Diversity of plants

• plants are classified as plants with seeds (such as maize) or plants without seeds (such as ferns)
• plants with seeds are Angiosperms (flowering plants) and Gymnosperms (cone bearing plants such as the cycad)
• plants can produce their seeds in flowers (Angiosperms) or in cones (Gymnosperms)
• Angiosperms consist of two major groups, dicotyledons and monocotyledons. These groups differ with respect to their roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds

(Note: Emphasise local and other South African examples)

• Remind learners that we have discovered in the previous section that animals can be classified as vertebrates and invertebrates.
• Do they think that plants can be classified in a similar way too?
• Can they think of any plants that should fall in different categories?
• Answers could include plants that grow on land and plants that grow in the water or plants that grow in the desert and plants that grow in the Amazon or the Karoo
• Present an overview of the diversity of plants by using PRESENTATION 5: Diversity of Plants (Part 1)
• Show VIDEO CLIP 6: Angiosperms and Gymnosperms (1,58 min.)

• Learners complete WORKSHEET
• Discuss answers with learners afterwards.

• Continue with the overview on diversity of plants by utilising PRESENTATION 6: Diversity of Plants (Part 2)
• Show VIDEO CLIP 7: Monocots vs Dicots (3.17 min.)   

• Hand out WORKSHEET  I:  Diversity of Plants.
• This worksheet may also be given as a homework task.

• Hand out WORKSHEET  J:  Monocotyledons and Dicotyledons.
• This worksheet is also suitable to be given as a homework task.

• Hand out WORKSHEET K for learners to complete.

• Class Activity: learners label the illustrations in the following worksheets:
• WORKSHEET : Vertebrates – Arthropods
• WORKSHEET M