They provide food to humans and animals. They also help regulate the water cycle. They move water from the soil to the atmosphere through transpiration, the evaporation of water into the atmosphere from the plants’ leaves and stems.
Plants also absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the air that is used by all breathing, living things.
Some plants can be used as medicine or provide materials to make medicines.
Did you know?
Over 3 billion years ago, the first living organisms that resembled a plant appeared. They were the blue-green algae that lived in the sea. Algae are still found in the waters today.
When plants made their first appearance on earth, the atmosphere was not habitable for oxygen-breathing creatures. The air was filled with carbon dioxide, a gas deadly to humans.
Then photosynthetic plants (photosynthesis is the process by which plants and other living organisms use energy from the sun to produce the fuel they need for their activities) appeared and slowly, over several million years, cleaned the atmosphere and filled it with oxygen.
If plants did not appear and clean up the atmosphere, we would never have evolved. Plants may be considered the most precious organisms on earth.
The Experiment
What you need
Mongo seeds
2 pieces of baby diapers
Clear plastic cup
Scissors
Water
Food color (optional)
Planting in slush soil
Step 1: With the scissors, carefully cut open the bottom part, the crotch, of the diapers to expose the slush powder.
Step 2: Transfer the slush powder into your cup.
Step 3: Gently pour water into your cup. You will see the slush absorb the water and expand.
Step 4: Drop 5-7 mongo seeds in your cup.
Step 5: Place a few drops of food color to make the slush look nice.
Step 6: Place the cup somewhere warm. Sunlight is good but try to avoid too much direct sunlight.
Step 7: Keep the slush soil moist by watering it every day (be careful not to use too much water).
Step 8: Record your observations as the seeds germinate and begin to sprout.
The Science
After a week, your seedlings will be on their way.
Germination is the process by which a plant emerges from a seed and begins to grow. To germinate, the seed needs water and oxygen.
The seedling it produces also needs the right conditions to grow properly. Many seeds germinate at a temperature just above normal room temperature. Others respond better to warmer temperature, cooler temperature or even changing temperature.
Takeaway learning
Do you know that we use around 2,000 different types of plants for food? You don’t have to be a farmer to learn how to plant trees or vegetables. You can use your backyard or pots to grow plants and vegetables. Why not start your own vegetable garden in your school or at home? Aside from harvesting your own vegetables, growing them can be fun.
Using the newspaper
Look in the Philippine Daily Inquirer for news about Typhoon “Ruby.” Make a list of the places hit by Ruby. Typhoons can destroy lives and property especially in areas where there are no trees to help prevent soil erosion. You can help grow trees by germinating seeds, planting the saplings at the appropriate time and taking good care of them. Design an ad for the newspaper to encourage kids to plant trees.
About the series
The joy of discovery. The fun of learning.
These are the experiences that Bayer wants to pass on to young people in keeping with its mission, “Bayer: Science for a Better Life,” and its enthusiasm for research.
By putting together simple, educational and fun experiments, elementary school students are encouraged to learn Science by doing Science.
The Bayer Smiling Kiddie Einsteins series offers teachers, parents and students hands-on and inquiry-based experiences that involve observing, experimenting, hypothesizing, analyzing and testing.
Through this series of experiments related to health, agriculture-nutrition and hi-tech materials, Bayer and Inquirer in Education aim to deepen the interest of elementary pupils in Science.
The materials needed for these experiments are safe and can easily be accessed from your homes.