does this show about the job of the plant's leaves?

What do many flowers help a plant make?

A bean seed is planted in soil with no sunlight reaching it yet. Before its first leaves unfold and start making food, how does the seed's stored food help it survive?

Many desert plants have roots that spread out wide just under the surface of the soil. How does this help them survive?

A climbing vine grows several meters up a trellis, with leaves near the very top. How do the tubes inside its stem help those top leaves survive?

Plants growing in the shade under a dense forest canopy often have unusually large, dark green leaves compared to plants growing in full sun. How does this leaf trait help a shaded plant survive?

Flowers like this one have bright, colorful petals. Grass flowers are tiny and dull, with no bright petals. How does pollen usually get from one grass flower to another?

What can happen when pollen is moved to the correct part of a flower of the same kind of plant?

What is the main job of many fruits?

What is germination?

A gardener notices that seeds with a cracked seed coat rot in damp soil, while seeds with an unbroken seed coat sprout normally. What does this show about the seed coat's job?

A scientist compares two young seedlings growing in the same soil: one still has its tiny root hairs, and the other has had its root hairs rubbed off. Which seedling is likely to take in water more slowly, and why?

A small hole is torn in a leaf, and soon the leaf tissue beyond the tear turns brown and dies while the rest of the leaf stays healthy. What does this show about the leaf's veins?

A cactus stem is covered with a thick, waxy skin. How does the waxy skin help the cactus survive in the desert?

When a seed germinates, the first structure to break through the seed coat is usually the root, not the stem or leaves. Why does this order help the seedling survive?

A large tree has thousands of leaves, each covered with tiny pores called stomata. How do these many small openings help the tree make enough food to grow?

What is the best evidence that a plant's roots are doing their job?

A packet of tomato seeds is stored in a cool, dry drawer for two years. When they are finally planted in warm, moist soil, they sprout. Why are the seeds able to grow after being stored so long?

Leaves usually need sunlight, air, and water to make food for a plant.

Roots are mainly used to make flowers and seeds.

Some plant stems can store food or water.

All seeds are the same size and shape.

A flower's pollen can help the plant reproduce.

After a flower is pollinated, part of the flower can grow into a fruit with seeds inside.

A plant's structures work together to help it survive.

If a plant has no leaves or other green parts, it may have trouble making enough food.