The effects of environmental factors on the rate of water uptake by a plant
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the effects of environmental factors on the rate of water uptake by a leafy shoot.
Key learning points
- Compare data on rate of water uptake by a plant at a range of light intensities.
- Identify a pattern or trend in the data.
- Higher light intensity increases transpiration rate as stomata open wider to increase gas exchange for photosynthesis.
- Increased temperature and air movement also increase the rate of water uptake.
- Higher temperature and air movement increase transpiration due to increased diffusion of water out through stomata.
Keywords
Photosynthesis - a series of chemical reactions in the cells of producers, which use carbon dioxide and water to make glucose and oxygen, requiring light
Light intensity - the amount of light reaching a given area in a given time
Stomata - pores in the leaf through which water, oxygen and carbon dioxide can diffuse
Transpiration - the loss of water from a plant’s leaves
Trend - a pattern in data
Common misconception
Some students may struggle to explain how transpiration is affected by a number of factors, even though these factors have the same effects on everyday activities such as drying hair or clothes.
Links between these everyday events and transpiration have been made and illustrated simultaneously, so students make the link between the two.
Teacher tip
Use a hair dryer and a small puddle of water to show how increasing temperature and wind speed increases water evaporation, and relate this to transpiration.
Equipment
None required.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is the function of stomata?
Q2.Which parts of a plant are involved in the transpiration stream?
Q3.What role do chloroplasts play in a plant cell?
Q4.What is the primary function of the xylem in plants?
Q5.How do guard cells regulate the opening and closing of stomata?
Q6.What is the role of the phloem in plants?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is the effect of increased light intensity on water uptake?
Q2.What is the effect of increased air movement on water uptake?
Q3.Why does higher temperature increase water uptake?
Q4.What are the main environmental factors affecting water uptake in plants?
Q5.Why is water uptake important for photosynthesis?
Q6.How does increased air movement enhance transpiration?
To help you plan your 11 combined science lesson on: The effects of environmental factors on the rate of water uptake by a plant, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 combined science lesson on: The effects of environmental factors on the rate of water uptake by a plant, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 combined science lessons from the Transport and exchange surfaces in plants unit, dive into the full secondary combined science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.