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Plants, leaves & photosynthesis
Explore how roots, stems, leaves and flowers support plant growth and photosynthesis. Review suitability for your learners before teaching.
Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 7-9
Plants, leaves & photosynthesis
Take your time. Show your thinking.
1. Why do many insect-pollinated flowers have brightly coloured petals and sweet nectar: to attract pollinators, or to absorb soil water?
2. Which vascular tissue carries sugars made in the leaves to the rest of the plant: phloem or bark?
3. In which cell organelles inside palisade leaf cells does photosynthesis occur: chloroplasts or ribosomes?
4. How are dandelion and maple seeds adapted to be dispersed away from the parent plant: by wind, or by sinking in deep water?
5. Which part of the plant transports water upward from the roots and supports the leaves and flowers: the stem or the seed coat?
6. Why do seeds scatter (disperse) away from the parent plant: to reduce competition for light, water and minerals, or to stay in the shade?
7. Why do plants need magnesium ions from the soil: to make green chlorophyll, or to attract wind?
8. What is the role of the green sepals on the outside of a flower bud: to protect the unopened flower bud, or to absorb soil nitrates?
9. Why do plants need nitrate ions from the soil: to make amino acids and proteins for cell growth, or to freeze water?
10. What green pigment inside plant chloroplasts absorbs light energy for photosynthesis: chlorophyll or haemoglobin?
11. How are coconut seeds adapted to travel between tropical islands: they float on ocean currents, or they attach to bird feathers?
12. Which vascular tissue consists of hollow tubes that carry water and dissolved mineral ions upward from the roots to the leaves: xylem or petals?
12 questions · Seed 47 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
View the answer key
Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 7-9
Plants, leaves & photosynthesis
Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.
1. Why do many insect-pollinated flowers have brightly coloured petals and sweet nectar: to attract pollinators, or to absorb soil water?
To attract pollinatorsBees and butterflies visit for nectar and carry pollen between flowers.
2. Which vascular tissue carries sugars made in the leaves to the rest of the plant: phloem or bark?
PhloemPhloem translocates dissolved sugars from leaves to growing roots, fruits and seeds.
3. In which cell organelles inside palisade leaf cells does photosynthesis occur: chloroplasts or ribosomes?
ChloroplastsChloroplasts contain chlorophyll and the enzymes needed for photosynthesis.
4. How are dandelion and maple seeds adapted to be dispersed away from the parent plant: by wind, or by sinking in deep water?
By windParachute-like plumes on dandelions and winged samaras on maples catch the wind.
5. Which part of the plant transports water upward from the roots and supports the leaves and flowers: the stem or the seed coat?
StemXylem vessels in the stem transport water and minerals upward to the leaves.
6. Why do seeds scatter (disperse) away from the parent plant: to reduce competition for light, water and minerals, or to stay in the shade?
To reduce competition for light, water and mineralsSeed dispersal prevents overcrowding around the parent plant.
7. Why do plants need magnesium ions from the soil: to make green chlorophyll, or to attract wind?
To make green chlorophyllMagnesium is the central atom in every chlorophyll molecule; deficiency causes yellow leaves (chlorosis).
8. What is the role of the green sepals on the outside of a flower bud: to protect the unopened flower bud, or to absorb soil nitrates?
To protect the unopened flower budSepals enclose and protect the developing petals before the flower opens.
9. Why do plants need nitrate ions from the soil: to make amino acids and proteins for cell growth, or to freeze water?
To make amino acids and proteins for cell growthPlants combine glucose with nitrogen from nitrates to synthesise amino acids and proteins.
10. What green pigment inside plant chloroplasts absorbs light energy for photosynthesis: chlorophyll or haemoglobin?
ChlorophyllChlorophyll absorbs mainly red and blue light and reflects green light.
11. How are coconut seeds adapted to travel between tropical islands: they float on ocean currents, or they attach to bird feathers?
They float on ocean currentsA coconut’s fibrous, air-filled husk makes it buoyant and waterproof in seawater.
12. Which vascular tissue consists of hollow tubes that carry water and dissolved mineral ions upward from the roots to the leaves: xylem or petals?
