Plant Adaptations
Background Information & Activities

© 1999-2012 BrainPOP. All rights reserved.

Before beginning this topic, we highly recommend reviewing the Parts of a Plant and Plant Life Cycle movies with children. This movie will build on the concepts taught in those movies, and explore how plants have different adaptations to help them survive in their habitats. For extension, you may want to explore the topics in the Habitats unit to learn about plants and animal adaptations in specific environments.

Remind children that plants need sunlight, water, air, and nutrients to survive. Explain that many plants get their nutrients—such as minerals—from soil. Living things also have ways to reproduce, or make individual organisms like themselves. Plants are found on nearly every continent and thrive in a large range of habitats—from the icy, windy Arctic to the hot, dry Desert. Plants have different ways to meet these needs in their environments.

Review with children that a habitat is a place where a plant or animal lives. The desert habitat receives very little precipitation, and many deserts can reach very high or low temperatures, depending on their location. Plants have different adaptations to respond to lack of water. For example, cacti have thick stems that store water. Many species also have spines, which not only protect the plant against animals, but also provide shade to protect against water loss. Cacti roots are often shallow and widely spread under the surface. When it rains, the roots can absorb as much water as possible. Grasslands are areas that sometimes get rain but are subjected to long dry spells. The roots of many grasses grow very deep in order to reach water and moisture down below. Some plants are especially adapted to periods of rain and drought. The rose of Jericho is a plant found in the arid regions of the Middle East. During dry seasons, the plant sheds it leaves and curls up, protecting its seeds inside. Then during rains, it can open up and grow. The plant can lay dormant for many years until conditions are just right. The Rainforests receive large amounts of precipitation and plants are adapted to shed water easily to avoid fungus and bacterial growth. The leaves of many species of rainforest plants have waxy coatings and drip tips to shed and whisk away water quickly.

Help children understand that plants find ways to adapt to changing amounts of sunlight. For example, the rainforest floor is shady because of a thick canopy above. Plants that grow near the floor often have large leaves in order to take in as much sunlight as possible. Some vines, such as kudzu, will grow and climb upwards to reach sunnier areas. Kudzu can be seen in many parts of the United States, covering taller trees, shrubs, and even buildings. Some children may have seen plants that grow toward a light source, such as a sunny window. Phototropism is the movement of plants toward light and heliotropism is the turning of plants with the sun's direction. Examples of heliotropism include sunflowers that turn their leaves and flowers to track the Sun's movement across the sky. We encourage you to place a plant near a sunny window and observe how the plant grows over time to study phototropism.

Remind children that many plants get nutrients from the soil. But, some plants grow in areas where the soil lacks nutrients. Some plants, such as the Venus flytrap and the pitcher plant, have adapted by using animals for food to get the nutrients they need to survive. (Many carnivorous plants are now endangered—you may want to use the Extinct and Endangered Species movie for further exploration.) Air plants have adapted to life without soil. They grow high in tree branches so they have better access to sunlight and they take in the nutrients they need from the air and rainwater. Some plants, such as the mistletoe, are parasitic. This means they grow on a host plant and steal nutrients and water. Mistletoe does not usually kill the host plant, but the host does not benefit from the mistletoe's presence. Why might some plants steal nutrients from others? Discuss with children.

It is important for children to understand that reproduction is an important part of the life cycle. To reproduce, many flowering plants must spread their pollen to other plants. For example, when animals such as bees or hummingbirds drink flower nectar, pollen gets stuck to their bodies. They then carry it to other plants and enable them to reproduce. Flowers have many adaptations to attract animals, including scents and bright colors. Some plants use wind to help spread their seeds. Many children have experienced blowing on a dandelion and watching the seeds float away, with the help of the dandelion's light tufts of hair. The seeds of maple trees have thin wings that enable them to spin off and float with the wind. Some plants grow fruit that have seeds inside. When animals eat the fruit, seeds pass through them and they are left behind in new places where more plants can begin to grow. The devil's claw, or unicorn plant, gets its name from its seedpods, which have hooks that can attach themselves to passing animals. They are shaken off in new places and the seeds are dispersed.

Help children explore the world of plants! Teach them to appreciate how plants are adaptive organisms that have numerous ways to survive in their environments. Have children apply what they learn about adaptations to animals and even human beings. How have people in your community adapted to their environment?

See more lesson plans and resources: BrainPOP Educators.

Plant Adaptations Teacher Activities

© 1999-2012 BrainPOP. All rights reserved.

Phototropism

Observe how plants will grow toward a light source. If possible, bring seeds for students to plant in pots. Have students research the type of plant and what it needs to survive. How much water does it need? What kind of soil does the plant need? Then place the plants near—but not too close to—a sunny window. You may want to use a grow lamp if a sunny window is not available. Have students observe how the plant changes and grows. You can assign students to care for the plant and have them draw pictures or take photographs to track the plant's progress. Watch how the plant grows toward the light source!

Needs for Seeds

Have students save the seeds of every fruit they eat during the week. They can collect apple seeds, orange seeds, or even an avocado seed. Encourage them to collect as many different seeds as possible. Then have students compare and contrast their seeds. Why might some seeds be small? Why might others be large? Why might a watermelon have many seeds while an apple has just a few? Why might a strawberry have seeds on the outside? Discuss these adaptations together, perhaps creating a class display that can be added to throughout the year. You can also store each seed type and a short summary of student observations about it in a zip-close bag, stapling the bags together to create a book. This activity also encourages healthy eating habits!

Plant Adaptations Family Activities

© 1999-2012 BrainPOP. All rights reserved.

Seed Hunt

Take a walk around with your child around your community or a park. Look for seeds that have fallen off of plants. You might even find seedpods or fruit protecting seeds inside. Pick up a few samples, if possible, or have your child document them by drawing pictures or taking photographs. Compare the seeds and note any adaptations that assist in their dispersal or protect them from the elements. You may want to research to find out what plants the seeds come from.

Underwater Plants

Explore underwater plants with your child. Research how water lilies have adapted to life in ponds. Where do their roots go? You can also expand this topic to explore plants that live in the ocean, such as seagrasses. How are these plants adapted to life in the ocean? How do they use saltwater? Where do they get their nutrients? How are they adapted to rising and falling currents? How do they reproduce? Your findings might surprise you! You may also want to explore how aquatic plants are vital to ecosystems and provide homes for different animals.