Science- Plants Part 1: Leaves

Basic parts of a plant Leaves absorbs sunlight to make food for the plant (glucose) Roots holds the plant in place, absorbs minerals & water Flowers attract pollinators to help with pollination The stem holds up the leaves and helps transport things from one part of the plant to another

Intro to leaves There are different sizes and shapes of leaves A blade of grass, a pine needle and a cactus thorn are all kinds of leaves There are 2 MAJOR types of leaves

Intro to leaves Petiole Blade SIMPLE type of leaves 1 blade: flat and broad part to capture sunlight 1 petiole: Supports the blade and turns it to the sun Examples: Grass and on most trees Petiole Blade

Intro to leaves COMPOUND type of leaves 1 petiole with many LEAFLETS Examples: Ferns, evergreens

Main jobs of leaves Leaves let plants make FOOD There is something that happens in leaves called PHOTOSYNTHESIS Leaves take energy from the sun, carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil The leaves make OXYGEN and GLUCOSE

Main jobs of leaves - PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Main jobs of leaves - PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Leaves on the outside Broad shape helps to collect sunlight easily Green color = chlorophyll traps sunlight Broad shape helps to collect sunlight easily Veins and stem helps carry water Waxy and slippery surface waterproofs the top

Leaves on the inside Leaves have tiny holes inside on the bottom These holes are called STOMATA Stomata help carbon dioxide go into the leaf and help oxygen come out of the leaf

Leaves on the inside Stomata can open and close They open and close when cells around them fill up or empty (water) Full- opens Empty- closes These cells are called GUARD CELLS

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