XylemXylem vessels transport water and minerals in a one-way flow from roots to leaves.
12 questions · Seed 47 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 7-9
Plants, leaves & photosynthesis
Take your time. Show your thinking.
1. Why do many insect-pollinated flowers have brightly coloured petals and sweet nectar: to attract pollinators, or to absorb soil water?
2. Which vascular tissue carries sugars made in the leaves to the rest of the plant: phloem or bark?
3. In which cell organelles inside palisade leaf cells does photosynthesis occur: chloroplasts or ribosomes?
4. How are dandelion and maple seeds adapted to be dispersed away from the parent plant: by wind, or by sinking in deep water?
5. Which part of the plant transports water upward from the roots and supports the leaves and flowers: the stem or the seed coat?
6. Why do seeds scatter (disperse) away from the parent plant: to reduce competition for light, water and minerals, or to stay in the shade?
7. Why do plants need magnesium ions from the soil: to make green chlorophyll, or to attract wind?
8. What is the role of the green sepals on the outside of a flower bud: to protect the unopened flower bud, or to absorb soil nitrates?
9. Why do plants need nitrate ions from the soil: to make amino acids and proteins for cell growth, or to freeze water?
10. What green pigment inside plant chloroplasts absorbs light energy for photosynthesis: chlorophyll or haemoglobin?
11. How are coconut seeds adapted to travel between tropical islands: they float on ocean currents, or they attach to bird feathers?
12. Which vascular tissue consists of hollow tubes that carry water and dissolved mineral ions upward from the roots to the leaves: xylem or petals?
12 questions · Seed 47 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 7-9
Plants, leaves & photosynthesis
Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.
1. Why do many insect-pollinated flowers have brightly coloured petals and sweet nectar: to attract pollinators, or to absorb soil water?
To attract pollinatorsBees and butterflies visit for nectar and carry pollen between flowers.
2. Which vascular tissue carries sugars made in the leaves to the rest of the plant: phloem or bark?
PhloemPhloem translocates dissolved sugars from leaves to growing roots, fruits and seeds.
3. In which cell organelles inside palisade leaf cells does photosynthesis occur: chloroplasts or ribosomes?
ChloroplastsChloroplasts contain chlorophyll and the enzymes needed for photosynthesis.
4. How are dandelion and maple seeds adapted to be dispersed away from the parent plant: by wind, or by sinking in deep water?
By windParachute-like plumes on dandelions and winged samaras on maples catch the wind.
5. Which part of the plant transports water upward from the roots and supports the leaves and flowers: the stem or the seed coat?
StemXylem vessels in the stem transport water and minerals upward to the leaves.
6. Why do seeds scatter (disperse) away from the parent plant: to reduce competition for light, water and minerals, or to stay in the shade?
To reduce competition for light, water and mineralsSeed dispersal prevents overcrowding around the parent plant.
7. Why do plants need magnesium ions from the soil: to make green chlorophyll, or to attract wind?
To make green chlorophyllMagnesium is the central atom in every chlorophyll molecule; deficiency causes yellow leaves (chlorosis).
8. What is the role of the green sepals on the outside of a flower bud: to protect the unopened flower bud, or to absorb soil nitrates?
To protect the unopened flower budSepals enclose and protect the developing petals before the flower opens.
9. Why do plants need nitrate ions from the soil: to make amino acids and proteins for cell growth, or to freeze water?
To make amino acids and proteins for cell growthPlants combine glucose with nitrogen from nitrates to synthesise amino acids and proteins.
10. What green pigment inside plant chloroplasts absorbs light energy for photosynthesis: chlorophyll or haemoglobin?
ChlorophyllChlorophyll absorbs mainly red and blue light and reflects green light.
11. How are coconut seeds adapted to travel between tropical islands: they float on ocean currents, or they attach to bird feathers?
They float on ocean currentsA coconut’s fibrous, air-filled husk makes it buoyant and waterproof in seawater.
12. Which vascular tissue consists of hollow tubes that carry water and dissolved mineral ions upward from the roots to the leaves: xylem or petals?
XylemXylem vessels transport water and minerals in a one-way flow from roots to leaves.
12 questions · Seed 47 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification