Section 1
Plants Adapted from Water to Land
Early plants evolved from algae about 475 million years ago, developing special adaptations to survive on land including cell walls for support and methods to prevent drying out.
In this Grade 7 Life Science lesson from Chapter 11: Plants, students explore how mosses and ferns are adapted to moist environments, tracing the evolutionary transition of plant ancestors from aquatic algae to land-dwelling organisms. Students learn the differences between nonvascular plants like mosses and vascular plants like ferns, including how each group reproduces and why they depend on water-rich habitats. The lesson also covers key concepts such as photosynthesis, autotrophs, and the fossil evidence that places the first land plants on Earth approximately 475 million years ago.
Section 1
Plants Adapted from Water to Land
Early plants evolved from algae about 475 million years ago, developing special adaptations to survive on land including cell walls for support and methods to prevent drying out.
Section 2
Mosses Survive Without Vascular Tissue
As nonvascular plants, mosses transport water cell-by-cell, limiting their size. They have simple roots, stems, and leaves, and require water for reproduction as sperm must swim to eggs.
Section 3
Ferns Transport Materials Through Vascular Systems
Ferns evolved vascular tissue that efficiently moves water and nutrients while providing support, allowing them to grow much larger than mosses with more extensive root systems and fronds.
Section 4
Plants Reproduce Through Two-Generation Cycles
Both mosses and ferns have two-part life cycles involving spores. They can reproduce sexually (creating genetic diversity) when water is present or asexually by branching off new plants.
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Section 1
Plants Adapted from Water to Land
Early plants evolved from algae about 475 million years ago, developing special adaptations to survive on land including cell walls for support and methods to prevent drying out.
Section 2
Mosses Survive Without Vascular Tissue
As nonvascular plants, mosses transport water cell-by-cell, limiting their size. They have simple roots, stems, and leaves, and require water for reproduction as sperm must swim to eggs.
Section 3
Ferns Transport Materials Through Vascular Systems
Ferns evolved vascular tissue that efficiently moves water and nutrients while providing support, allowing them to grow much larger than mosses with more extensive root systems and fronds.
Section 4
Plants Reproduce Through Two-Generation Cycles
Both mosses and ferns have two-part life cycles involving spores. They can reproduce sexually (creating genetic diversity) when water is present or asexually by branching off new plants.
Book overview
Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.
Continue this chapter