Year 8 Science · Unit 1 · Lesson 13

Plant Inputs, Water, Minerals and Light

Challenge Worksheet

Name

Date

Class

Learning Goals

Evaluate a claim about plant inputs using evidence and reasoning from the lesson
Explain how removing one input affects the whole plant system
Use structure-function reasoning to build a strong systems explanation

Go Deeper

Evaluate the claim

Someone claims...

"A plant placed near a very bright window in an office building has everything it needs to survive. The office is well lit, the windows let in plenty of sunlight, and the building is climate controlled. We never water it or add anything else, light is all a plant needs."

(a) What part of this claim is partly correct? Use a specific term from the lesson in your answer.

Challenge 1 mark

(b) What is wrong or incomplete about this claim? Name the missing inputs and explain why each one matters for the plant as a living system.

Challenge 3 marks

(c) Which plant structures are missing their inputs in this situation? Explain what each structure does and why it cannot function properly without its input.

Challenge 2 marks

Show What You Know

1. Both plants and animals need inputs from their environment. Explain one similarity and one difference between how plants and animals obtain their key inputs. Use structure-function language from the lesson.

Challenge 4 marks

2. A plant is placed in a location with plenty of water in the soil and good mineral levels, but is kept in complete darkness. Trace a step-by-step chain to explain what would happen to the plant over time. Use the terms "input," "leaves" and "survival" in your answer.

Challenge 3 marks

Wrap Up

In one sentence, what was the main idea of this lesson?