Units / Unit C / Plant Water Transport and Transpiration
Plant Water Transport and Transpiration
Xylem, phloem, cohesion, adhesion, turgor, and root uptake (C-GO3-SO3).
Lesson plan — step by step
- 1
Prepare
Celery in coloured water demo or video; microscope root hair image.; Review prior lesson on osmosis and turgor.
- 2
Set purpose
Display learning-intent slide; clarify success criteria and POS tags.
- 3
Teach
Walk through 8 slides in order—use talk tracks and questions in presenter notes.
- 4
Formative check
Pathway diagram: Sketch soil → root hair → xylem → leaf → atmosphere; label processes.
- 5
Close
Exit slide; assign optional review of student notes online.
Materials
- Celery in coloured water demo or video; microscope root hair image.
- Review prior lesson on osmosis and turgor.
Program of Studies tags
General outcomes
Specific outcomes
- C-GO3-SO3
Teacher overview
Explain plant transport POS outcomes including cohesion–adhesion and transpiration pull.
Before class
- Celery in coloured water demo or video; microscope root hair image.
- Review prior lesson on osmosis and turgor.
Common misconceptions
- Phloem moves water upward only — phloem translocates sugars; xylem moves water and minerals upward.
- Transpiration is wasteful — link to cooling and nutrient flow.
Formative checks (classroom)
Pathway diagram
Sketch soil → root hair → xylem → leaf → atmosphere; label processes.
Look for: Includes osmosis at root, cohesion/adhesion in xylem, transpiration at stomata.
Slide outline
- 1. [hook] How does water reach the top of a tree? · ~3 min
- 2. [learning-intent] Learning intentions (Alberta POS) · ~2 min
- 3. [concept] Xylem and upward flow · ~6 min
- 4. [concept] Roots and phloem · ~6 min
- 5. [guided-practice] Explain the celery · ~8 min
- 6. [sts] Alberta agriculture · ~4 min
- 7. [formative-check] Exit ticket · ~4 min
- 8. [exit] Next lesson · ~2 min