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Science lesson plan · 10th grade (Year 11 in England) · 45 minutes

Xylem, phloem and transpiration

Plants

CCSS NGSS.HS-LS1-2England: KS4 Combined Science: Transport systems

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Xylem, phloem and transpiration.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Photosynthesis

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Real plants or seeds, Hand lenses, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Photosynthesis). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which is a use of the glucose made in photosynthesis? (It makes chlorophyll green. / It is stored as starch. / It is turned into soil. / It is breathed out.) → It is stored as starch.Prompt: Iodine turns blue-black when this store is present.
  2. Pondweed in light gives off 36 bubbles of oxygen in 4 minutes. What is the rate in bubbles per minute? → 9Prompt: Rate = amount ÷ time.
  3. Photosynthesis: which statement is NOT true? (Plants only respire at night. / Photosynthesis produces oxygen. / Photosynthesis needs light. / Chlorophyll is found in chloroplasts.) → Plants only respire at night.Prompt: Remember the word equation.

Hook · 5 min

  • Bring in a plant that has been kept in the dark next to one in the light, and ask what happened.
  • Share the objective: Xylem, phloem and transpiration. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Xylem or phloem? It transports mineral ions.
  • Step 1: Xylem carries water and mineral ions up from the roots; it is made of dead cells strengthened with lignin.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: xylem
  • Answer: xylem
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Xylem or phloem? It transport called translocation. (xylem / phloem) → phloemPrompt: Xylem is about water; phloem is about food (sugars).
  2. Root hair cells are adapted to absorb water because they… (have thick waxy walls / contain many chloroplasts / have a large surface area / are dead) → have a large surface areaPrompt: More surface means more water can enter.

You do: independent practice · 10 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Xylem or phloem? It made of dead cells with lignin. (xylem / phloem) → xylemPrompt: Xylem is about water; phloem is about food (sugars).
  2. What is transpiration? (moving sugar in the phloem / loss of water vapour from leaves, mainly through stomata / taking in oxygen through roots / making sugar in leaves) → loss of water vapour from leaves, mainly through stomataPrompt: It is evaporation from the leaf.

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Photosynthesis.
  • Use concrete materials: real plants or seeds.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-10.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Xylem, phloem and transpiration

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Xylem or phloem? It made of living cells.

    • A. xylem
    • B. phloem
  2. Question 2

    What do guard cells do?

    • A. anchor the roots
    • B. make chlorophyll
    • C. open and close the stomata
    • D. carry sugar
  3. Question 3

    In a potometer, the air bubble moves 30 mm in 10 minutes. What is the rate of water uptake in mm per minute?

    Answermm/min

  4. Question 4

    Xylem or phloem? It carries dissolved sugars.

    • A. xylem
    • B. phloem
  5. Question 5

    Which conditions make transpiration fastest?

    • A. hot, dry, windy and bright
    • B. cold, humid and still
    • C. dark and cold
    • D. humid and dark
  6. Question 6

    In a potometer, the air bubble moves 8 mm in 2 minutes. What is the rate of water uptake in mm per minute?

    Answermm/min

  7. Question 7

    Xylem or phloem? It moves food to growing parts and stores.

    • A. xylem
    • B. phloem
  8. Question 8

    In a potometer, the air bubble moves 17 mm in 2 minutes. What is the rate of water uptake in mm per minute?

    Answermm/min

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Answer key: Xylem, phloem and transpiration

  1. 1. B. phloem

  2. 2. C. open and close the stomata

  3. 3. 3 mm/min

  4. 4. B. phloem

  5. 5. A. hot, dry, windy and bright

  6. 6. 4 mm/min

  7. 7. B. phloem

  8. 8. 8.5 mm/min