In this
lesson we learn how the differnrent species in nature get their energy, how
they depend on each other to survive, and how they need to adapt to the world
around them.
PLANTS
If we
observe any habitat around us we will see that there are a lot
of green creatures that we call plants. This is true in our own habitat,
the one we found in our part of the world. If you try other habitats (the
poles, the dessert, the moon) what I have just said is wrong.
Plants
are living things, and just because they don´t have brain (nervous system) it
doesn´t mean they are less alive that us, animals.
Plants
have different parts. and each have an important function Its not only
important to know the names of the different parts, but also what they are for.
PARTS
OF A PLANT
WHAT DO
PLANTS NEED
Look:
The
plant will take in
-Nutrients
from the soil. Little particles created when organic materials rot. So when a dead
plant or animal rots, it decomposes into little particles that are yummy for
the plant. They enter through the roots.
-Water.
Plants need to drink too. Water enters through the roots, too.
-Air
(Oxygen). A plant is a living creature, so, of course it breathes. Air is
also called O2
-C02 (Carbon
Dioxide). It might sound strange but a plant also needs the toxic gas
that we expell when we breathe. If you put your hand in front of your mouth and
breathe out, you will feel a hot gas comes out. This gas is toxic, poisonous.
But we are lucky to have plants in this planet, because they will take that
toxic gas from the air, use it, and then plants will BREATHE OUT CLEAN
OXYGEN!!!!!
-Sunlight.
Sun is very, very important for a plant. The sunbeams are collected in the
green parts of the plant. Inside the green parts we have a substance called chlorophyll.
This substance helps the plant in a process called photosynthesis. What is
it?
Photosynthesis
is the process that happens in the plants energy factories. The plants takes in
water, nutrients, oxygen, that are "cooked" with the help of the sun
light. Thanks to this, the plant obtains the sugars it needs (its food) and
expels clean oxygen.
WHAT IF
But
what if the plant doesn´t get enough water? Look
But
what if the plant doesn´t get enough light? In the first place it will go from
shiny green to PaLe YeLLoW! Poor thing. But the second effect is more
surprising: it will grow taller!!!!. Tell me why on Monday, and you might get 3
house-points.
FOOD
CHAINS
Plants
start this story because they are at the beginning of the food chain. Plants
create their own energy, they do not feed on other creatures (an exception are
the insect
"eating" plants), and that is why we call them PRODUCERS.
Plants
are called PRODUCERS because they produce their own energy through
photosynthesis.
The
story must continue with the living organisms that get their energy (feed) on
plants. We have two words here:
-CONSUMERS.
Any organism that feeds on Producers.
-HERBIVORES.
Any organism that feeds on Plants.
Both
words are very similar, aren´t they. List of
herbivores.
A food
chain is forming
Producers
> Consumers or...
Plants
> Herbivores
(*IMPORTANT:
Note the direction on the arrow. It indicates the energy flow and must always
be represented that way)
Next
come the organisms that prey on other organisms, animals that get their energy
from feeding on other animals. Carnivores (only eat meat) and Omnivores (can
eat mostly anything eatable). This group are called Predators, and
their victims are called Prey.
Producers
> Consumers or...
Plants
> Herbivores > Carnivores/Omnivores
Prey
> Predators
HABITATS
AND ADAPTATION
A
habitat is the place that a community of living beings share. It is the place
where the food chain can be observed: the forest, the garden, the river, the
seashore, the desert, the rain-forest...All creatures have their position in
the cycle. (Want a new clever word? click me)
All
creatures have to be well adapted to their habitats.They must resist the high
or low temperatures, the level of humidity, the attack of predators, they must
be able to find the food they need there.
Woodlands
has a great link about how different animals adapt to different habitats:
Don´t
forget to click on the list of animals on the left after you read the
introduction,
INVESTIGATING
A HABITAT
It is
important now to introduce a tool that scientist of all areas use in order to
classify large groups. Haven´t you ever thought that it must be really
difficult to know all the plants in the world? Well, this tool helps us to put
the different creatures in order, grouping them by families, and will also make
it possible to identify a certain specie: a Key
In the
game Who Is Who you are asked to think of a person. The other players ask you
questions, and you can only answer YES or NO. If the questions are chosen with
intelligence, you will find Who Is Who. A first clever option is always
"Is he a boy?" This question eliminates 50% of the total
possibilities. A not so clever question is "Does he have a head?". Do
you understand why?
The
same happens with Identification Keys. The questions must be accurate. Look.
Do you
want to try? Think of a reptile or an amphibian. Let´s see if this web can
guess it: Click
me
Do you
think you could choose the correct questions for this key:
NOW,
TRY THESE LINKS (We LOVE Woodlands)
1. Plants.
2. Food
Chains
3. Adaptation
4. Life
Cycle
5. Habitats
6. Keys
EXTRAS
*
*
Erase una vez la vida. El
nacimiento.
*
*
