Teaching Guide: Transport in Plants
1. Overview and Objectives
This chapter introduces how water, mineral ions, and food move through a plant. It explains
the roles of xylem and phloem, the importance of root hair cells, and the processes of
osmosis, transpiration, and translocation.
Students should be able to:
- Identify the structure and function of transport tissues.
- Describe water uptake by roots and movement through the plant.
- Explain how environmental factors affect transpiration.
- Interpret data from investigations including potometers.
2. Xylem and Phloem
- Show labelled diagrams of plant cross-sections (root, stem, leaf).
- Emphasize xylem = dead cells for water/minerals; phloem = living cells for sugars/amino
acids.
- Use comparison tables to differentiate structure and function.
3. Root Hair Cells and Water Uptake
- Show microscope images or drawings of root hair cells.
- Highlight surface area, thin walls, osmosis, and active transport.
- Link structure to function and explain mineral ion uptake using ATP.
4. Movement of Water
- Use arrows to show water flow from soil to air through xylem.
- Teach osmosis in roots, capillary action in stems, and evaporation from leaves.
- Use animation or simulation of continuous water column.
5. Transpiration and Factors Affecting It
- Define transpiration clearly.
- Discuss how temperature, humidity, wind speed, and light affect transpiration.
- Use a fan, lamp, and bagged leaves to demo water loss.
6. Investigating Transpiration
- Set up potometers (or virtual simulations).
- Teach students how to track air bubble movement and calculate rate.
- Use results table to analyse patterns and identify variables.
7. Additional Concepts
- Use dyed water to show xylem pathways.
- Link tree ring formation to seasonal growth and water transport.
- Discuss photomicrographs of tissues in roots, stems, and leaves.
