Botany Lesson 3

Lesson Overview This lesson is designed as an introduction to the importance of plants to all life on earth. Information on how plants are different from other living things as well as a list of the major groups of plants is presented.

Goals for this lesson understand why plants are important tell how plants are different from other living things know and identify basic types of plants

Tasks read and study the information below complete and submit the botany lesson 3 worksheet

Vocabulary algae, kingdom, cellulose, photosynthesis, vascular plant, nonvascular plant

Assessment written explanation of importance of plants in your life

Reading Several hundred million years ago, the land surface of earth was barren. Life existed only in the water. One-celled algae colored the surface waters of the oceans shades of green. Some algae joined together into multicellular organisms and formed what scientists think were the ancestors of modern plants. Plants are essential to life on earth. Either directly or indirectly, they are the primary food source for humans and other animals. Whether people eat plants or eat animals that feed on plants, plant life is vital as a food source. Plants play many other essential roles. They are the major producers of oxygen on this planet. All plant life, from the tallest redwood tree to the smallest plankton works to produce oxygen. Additionally, plants contribute in the following ways: provide fuel prevent soil erosion provide wildlife habitat supply medicinal compounds cool the atmosphere beautify our surroundings slow down the wind furnish building and clothing materials   Scientists believe there are more than 350,000 species of plants. The largest living things on earth are the giant sequoia trees of California while other plants living on the forest floor are so tiny they can barely be seen. Plants are also the oldest living things. One bristlecone pine tree in California started growing 4,000 to 5,000 years ago. Plants are all members of the Kingdom Plantae (Plant) and share certain basic characteristics. These characteristics set plants apart from the organisms in the other kingdoms: plant cells have thick walls made of a substance called cellulose all plants develop from a tiny form of the plant called an embryo plants obtain food from sunlight through a process called photosynthesis most plants stay in one place for their entire lives   All plants can be divided into two basic groups, vascular plants and nonvascular plants. These two groups are further subdivided based on characteristics common to the plants found within the group. This course will focus primarily on vascular plants but this lesson will end with an exploration of examples of plants found in each of the major plant groups.   Major Plant Groups: seed plants (phylums Cycadophyta, Ginkgophyta, Coniferophyta, Magnoliophyta, etc.) ferns (phylum Pterophyta) club mosses (phylum Lycophyta) horsetails (phylum Sphenophyta) mosses and liverworts (phylum Bryophyta)

Resources Many botany books are available in the Rachel Carson Classroom. Feel free to come in and use them at any time. These books must be left in the classroom. The Churchill Library has many books on plants that you can check out as well as reference books for use in the library. Web sites of useful for this activity are listed below: Seed Plants Horsetails Mosses and Liverworts Ferns Flowering Plant Families Non-Flowering Plant Families

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