Teaching plant adaptations to primary and elementary students. This is meant for either a whole class or a small group presentation. Some of the slides have a few words covered for teaching how to use context clues, with the words revealed on the subsequent slides. A Video, an image gallery list and a powerpoint are all at www.k5chalkbox.com

1. Introduction to
Plant Adaptations
http://www.k5chalkbox.com/plant-adaptations.html

2. What do plants need to survive?
•Sunlight
•Water
•Air
•Nutrients
http://www.k5chalkbox.com/plant-adaptations.html

3. Plants are designed to
survive in their specific
environments.
They have adaptations, or
special features, that help
them meet their needs.

4. How have these plants adapted to
survive?
http://www.k5chalkbox.com/plant-adaptations.html

5. Many trees lose their
leaves in the winter when
they do not get as much
sunlight. Why?
~slow growth
~save energy
In places with warmer
winters, plants and trees
do not need to shed their
leaves because there is
plenty of sunlight.

6. Lily pads have adapted to
be able to absorb as much
sunlight as possible.
Their large, fan-like leaves
spread out and lay flat on
the waters surface.
The leaves have a waxy
coating to help them stay
dry and prevent them
from sinking.
Read with your
teacher and
use context
clues!

7. • Lily pads have adapted to
be able to absorb as
much sunlight as possible.
Their large, fan-like leaves
spread out and lay flat on
the water’s surface.
The leaves have a waxy
coating to help them stay
dry and prevent them
from sinking.

8. How have these plants adapted to
meet their needs for water?
http://www.k5chalkbox.com/plant-adaptations.html

9. A cactus has a very thick
stem that stores water.
Its waxy coating helps
prevent moisture loss.
Some cacti have long roots
that search deep
underground for water.
Read with your
teacher and
use context
clues!

10. A cactus has a very thick
stem that stores water.
Its waxy coating helps
prevent moisture loss.
Some cacti have long roots
that search deep
underground for water.

11. Evergreen trees living in
cold regions slow their
growth and become
dormant during the winter.
~needle-shaped leaves
minimize water loss
~shed and regrow their
leaves gradually

12. Evergreen trees living in
cold regions slow their
growth and become
dormant during the winter.
~needle-shaped leaves
minimize water loss
~shed and regrow their
leaves gradually

13. How do these
cattails get the
air they need?
The soil cattails live in is
covered in water, so air
can’t get into the soil.
The cattails have air
spaces in their stems to
take oxygen from their
leaves to their roots.
Read with your
teacher and
use context
clues!

14. 14
The soil cattails live in is
covered in water, so air
can’t get into the soil.
The cattails have air
spaces in their stems to
take oxygen from their
leaves to their roots.

15. How have these plants adapted to
get nutrients?
http://www.k5chalkbox.com/plant-adaptations.html

16. It has adapted to be
carnivorous.
When an insect walks on
its leaf, the leaf snap
shut and traps the insect,
which it then uses for
food.
http://www.k5chalkbox.com/plant-adaptations.html
The Venus fly trap lives in wetland habitats where the
ground is covered with moss and peat but the soil is
nutrient-poor.
Read with
your teacher
and use
context
clues!

17. 17
The Venus fly trap lives in wetland habitats where the
ground is covered with moss and peat but the soil is
nutrient-poor.
It has adapted to be
carnivorous.
When an insect walks on
its leaf, the leaf snap
shut and traps the
insect, which it then uses
for food.

18. In areas that get a lot of
rain, such as in a
rainforest, nutrients in
the soil are washed away.
Trees form buttress roots
to help them stand up in
moist soil.
These roots stay close to
the surface and spread out
wide to get as many
nutrients as they can
before they are washed
away.
Read with your
teacher and
use context
clues!

19. 19
In areas that get a lot of
rain, such as in a rainforest,
nutrients in the soil are
washed away.
Trees form buttress roots
to help them stand up in
moist soil.
These roots stay close to
the surface and spread out
wide to get as many
nutrients as they can
before they are washed
away.

20. Each of these plants
has adapted to its
environment.
What other types of
adaptations can you
think of?
http://www.k5chalkbox.com/plant-adaptations.html