Plants Lessons and Teaching Resources

flower

Botany is the study of plants.  Students in general biology class are usually required to learn the basic form and function of plants.  The coloring pages are a great resource to teach plant anatomy.

Basic Coloring and Reading Worksheets

Flower Coloring – color the parts of a flower; stamen, pistil, ovary, petals

Leaf Coloring – color structures; xylem, phloem, bundle sheath, epidermis, and more.

How Do Chloroplasts Capture Energy – coloring and reading worksheet focus on equation for photosynthesis and production of ATP

Reinforcement: Photosynthesis – practice vocabulary with a list of terms and definitions

Chemiosmosis and ATP Synthesis in Chloroplasts – advanced coloring activity detailing the events of photophosphorylation

Photosynthesis and the Scientific Method – Graphic summarizes a historic experiment where a candle was placed in a jar with a plant and a mouse.

How Does Photosynthesis Work – simple graphic for labeling, showing overall plant and a detailed image of the chloroplast with light reactions

Photosynthesis and Respiration Model – detailed view of the two processes with questions related to the graphic

Alternation of Generations – graphic showing the life cycle of plants, with labeling and questions

Comparing Monocots and Dicots Comparison  – color the leaves, stems, and germination pattern for the two types of plants

Photosystem Coloring – shows PSI and PSII, and the ETC, color the structures

Botany Wordsearch – plant terms with wordsearch

Tree Identification – leaf terminology (alternate vs simple), and a key to identify trees of the Midwest

Tree Growth Study – Use images of cross sections of trees to determine the age of the tree

Help Wanted – descriptions of plant jobs (classifieds), students guess the structure best suited

Calvin Cycle – TED-ED video – worksheet that goes with a short video that explains the light independent reaction

Photosynthesis Reading Guide – worksheet to complete when reading CK12 text on photosynthesis

treeLabs and Investigations

Rate of Photosynthesis – using baking soda, elodea and light, measure the bubbles to observe how fast a plant photosynthesizes and releases oxygen

What Factors Affect Seed Germination – grow seedlings with different conditions (light, water, temperature)

Algae Beads and Photosynthesis – use algae cultures and sodium alginate, measure photosynthesis by changes in color of indicator

Photosynthesis with Leaf Disks – this lab uses leaf disks that float to indicate photosynthesis.  Students investigate factors that affect photosynthesis.  (AP Lab)

Photosynthesis and Plant Growth (virtual) – use a virtual app to show how plant growth changes in response to light color and light intensity

Leaf Transpiration – use leaves from trees to analyze how much water is lost when they are exposed to light

Do Plants Consume or Release CO2? – Use phenol red with water plants to observe changes in color when CO2 levels change

Chromatography: Separation of Plant Pigments – use chromatography to show how leaves contain pigments that separate

Where Do Plants Get Their Food? – student designed experiment to disprove the hypothesis that plants get their food from soil

How Do Hormones Affect Plant Growth – use gibberellic acid to show how plants respond to growth hormones

How Much Water is In a Plant? – Weigh grapes or plant clippings to determine how much water plants contain

Rate of Photosynthesis – using baking soda, elodea and light, measure the bubbles to observe how fast a plant photosynthesizes and releases oxygen

plant experiment

Investigation: Photosynthesis – this lab uses leaf disks that float to indicate photosynthesis.  Students investigate factors that affect photosynthesis.  (AP Lab)

Separation of Plant Pigments – identify plant pigments by separation and isolation of the pigments using thin layer paper chromatography.

Photosystems Labeling – image showing photosystem I and II and the electron transport chain, students label the parts of the system

Fluorescence of Chlorophyll – cut up a spinach leaf and add ethanol to see how chlorophyll turn red under a black light

Investigation of Leaf Stomata – compare stomata of plants kept in the light and dark

Do Plants Consume or Release CO2 – using phenol red as an indicator, colors in test tube will change as the plant releases oxygen and consumes carbon dioxide.

Genetics and Fast Plants – long term investigation where students grow Fast Plants and determine the results of genetic crosses