Parts of a Plant For Grade 3

What are Plants?

Plants are amazing living things that come in all shapes and sizes. They grow on land, in water, and even in the air! Plants are important for life on Earth because they produce oxygen, which we breathe, and food, which we eat.

Plants have five main parts: roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits.

Roots

Roots grow underground and have two main jobs: to anchor the plant in the soil and to absorb water and minerals. Roots come in two main types: taproots and fibrous roots.

• Taproots: Taproots have one main root that grows deep into the ground. Taproots are found in plants like carrots, beets, and dandelions.

• Fibrous roots: Fibrous roots are made up of many thin roots that spread out in all directions. Fibrous roots are found in plants like grass, wheat, and corn.

Stems

Stems grow above the ground and have three main jobs: to support the plant, to transport water and minerals from the roots to the leaves, and to transport food from the leaves to the rest of the plant. Stems can be green or brown, and they can be thick or thin.

Leaves

Leaves are the food factories of the plant. They use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide from the air to make food for the plant in a process called photosynthesis. Leaves come in all shapes and sizes, and they can be green, yellow, orange, red, or even purple!

Flowers

Flowers are the reproductive parts of the plant. They attract insects and birds, which pollinate them. Pollination is the process of transferring pollen from the male part of the flower to the female part of the flower. This allows the plant to produce seeds.

Fruits

Fruits are the protective casings for seeds. They contain nutrients that help the seeds to grow into new plants. Fruits can be eaten by animals, which help to disperse the seeds.