Thirsty Plants: How Water Moves Through a Plant

About This Resource

A free Grade 3 science worksheet on how water travels through a plant. Students follow water from the roots up the stem to the leaves, carry out the colored-water celery investigation, put the journey in order, explain why plants wilt and learn that water leaves through tiny holes in the leaves. Includes a timed lesson plan, a six-activity worksheet, an editable Word version and answer key.

Overview

Plants need water to stay firm, make food and grow. Water enters through tiny root hairs, travels up the stem through narrow tubes and reaches the leaves, where some of it escapes as water vapor through tiny holes. This pulls more water up from the roots, like drinking through a straw. Students set up the classic celery investigation: a celery stalk or white flower stands in colored water, and after a few hours the color appears in the leaves or petals. They record observations, order the stages of the water's journey and explain why a plant wilts when it does not get enough water.

Resource Details

Subject: Science
Topic: How Water Moves Through a Plant
Category: Plants
File Type: PDF
File Size: 224.5 KB
Published: 13 Nov 2026
Downloads: 0

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Grade 3 science (ages 8–9) 45 minutes (plus a check the next day) Life science observing sequencing recording explaining

Student Task

Show a wilted plant and a healthy plant. Ask: "What is different? What does the wilted plant need?"
Set up the celery investigation, then do activities 1 and 2 together.
Students complete activities 3 to 6 while waiting for results. Answers are in the answer key.

Classroom Use

Celery colors: put celery stalks or white flowers in cups of colored water and check after a few hours and the next day.
Straw model: students drink water through a straw to model the stem pulling water up.
Wilting test: compare a watered plant with one that has not been watered for a few days.

Differentiation

Support: give a labeled diagram of a plant and picture cards for the stages. Challenge: students predict what happens if the stem is split and placed in two colors.

Answer Key & Assessment

Activities 1 to 5 check the water's journey (answer key included). Activity 6 shows whether students can record an investigation.

Learning Objectives

Describe how water moves from the roots to the leaves.
Explain the jobs of roots, stem and leaves in moving water.
Carry out and record a simple investigation.

Teacher Tips

Food coloring works well in the celery investigation; cut the bottom of the stalk just before placing it in the water. Results show best after a day. Remind students not to taste the colored water.

What's Included

6-page printable PDF lesson pack: teacher lesson plan with timings, materials and differentiation
Key vocabulary list (6 words with meanings and examples)
Student worksheet (6 activities)
Editable Word version of the worksheet
Complete answer key (also as a separate PDF)

Additional Files

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