Plants Around Us
Learning Objectives
- I can name the parts of a plant.
- I can say what each part of a plant does.
- I can tell what plants need to grow.
- I can name plants that are useful to us.
Let Us Begin!
Look around you. Do you see trees, flowers, and grass? Plants are everywhere!
Plants give us food, clean air, and shade. They are very important for all living things.
Let us learn about the wonderful plants around us!
Parts of a Plant
A plant has five main parts. Each part has a special job:
| Part | Where It Is | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Root | Under the ground | Holds the plant in the soil. Drinks water from the soil. |
| Stem | Above the ground | Holds the plant up. Carries water and food to all parts. |
| Leaf | On the stem | Makes food for the plant using sunlight and air. |
| Flower | On the stem | Makes seeds. Gives us beautiful colours and smell. |
| Fruit | Grows from flower | Has seeds inside. We eat many fruits. |
What Plants Need to Grow
Plants need four things to grow well:
Sunlight — Plants use sunlight to make their food.
Water — Plants drink water through their roots.
Soil — Plants grow in soil. Soil gives them food and support.
Air — Plants need air to breathe and make food.
Plants We Use
| Plant | How We Use It |
|---|---|
| Mango tree | We eat the fruit. We sit in its shade. |
| Tulsi (Holy Basil) | Used as medicine. Found in many Indian homes. |
| Neem tree | Leaves used as medicine. Twigs used to clean teeth. |
| Rose | Beautiful flowers. Used in garlands and perfumes. |
| Wheat / Rice | We eat the grains to make roti and rice. |
Types of Plants
Plants come in many shapes and sizes. We can group them into four types:
🌳 Trees — Trees are the tallest plants. They have a thick, hard trunk and many branches. They live for many years.
Examples: Mango, Neem, Banyan, Peepal, Coconut.
🌿 Shrubs — Shrubs are medium-sized plants. They have many woody stems growing from the base. They are shorter than trees.
Examples: Rose, Hibiscus (Gudhal), Mehendi (Henna), Bougainvillea.
🌱 Herbs — Herbs are small plants with soft, green stems. They are often used in cooking and medicine.
Examples: Tulsi, Mint (Pudina), Coriander (Dhaniya), Ginger, Aloe Vera.
🍃 Climbers — Climbers are plants with weak stems. They cannot stand on their own. They climb up walls, fences, or other plants for support.
Examples: Money Plant, Grapevine, Pumpkin, Bitter Gourd (Karela), Pea plant.
| Type | Size | Stem | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tree | Very tall | Thick, hard trunk | Mango, Neem, Banyan |
| Shrub | Medium | Many woody stems | Rose, Hibiscus |
| Herb | Small | Soft, green stem | Tulsi, Mint, Coriander |
| Climber | Varies | Weak, needs support | Money Plant, Grapevine |
How Plants Help Us
Plants are very important for all living things. They help us in many ways:
| How Plants Help | Examples |
|---|---|
| Food — Plants give us fruits, vegetables, and grains to eat. | Mango, potato, wheat, rice, dal |
| Medicine — Many plants are used to treat illness. | Neem, Tulsi, Aloe Vera, Ginger |
| Shade — Big trees give us cool shade on hot days. | Banyan, Peepal, Mango tree |
| Wood — Trees give us wood for furniture, paper, and fuel. | Teak, Bamboo, Pine |
| Oxygen — Plants make oxygen. We breathe oxygen to stay alive. | All green plants |
| Beauty — Flowers make our surroundings beautiful and smell nice. | Rose, Jasmine, Marigold |
| Clothes — Cotton plants give us fibre to make clothes. | Cotton plant |
Key Words
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Root | The part of a plant that grows under the ground |
| Stem | The part that holds the plant up and carries water |
| Leaf | The flat green part that makes food for the plant |
| Flower | The colourful part that makes seeds |
| Fruit | The part that grows from a flower and has seeds inside |
| Tree | A tall plant with a thick, hard trunk |
| Shrub | A medium-sized plant with many woody stems |
| Herb | A small plant with a soft stem, used in cooking or medicine |
| Climber | A plant with a weak stem that climbs walls or fences |
| Oxygen | A gas in the air that all living things need to breathe |
- A plant has five parts: root, stem, leaf, flower, and fruit.
- Roots hold the plant and drink water from the soil.
- Leaves make food for the plant using sunlight and air.
- Plants need sunlight, water, soil, and air to grow.
- Plants give us food, medicine, shade, and clean air.
- There are four types of plants: trees, shrubs, herbs, and climbers.
- Trees are tall with thick trunks. Shrubs are medium with woody stems.
- Herbs are small with soft stems. Climbers need support to grow.
- Plants make oxygen — the gas we breathe. We must protect plants!
Practice Questions
Take a small pot or cup. Fill it with soil. Put a bean seed inside. Water it a little every day. Keep it near a window. Watch it grow! Draw what you see each day for one week.
| Day | What I See |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | |
| Day 3 | |
| Day 5 | |
| Day 7 |
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