Materials:
- The book Oliver’s Vegetables by Vivian French
- An assortment of fruits and vegetables representing the different parts of a plant (see list below)
Background Information
Plants come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, just like people. Plants also share some key traits, such as having roots, stems, and leaves. Parts may vary greatly in appearance and number among plant types, but they carry out similar functions. The following is an overview of common plant parts divided into two categories: vegetative and reproductive.
Vegetative Plant Parts
Roots: found underground; absorb water and nutrients for growth; store food for plant
Stems: connect leaves to roots; carry water and nutrients from roots to leaves, and carbohydrates and other substances from leaves to roots for growth; some provide food storage
Leaves: catch the sun, which gives plants energy to photosynthesize and grow; release moisture and oxygen
Reproductive Plant Parts (involved in the job of making new plants):
Flowers: where fruits/seeds form
Fruits: contain seeds
Seeds: form inside fruit; when put in soil, grow into a new plant
Our commonly consumed fruits and vegetables represent all the different plant parts, however we do not eat all parts of all plants. For example tomato fruits are a staple in our diet; however, the leaves are toxic. It is important for young students to learn that just because one part of a plant is edible, that does not mean all the other parts should be eaten.
Fruits vs. Vegetables
A common question when talking about plant parts is, Why are some things we call vegetables actually considered fruits? The botanical definition of a fruit is a structure formed by a pollinated flower that contains the seeds. This may be confusing for young children because many foods we call vegetables — tomatoes, cucumbers, and squash, for example — are actually fruits. Botanically speaking, vegetables are foods that come from plants’ vegetative parts: stems, roots, and leaves. However, we don’t use botanical definitions in the kitchen or grocery store. Instead, we call a zucchini a vegetable because it’s not sweet, and because we usually eat it as part of the main course at a meal. In layman’s terminology, a fruit is something that comes from a plant that is sweet and usually eaten as a dessert or snack.
Laying the Groundwork
Review the different parts of the plant with your students using the Background Information above. Bring in a couple of potted plant to provide live samples of each part ,or take a walk in the classroom garden or schoolyard and identify roots, stems, leaves, and flowers on plants you find outside. To investigate roots, look for aboveground tree roots or a weed you can pull up and study. Talk about the differences in size, shape, and color of the parts on each plant. For example, hold up two different leaves side by side and ask the class to compare them. Emphasize that even though these leaves look different, all leaves, stems, roots, and flowers complete the jobs students learned about in class.
Post a classroom list of all the plant parts for students to review.
Exploration
- As a class read Oliver’s Vegetables by Vivian French. Ask your students the following questions:
What was Oliver’s favorite vegetable?
What other vegetables did he eat at his Grandparents’ house?
What is your favorite vegetable? Why do you like it?
Create a class chart or graph of your students’ favorite vegetables.
- Next, show them examples of vegetables representing each part of the plant and ask them to sort them into different piles by part. Examples you may want to include:
Roots: carrots, beets, radishes, turnips, sweet potatoes
Stems: asparagus and celery
Leaves: lettuce, spinach, cabbage, kale
Flowers: broccoli, cauliflower
Fruits: tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, squash
Seeds: corn, peas, dried beans, sunflower seeds
- Continue your discussion of Oliver’s Vegetables by asking why his grandparents wanted him to eat his vegetables? Why do we need to eat vegetables?
Explain to students that fruits and vegetables provide important vitamins and fiber. These nutrients help make you healthy and grow strong. Introduce them to common vitamins: Vitamin C and Vitamin A. Explain how they help us and what fruits and vegetables we can get them from:
| Vitamin | Health Benefit | Vegetable Sources |
| Vitamin A | Helps your vision; helps build strong bones and teeth; important for healthy skin | Carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, broccoli, apricots, cantaloupe, peaches |
| Vitamin C | Helps your body fight off infections like colds; helps you absorb iron and calcium | Oranges, cantaloupe, strawberries, dark leafy green vegetables, broccoli, cabbage, green peppers |
- Tell students that different fruits and vegetables provide different health benefits. Ask them if they all provide different nutrients, how can we make sure we get what we need? The answer is to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables every day not the same thing over and over again just like Oliver!
Making Connections
Make a recipe card for a Plant Parts Salad for students to take home. If possible, use the vegetables from the Exploration to create a plant parts salad for the students to enjoy at school, too.
Plant Parts Salad
Ingredients:
Roots - carrots and/or radish
Stems- asparagus and/or celery
Leaves - lettuce, spinach, and/or kale
Flowers - broccoli and/or cauliflower
Fruit - avocados, cucumbers, peppers, and/or tomatoes
Seeds – peas and/or sunflower seeds
Instructions: Wash each fruit or vegetable in cold water and dry thoroughly. Cut into bite-sized pieces. Toss all ingredients in a bowl and then put into individual dishes. Top with your favorite salad dressing.
Branching Out
Continue your lessons on healthy eating by teaching students about Eating a Rainbow.
Standards addressed
K-LS1 From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
K-LS1-1. Use observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals (including humans) need to survive.
