Grade Six Science
Hello Boys and Girls,
Did you have a great time at Christmas? What did you do? What activities were you involved in? Did you give out any gifts? Did you receive any gifts?
Happy New Year to you and your entire family; may God continue to bless and keep you. This is a very special year for you. You will be writing the National Grade Six Assessment In May. I wish you every success. To achieve this success do ensure that you
• • • • • • • •
pay attention in class focus on the tasks assigned ask questions when in doubt complete all assignments/homework take great care while doing your work check over all work done revise daily ask God’s help
If you did not perform as well as you wanted to last term, it is not too late to for improvement. Spend more time with your work and plan to do well. Hard consistent work always pays off.
The last time we met we examined the leaves of plants. We looked at their parts, shapes, the arrangements on the stems, different types of leaves, various edges and so on.
Were you able to create the wordsearch with the words provided? I’m sure you were.
This week we will continue examining plants. Do you remember all that we learnt? Let's see how much you remember.
1. Draw and label a leaf.
2. Name different types of leaves according to their - shapes, margins,
veins and arrangements on their stems
3. Define photosynthesis.
4. List examples of leaves in the following categories:
There are many tiny holes at the back of a leaf. If you use a microscope or hand lens you will be able to see them clearly. The plant takes in air through these holes or stomata. It only uses part of the air. This gas is called carbon dioxide. The plant gives off oxygen and water through these holes in the leaves (stomata).
Exchange of air and water through the leaves
Leaves use energy from the sunlight to manufacture the plant’s food, starch. Can a plant make food without light? Let’s do the following experiment to find out.
You will need
• • • • •
a green leaf hot water iodine a paper clip a piece of dark paper or foil
Cover a part of the leaf with the foil. This is so that light cannot reach it. After a few days you will see that the part which received sunlight produced starch. How do you know this? You can test for starch by first plunging the leaf into hot water, then placing iodine on it. The part of the leaf which contains starch will turn to a blue – black colour.
Leaves cannot make food without light
Did you know that plants store food in leaves and leaf stalks? It you cut an onion lengthwise, you will see some thick layers.
These are leaves although they are not green. The onion plant stores food in these tightly packed leaves. This forms a bulb. The plant uses this food stored in these leaves when it grows.
Do you like to eat calaloo or cabbage? We are using the leaves when we eat them.
The leaves of many plants can be eaten. Can you name some edible plant leaves? Which ones do you enjoy?
Here’s a wish for good success at your first NGSA Mock exam on Thursday and Friday of this week. All the very best to you!
Until next week, when we will look at flowers, goodbye Boys and Girls!