Roots
	Roots absorb water and minerals from the soil, anchor the plant and hold soil together, and store food produced in the leaves and stem.  In some plants(dicots) such as a carrot, a thick root called a taproot reaches deep in the soil.  In other plants (most monocots) such as grasses, the roots grow out over a wide areas in a fibrous root system.  Root hairs grow from both taproot and fibrous roots.  The root hairs absorb water and minerals from the soil.

Home Pizza Garden Seeds Roots Stem Leaves Flowers Fruit

Outcomes:

Develop an understanding of the role of roots in the life of a plant. 

Activities:

To understand how roots affect soil you will need: radish seeds, potting soil, paper cups,water.  Put soil in a cup, place about 10 seeds in the cup on top of the soil and cover with a thin layer of soil.  Water your plants each day.  Observe the plants as they grow.  After two weeks, peel the paper cup away.  Look carefully at the roots.  Note how the roots affect the soil.

Students should conclude that roots hold soil together.

To understand how roots differ you will need:  radish, bean, pea, and corn seeds, potting soil, paper towel, clear cups, and a sanwich bag.  Wrap a paper towel around the inside of the cup so that seeds are visible.  Place another cup inside the first cup to hold the seeds in place.  Be sure the towel is moist and the cup is in a warm place.  Place seeds against the sides of a clear cup filled with potting soil.  Plant seeds in a sandwich bag on a moist paper towel.  After seven days, observe, compare, and record the root length, root thickness, and number of root hairs using a hand lens.

Students can graph their findings.

To understand how roots absorb water and minerals from the soil you will need dried raisins and a glass of water.  Place the raisins in the glass of water and leave overnight.  The water will move from an area of high concentration (the glass) to an area of low concentration (the dried raisin).  The movement of the water dilutes the sweet taste of the raisin.  In plants water moves from an area of high concentrration (the soil) to an area of low concentration (the plant).  This process of water movement is called osmosis.  It takes place at the root hairs.

Students can observe how dry raisins and wet raisins feel and taste differently.  Discuss that water moved in and out of the raisins at night much like water and nutrients move in and out of the roots of a plant.  The raisin is sweeter before being soaked over night.

Enrichment:

Students are given an opportunity to draw a plant and discuss its parts.  The lesson is begun by having the students dig up a weed or crop plant to use as a sample.  Be sure to save the roots.  The students discuss the parts of the plant and what the plant needs to grow.  They are encouraged to draw the plant slowly and keep their eyes on the plant.  The completed plant pictur can be labeled and mounted on the board.   As students discuss their pictures, they can discuss the plant parts that they can see and what is below the soil.

Assessment:

Students gain an understanding of plants, specifically roots and and how they work and contribute to a plant's growth.