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How Water Moves Inside Plants — Reading Comprehension

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NGSS 4-LS1-1

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This 250-word reading passage introduces fourth-grade students to the concept of water transport in plants, aligned with NGSS 4-LS1-1 and the Disciplinary Core Idea LS1.A: Structure and Function. Students discover how plants have tiny tubes inside their stems and roots that pull water from the soil all the way up to the leaves, working like a drinking straw. The passage explains how water carries nutrients from the soil to every part of the plant, emphasizing why this internal system is essential for plant survival. Written in age-appropriate language for Grade 4 readers, the passage avoids advanced terminology like xylem and phloem, instead using simple analogies and everyday examples. The content includes audio integration for enhanced accessibility, a simplified differentiated version for struggling readers, Spanish translations of both versions, and engaging activities including multiple-choice questions, writing prompts, and graphic organizers. This comprehensive resource helps students build foundational understanding of plant internal structures and prepares them for hands-on investigations and classroom discussions about how living things meet their basic needs.

CONTENT PREVIEW

Plants need water to live and grow, just like you need water to stay healthy. But how does water get from the soil all the way up to the leaves at the top of a tall plant? Plants have a special system inside them that solves this problem.

Inside every plant are tiny tubes that run from the roots, through the stem, and into the leaves. These tubes are like thin straws that carry water upward. When you drink through a straw, you pull the liquid up into your mouth. Plants work in a similar way. The tubes inside the plant pull water up from the soil where the roots are buried.

As water moves through these tubes, it carries important nutrients—materials from the soil that help the plant grow strong and healthy. The nutrients are like vitamins for plants. Without these tubes, water and nutrients could not reach the leaves, flowers, or fruits.

The tubes also help the plant stay firm and stand upright. When the tubes are full of water, the plant stands tall. When a plant does not get enough water, the tubes become empty, and the plant wilts or droops.

This transport system works all day and night, moving water from the roots to every part of the plant. It is one of the most important jobs happening inside a plant, even though we cannot see it from the outside.

Interesting Fact: A large tree can pull up more than 100 gallons of water from the soil in just one day! That's enough water to fill a bathtub.

Where do plant tubes start and end?

Flowers to seedsRoots to leavesLeaves to flowersSoil to air

What do nutrients do for plants?

Make plants colorful and brightHelp plants grow strong and healthyHelp plants make more seedsKeep plants cool in summer

What happens when tubes are full of water?

The plant wilts and droops downThe plant grows new flowers quicklyThe plant stands tall and uprightThe plant loses all its leaves

Why is the transport system important?

It helps plants make oxygen for usIt moves water to all plant partsIt protects plants from cold weatherIt helps plants catch more sunlight

How do plant tubes work like straws?

They both store water for laterThey both pull liquid upwardThey both bend easily in windThey both are made of plastic

What would happen without plant tubes?

Plants would grow much faster than normalWater could not reach leaves or flowersPlants would make more seeds each yearRoots would grow above the ground

The transport system works only during daytime.

TrueFalse

What does the word 'wilts' mean?

Grows taller and strongerBecomes limp without enough waterProduces flowers and seedsTurns green in the spring