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Amazing Plants

April 13th is a great day to stop and appreciate the world around us because it is International Plant Appreciation Day. Plants are amazing! They do so much for us. They produce food and oxygen, filter out harmful environmental toxins, create medicines, and so much more. This blog contains interesting facts, fun activities, and a list of great books about plants. There’s even a fun worksheet to help you learn the different parts of a plant! Read on to help us celebrate International Plant Appreciation Day!

Facts

  • Plants are eukaryotes in the Kingdom Plantae. Most are photosynthetic, which means they get their energy from sunlight. Plants use photosynthesis to turn sunlight into food in their leaves.
  • While most plants get energy from the sun, some are carnivorous and eat insects and spiders. Venus flytraps are an example of these carnivorous plants.
  • There are over 400,000 known different plant species, and scientists speculate that there are probably over 50,000 undiscovered species.
  • The world’s largest flower is the Rafflesia Arnoldii, the corpse flower. It is a rare plant only found naturally in the rainforests of Southeast Asia. The flower gets its name from the rotting meat smell it emits. It does this to attract flies that will then pollinate it. It is considered a parasitic plant because it uses vines to leach nutrients and water from nearby plants.
  • Plants can live for a very long time; some can live for hundreds or thousands of years. The oldest living plant on record is a Great Basin bristlecone pine tree over 5,000 years old!
  • Many plants have medicinal properties that have been used for centuries. This means that they can be used as ingredients when creating medicines. An example of this is aloe vera, which is known for its ability to soothe burns and cuts.
  • There are over 30,000 different varieties of roses. All of them are edible, but remember to ask an adult before you eat any plant. Rose petals can be made into tea, used in jellies, and used to flavor food. They are used in many Chinese and Indian dishes.
  • Did you know that plants can talk to each other? Plants have a complex system of chemical signals that they use to communicate. They can share nutrients, warn each other of danger, and even signal for help when attacked.

Sources

Activities to further plant knowledge and appreciation:

  • Take a nature walk and create a plant journal of your findings. You can see some amazing plant life while on your nature walk, whether at a park or in your backyard. Using a notebook or paper, record the different types of plants by drawing them and writing down details such as color, size, and even texture. If you want to identify your plants, the library has some great books to help you.

  • Create petal art. While on a nature walk, collect petals and leaves.  Remember to use fallen petals and leaves before using live plants, and as always, ask an adult for assistance. Using construction paper, arrange your petals in shapes, forming a picture. When your image is complete, use Elmer’s glue and tack everything down. You can create flower fairies, leaf kitty cats, or even petal castles. Whatever you can imagine, you can make it!

  • Go on a nature scavenger hunt. Pick any color and go on a 15-20 nature walk with a parent or adult of course, and try to find as many things as you can that are that color. You can try switching your color halfway through, or even only try to find things of a certain size. The possibilities are endless.

Create Artwork: Petal Art

Non-fiction Books

The Secret World Of Plants: Tales Of More Than 100 Remarkable Flowers, Trees, And Seeds by Ben Hoare

The Secret World Of Plants: Tales Of More Than 100 Remarkable Flowers, Trees, And Seeds by Ben Hoare

Plants are found almost everywhere on Earth, but their lives are a mystery to many people. Learn how seagrass flowers are underwater, how the Venus flytrap counts to make sure it catches its prey, and why some tulips used to cost more than a house! This fascinating book for kids explores the vast plant kingdom and explains how plants work and the weird and wonderful relationships they have with animals.

All About Plants! by Andrea Beaty

All About Plants! by Andrea Beaty

What do plants eat? Why do some plants have flowers and others don’t? And what’s the tallest plant out there?

Trees, Leaves, Flowers & Seeds: A Visual Encyclopedia Of The Plant Kingdom by Sarah Jose

Trees, Leaves, Flowers & Seeds: A Visual Encyclopedia Of The Plant Kingdom by Sarah Jose

Presents facts about plants, including which ones eat insects, how cacti store water, and where the tallest tree in the world is.

Botanicum by Kathy Willis

Botanicum by Kathy Willis

Showcases dozens of full-color plants from around the world in a gallery format, complemented by identification information and brief descriptions.

Nature's Treasures by Ben Hoare

Nature’s Treasures by Ben Hoare

Nature is bursting with beautiful, useful, and intriguing objects. But where do they come from—and what are they for? Hoare helps readers discover natural objects with amazing tales to tell. From a delicate bird’s feather to a glittering rock from space, readers will marvel at minerals forged through time, ingenious structures made by nature, and remarkable features that help animals and plants survive and thrive.

The Language Of Plants: Understanding How Plants Communicate by Helena Haraštová

The Language Of Plants: Understanding How Plants Communicate by Helena Haraštová

Recent scientific findings have shaken our traditional view of plants. Now we know they don’t just take a passive interest in the world around them – they actively react to it. Plus, they communicate in ways we humans can only dream of.

Photosynthesis by Martha London

Photosynthesis by Martha London

Plants don’t eat food. Instead, they use sunlight to get energy that they can use. Photosynthesis looks at how plants take in water and air and turn them into sugars that plants can use.– Source other than the Library of Congress.

Fruits by Alicia Rodriguez

Fruits by Alicia Rodriguez

What is your favorite kind of fruit? In this book, young readers will be introduced to various fruits from many kinds of plants. Using colorful photographs that help guide early readers to comprehend the simple text and relevant keywords, this book simplifies fruits and builds confidence in reading skills. Included is a page for caregivers and teachers that suggests guiding questions to help aid in reading comprehension.

Plant by David Burnie

Plant by David Burnie

A photo essay introduces the world of plants, including the germination of seeds, plant defenses, and uses of plants.

Fiction Books

Here Are The Seeds by JaNay Brown-Wood

Here Are The Seeds by JaNay Brown-Wood

This sweet picture book follows two young children growing their garden from seeds … and encountering a few missteps along the way! Planting a garden is not as easy as it seems — OH NO! — there is the hot sun that cracks the earth! And the rain that floods the garden! And those worms that are eating all the plants! But could all of these elements help their garden grow?

Baby Botanist by Dr. Laura Gehl

Baby Botanist by Dr. Laura Gehl

Baby botanists study plants. In her lab coat, she looks at plants, both large and small. She finds plants growing in many places. Can plants grow in water? What foods come from plants? How does a seed grow? Find out with baby botanist!

Millie Fleur's Poison Garden by Christy Mandin

Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden by Christy Mandin

Millie Fleur La Fae is new in Garden Glen, and she plans to plant her garden of strange and sometimes dangerous plants, but the town garden club does not approve of her and wants to tear it down.

Lola Plants A Garden by Anna McQuinn

Lola Plants A Garden by Anna McQuinn

Lola plants a flower garden with her parent’s help and watches it grow.

Plantzilla by Jerdine Nolen

Plantzilla by Jerdine Nolen

In a series of letters, a boy, his science teacher, and his parents discuss the progress of a very unusual, sometimes frightening, plant that becomes more human as the summer progresses.

Yucky Worms by Vivian French

Yucky Worms by Vivian French

While helping Grandma in the garden, a child learns about the important role of the earthworm in helping plants grow.

Parts of a Flower Worksheet

This work sheet and many more can be found at KindergartenWorksheets.net