What Do Plants Need to Grow?

What You'll Learn

Plants need sunlight, water, carbon dioxide, and nutrients from soil to grow. Their roots absorb water and minerals while their leaves capture sunlight for photosynthesis.

Key Words

invertebrate
species
organism

Materials Needed

cotton balls
zip-lock bags
labels

Safety First

Adult supervision recommended.

Steps

Step 1 — Read

Review the background information on Organisms before starting.

Step 2 — Do

Model natural selection: scatter colored paper scraps on grass. Time how long it takes a partner to pick up each color. Which color survived longest? Why?

Step 3 — Observe

Use your senses (except taste) to describe what you notice.

Step 4 — Record

Write a summary of your findings in 3-5 sentences.

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

1 of 3

What type of consumer eats only plants?