Every part has a job
Living things have parts called structures. Each structure has a special job that helps the plant or animal survive. The shape of a part often tells you what it does.
Parts of a plant
| Part | Job |
|---|---|
| Root | Holds the plant in the ground and soaks up water and nutrients |
| Stem | Holds the plant up and carries water from the roots to the leaves |
| Leaf | Catches sunlight and makes food for the plant |
| Flower | Makes seeds; its colours and smell attract bees and butterflies |
| Seed | Grows into a new plant |
| Fruit | Protects the seeds and helps spread them |
Roots are like straws that drink water from the soil. A stem is like a pipe and a pole at the same time. Leaves are like tiny kitchens where food is made.
Different plants, different parts
- A cactus has a thick stem that stores water and spines instead of flat leaves, so it doesn’t lose water in the desert.
- A tree has a tall woody trunk (a big stem) so its leaves can reach sunlight above other plants.
- A water lily has wide floating leaves that catch sunlight on top of a pond.
Parts of an animal
Animals have structures for eating, moving, breathing and staying safe.
| Structure | Job | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Legs | Walking, running, jumping | A frog’s strong back legs help it jump. |
| Wings | Flying | A bat’s wings are skin stretched over long finger bones. |
| Fins | Swimming | A fish uses fins to steer. |
| Gills | Breathing underwater | Fish take oxygen from the water. |
| Fur or feathers | Keeping warm | A polar bear’s thick fur keeps it warm. |
| Shell | Protection | A turtle hides inside its shell. |
| Claws | Digging, climbing, catching food | A mole digs tunnels with its claws. |
Beaks and mouths
A bird’s beak tells you what it eats.
- An eagle has a sharp hooked beak for tearing meat.
- A hummingbird has a long thin beak for sipping nectar from flowers.
- A duck has a flat beak for scooping food from water.
- A finch has a short strong beak for cracking seeds.
Animal teeth work the same way. Lions have sharp pointed teeth for meat. Cows have flat teeth for grinding grass.
Your body’s structures
You have structures too! Your eyes help you see, your ears help you hear, your bones hold you up, and your muscles help you move.
In the real world
Inventors often copy nature’s structures. Velcro was invented after a man noticed burrs sticking to his dog’s fur. Swim fins are shaped like a duck’s webbed feet.
Common mistakes
- Thinking all leaves are flat and green. Pine needles and cactus spines are leaves too.
- Thinking roots are only for holding plants up. They also drink water.
Try it yourself
- Find a weed or a small plant (ask an adult first). Gently pull it up and find the root, stem and leaves.
- Draw it and label each part.
- Look at pictures of three birds. Guess what each one eats from its beak.
Quick recap
- Structures are parts with special jobs.
- Roots drink water, stems hold the plant up, leaves make food and flowers make seeds.
- Animals have legs, wings, fins, gills, fur and shells to help them survive.
- The shape of a beak or tooth tells you what an animal eats.
- People copy nature’s structures to make inventions.