Parts of a tree - Information for kids

in #steemiteducation5 years ago

O how wonderful trees are??  We have learned about it yesterday and you know now how important they are to us. 

  • We learned that we can divide a tree into different parts.  Can you name the parts?

Lets have a look at each part and the function of each.

Roots

The roots grows underneath the ground and they take up the minerals and water from the ground.  Some trees' root system are as big as the tree sticking out of the ground.  (That is a lot of roots.)  These roots are also important in keeping the tree upright so that it will not just fall over with the first gush of wind.

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Crown

Just like a king or queen puts a crown on their heads, the crown of the tree is also the top part.  This is where all the leaves and branches are.  This part of the tree is important to animals that build their houses there, like birds and it also give shade to the roots and the leaves produces food (photosynthesis) and it will also release water (transpiration) to cool down the tree.

Green leaves has a substance called 'chlorophyll' in it and it is this part that is responsible for the photosynthesis. 

This is where oxygen and water and the sunlight is used to produce sugars that is stored in the form of starch to give the tree energy.  The leaves are the 'kitchen' of the tree.

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Trunk

The trunk of the tree gives the tree its shape and also hold up the branches that will hold the leaves.  The trunk is also the part that will transport (take) the water and nutrients from the roots of the tree to the leaves.

On the outside of the trunk you will see the 'bark'.  This is the hard outer layer and it protects the tree from 'injuries' that other animals and insects can cause and also protects the softer wood on the inside of the trunk.

The bark of different trees can be used for thing like 'latex' to produce rubber gloves and even cinnamon sticks and some for producing toxins (all from different types of trees of course).  

The bark can also have a very strong smell that will chase away certain insects that are 'unwelcome visitors' to the tree.

There are different layers that makes up the tree trunk.

The inner bark, or “phloem”, is  a pipeline through which food is passed to the rest of the tree. It lives for only a short time, then dies and turns to cork to become part of the protective outer bark. The cambium cell layer is the growing part of the trunk. 

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Activity

  • Go outside and have a look at the different trees you can see.  Look at the shape of their leaves and their trunks and touch it.
  • You can design a poster with different trees on it - you can either draw it or paste the real leaves on the paper - use you imagination.
  • Make sure you give information on why we need to protect our trees.

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Team South Africa banner designed by @bearone

                       

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