Plants Have Parts — And Every Part Has a Job!

Look at a potted sunflower or daisy — real or in a photo. You can see parts above the soil, but there are hidden parts below too! Here is a question to get you thinking before we begin.

Flowering plants have four main parts. Each part has a special job to keep the plant alive and healthy. **Roots** grow underground, hidden in the soil. Their job is to hold the plant firmly in the ground so it does not fall over. Roots also suck up water and nutrients from the soil — a bit like a straw. Nutrients are tiny bits of goodness in the soil that help the plant grow. **The stem** is the tall, upright part you see above the soil. The stem holds the plant up so its leaves and flower can reach the light. It also carries water and nutrients from the roots up to the rest of the plant, like a set of tiny pipes inside. **Leaves** are flat and green. Their job is to catch sunlight. The plant uses sunlight, water, and air to make its own food. This food-making process is called photosynthesis — photo means light, and synthesis means making something. You do not need to spell it yet, just remember: leaves use light to make food! **The flower** is usually the most colourful part. Its job is to make seeds. Seeds can grow into new plants. Bright colours and sweet smells attract insects like bees. When a bee visits a flower, it helps the plant make seeds — this is called pollination. A good way to remember the order is from the ground up: **Roots → Stem → Leaves → Flower**.