Plant and animal parts, families, and traits (grade 1) · lesson

Plant parts

💡 Each plant part has a job that helps the plant live.

Roots grow in the soil. They take in water.

The stem holds the plant up. Leaves catch sunlight.

Flowers make seeds. Some flowers grow into fruit, like apples.

🧠 How to think about it

Which part is in the soil? The roots. So the roots must get the water from the soil.

roots: plant parts in the soil that take in water
stem: the part that holds a plant up

🏡 Try it at home

Look at a carrot. It is a root! Then find a leaf, a stem, and a flower outside.

Animal parts

💡 Animal body parts help them stay safe, move, and find food.

A turtle has a hard shell. It hides in it to stay safe.

An eagle has sharp eyes. They help it spot food far away.

A duck has flat feet. They help it swim.

🧠 How to think about it

Look at the part. Ask, what does it help the animal do? Hard shell? It keeps the turtle safe.

shell: a hard cover that keeps an animal safe

🏡 Try it at home

Look at a pet, a bird, or a bug. Name one body part. Talk about how it helps.

Ideas from nature

💡 People copy plant and animal parts to solve problems.

A turtle shell is hard and keeps it safe. So people made bike helmets.

Duck feet are wide and flat. So people made swim flippers.

Burrs are seeds with tiny hooks. People made straps with tiny hooks that stick.

🧠 How to think about it

What job does the animal part do? Now think of a thing people use that does the same job.

helmet: a hard hat that keeps your head safe
flippers: wide flat shoes for swimming

🏡 Try it at home

Look at your shoes or coat. Do they have hook straps? Find a thing that copies nature.

Parents help babies

💡 Parents feed and protect their babies. Babies call when they need help.

A baby bird cheeps. Its parent brings it food.

Bird parents sit on chicks to keep them warm.

A baby cries when it is hungry. A grown-up feeds it.

🧠 How to think about it

Why does the chick cheep? It needs food. So the parent comes with food.

chick: a baby bird
protect: to keep safe

🏡 Try it at home

Look at a baby picture of you. Ask a grown-up: what did you do when I cried?

Like your parents, but not just the same

💡 Babies look like their parents, but not just the same.

A kitten looks like a cat. But its spots may be a bit different.

Puppies from the same mom look alike. Each one is a little different.

A sunflower seed grows into a sunflower.

🧠 How to think about it

Look for what is the same. Then look for what is different. Most babies have both.

kitten: a baby cat

🏡 Try it at home

Look at photos of your family. Find one way you look like someone. Find one way you look different.