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Introduction to Plant Life
The entire living world has a life cycle, and plants are no exception. It starts with germination of seeds followed by growth the length of which differs depending upon the type of the plant. The fully grown plants produce flowers and seeds until its death. Those plants which die within one year after its birth are called annuals; those in two years are called biennials and the rest perennials. The fertilization of the seeds occurs with the help of small insects, wind and water. This process of transfer of pollen grains from one flower to another is called pollination. Each plant has different parts called roots, leaves and stems. Leaves are the kitchen of plants which produce all the necessary materials for its growth. It uses sun light for preparation of its meal and the roots find the ingredients, like water and nutrients, for preparation and stem carry them to the leaves. Throughout its life cycle it is converting matter into energy.
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Teaching Basic Concepts
For creating an enduring understanding of life cycle of plants, the teacher should select plants in different stages of life. Choose some seeds and plant them for germination. Take some seeds and put in a bowl of water and allow them to sprout. Open the sprouted beans with care and show the small sapling inside. Let your students understand the first stage in the birth of a plant.
Locate four very young plants, matured ones both flowering and seed bearing ones. Gently remove one young plant from the soil and place it in a pot without any soil. You can fill the pot with plastics or paper pieces to keep the plant upright. Keep another pot away from the sun and stop watering the third one. Leave the fourth one in its natural surrounding and water it regularly. Direct your students to monitor the plants in each of these pots and record their observation. Meanwhile study the mature plants to identify its main parts.
In order to understand the importance of the stems in the life of plants, teachers can use potassium permanganate solution and a tender plant. Keep the tender plant in the potassium permanganate solution for some time and let your students observe the change. As the potassium permanganate solution will start to rise through the stem of the plant it will turn pinkish.
Teachers can introduce students into the relationships between the insects and plants. How the insects play an important part in the pollination and why pollination is important. Now direct them to discuss on reproduction in plants and encourage them to find different methods of reproduction which plants use. Let them do some research to find examples for annuals, biennials and perennials.
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From the observation of plants in different surroundings students will understand the importance of water, soil and sun in the life of a plant. Teachers can even use pictures depicting the stages of pollination. For more on this subject, try this lesson on the life cycle of a dandelion.
Teaching on the Life Cycle of Plants
Lesson plans and ideas on plants
