The biggest difference is the shape of the leaves. When you are trying to figure out which plant is which, the shape of the leaves is an important clue.
The leaves of Seedling 2 are kind of roundish with a point at one end. They’re very different from the leaves of Seedlings 1 and 3. Let’s see if Seedling 2’s leaves can tell us what it will be when it grows up.
Get your Look for Clues Worksheet. Look at the pictures of all three seedlings when they’ve grown. Compare the leaves on the adult plants to the leaves on Seedling 2. Discuss:
The sunflower plant has leaves that look like the leaves on Seedling 2! On your worksheet, write 2 by the sunflower plant. Color the picture of the sunflower on your worksheet.
The pumpkin plant that you’re looking for is either Seedling 1 or Seedling 3. But the leaves of these seedlings are close to the same shape! To find the pumpkin plant, you need more clues. Discuss:
Watch how the stems of these three seedlings change as they grow. Compare the stems of the seedlings with the stem of the sunflower plant on your worksheet. Discuss:
Seedling 2 has a straight stem—just like a sunflower. That, plus the leaves, makes us feel sure that Seedling 2 is a sunflower. Now let’s look for clues to help us find the pumpkin plant. Discuss:
The stem of Seedling 3 bends to the side. It also has curls growing from it. The stem of Seedling 1 grows straight up. Compare the stem of Seedling 1 to the adult plants on your worksheet. Discuss:
Three clues tell you Seedling 1 is a geranium. It has leaves like a geranium, a straight stem, and no curls. Write 1 by the geranium on your worksheet. Color the picture on your worksheet.
You’ve probably guessed that Seedling 3 is a pumpkin plant since that’s the only plant left! But scientists don’t just guess. Compare Seedling 3 with the pictures on your worksheet. Discuss:
Seedling 3 has a stem that bends to the side, curls growing from its stem, and leaves like the pumpkin plant. On the worksheet, write 3 by the pumpkin plant. Color the plant.
Congratulations! You did a great job figuring out which plant is which by looking at the leaves and stems. But adult plants have more than leaves and stems. Discuss:
In this lesson, students identify the pattern that young plants are similar to their parent plants. In the activity, Mixed-up Plants, students observe three seedlings and three adult plants and use their observations to match each seedling to its adult counterpart.
