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Structures of Life Learning Guide
Plant Concepts
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Seeds develop in the fruit of a plant.
Water can make seeds get bigger, heavier and grow.
Seeds begin to grow and develop when placed in water.
A seed holds food for the plant embryo.
Seedlings have common structures including stems, roots, leaves, and
cotyledons.
 Plants need water, light, and nutrients. Soil provides support, but we can
support plants in other ways.
 The plant cycles from seed through all its stages and begins again with new
seeds.
Crayfish Concepts
 Crayfish have observable structures such as legs, eyes, mouth, antennae,
carapace, swimmerets, tail, and pincers.
 Crayfish need clean, cool water, food from plants and animals, shelter, and
space in their habitat. They use their gills to get air from the water.
 Animals exhibit different behaviors.
 Some animals establish territories that they defend.
Bess Beetle Concepts
 Bess beetles have 6 legs, three body parts (head, thorax, abdomen), 2
antennae, 2 mandibles, 2 eyes, and a horn.
 Bess beetles need water, food (wood), space, and air in their habitat.
 Organisms have some similar structures and some differences.
 An organism’s structures have functions that help it survive in its habitat.
 The feet of the bess beetle strongly grasp rough surfaces. They can pull on
wood as the beetle makes tunnels or tears wood to eat it.
 Scientists must conduct investigations so that no harm is done to animals.
Plant Vocabulary
Estimate - figure out a number without counting
Fruit - structure (part) of a plant that holds the seeds
Property - something you can observe (color, texture, smell, taste, size, shape)
Seed - part of the fruit that holds the young plant
Dormant - in a resting or inactive state
Mold - slimy or cotton-like growth in a moist place
Embryo - the small plant inside the seed (baby plant)
Seed coat - protective outer covering on the seed
Cotyledon - stored food inside the seed for the embryo
Germination - when a seed begins to develop
Organism - a living thing
Seedling - young plant
Roots - part of the plant that holds it in the ground and gets nutrients and water
Stem - part of the plant that carries water and supports the leaves
Leaves - part of the plant that grow out of the stem and make food for the plant
(photosynthesis)
Hydroponics - growing plants in water and nutrients
Nutrients - chemicals plants need
Flower - the part of the plant fruit and seeds develop from
Life cycle - the stages an organism goes through
Crayfish Vocabulary
Structures - observable parts
Crustaceans - class of mainly aquatic animals with hard, flexible shells, jointed legs,
and two sets of antennae
Antennae - feelers
Bristles - short hairs used for sensing things in the environment
Carapace - main body shell of crustaceans
Swimmerets - short leglike structures under the tail
Pincers - big, jointed leglike structures on the front of the body
Habitat - where an animal lives
Behavior - things animals do
Territory - the part of an animal’s habitat that it defends against others of its own
kind
Beetle Vocabulary
Bess Beetle - A small, shiny black insect found in decaying logs
Insect - An organism with 3 body parts and six legs, and antennae
Head - Top section of the insect which has the eyes and antennae
Thorax - Middle section of the insect which has the legs and wings
Abdomen - Lower section of the insect
Mite - Small black insects that live with the beetles
Terrarium - A container that holds a replica of a land habitat
Function - How a structure works or is used by an animal