Ivy: I'm busy!
Posey: Aunt Ivy I've brought you another…
Posey: Stop!
Posey: What ARE you doing?
Ivy: I'm getting rid of all the ugly bits I don't need. These hands don't have any fingers; you can't even see these little toes they're hidden in the ground, and this neck scoffs is way too long.
Posey: No. You can't just keep all the pretty bits. It's like, ummmm, a human body. All the bits are needed and have their own function.
Posey: That means the job that they do. If you didn't have bones, you wouldn't be able to hold your head up; if you didn't have a stomach, you wouldn't be able to digest food; if you didn't have lungs, you wouldn't be able to breath.
Ivy: Holds breath That's not true. Exhales Well I've never seen a plant breath, or eat, and they definitely don't have bones… I don't think.
Posey: Their parts all have functions. What do you think a stem does?
Ivy: That's easy, it's to see above the rest of the flowers of course.
Posey: No. The stem supports the plant and transports water and nutrients.
Ivy: Nutrients?
Posey: Food.
Ivy: Ah, gotcha.
Posey: All around the plant, ok?
Ivy: Mhmm.
Posey: What about the leaves?
Ivy: That's easy, they're for waving at it's friends.
Posey: No, the leaves help the plant make food for itself.
Ivy: Greedy.
Posey: And the roots?
Ivy: Oh they don't do anything, they just make a mess.
Posey: The roots keep the plant in the ground and absorb water and nutrients. They're like straws, they suck up all the bits they need from the soil.
Ivy: But, the flower's the only bit I like, because it's got pretty colours and it smells nice.
Posey: Finally, you got close, but there's much more to it than that.
Ivy: Well, why does the flower have to look pretty?
Posey: The flower has to look pretty and smells nice so bees will come and visit them,
Ivy: Aw, thanks for explaining that to me
Posey: So, here's the plant I was bringing you.
Ivy: Thank you. I promise I will take much better care of it.
Video summary
This film explores the different parts of the plant, including the stem, trunk, leaves, flowers and root.
The function of each is explained through scientific enquiry and comedy, to give pupils a full overview of plants.
This is from the series: Ivy's plant shop.
Teacher Notes
You could get pupils to draw a diagram of a plant and label the different parts.
Alternatively, you could print off pictures of different plants and get them to label the parts - e.g. roots, stem/trunk, leaves, flowers etc.
They could include a short description of the function each part plays.
This film will be relevant for teaching Science/Biology at Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 in England, Wales and Early and 1st and 2nd Level in Scotland.
Also at Foundation, KS1 and KS2 in Northern Ireland.
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