Read the article orally together. Ask students why these would be problems for a plant s successful growth and survival. Discuss as a whole group. Ask students to locate and explain adaptations the article describes that plants have made to problems 2 and 3. 7. Review the concept of absorption of light by the canopy trees.
Large leaves are helpful because they have more surface area.
The more surface area a leaf has, the more sunlight it can absorb. Explain that since we can not see the absorption of light by a leaf we will investigate this principal using sponges and water as a model to represent different leaves surface area and light. Explain that this is only a rough model because water and light are very different mediums. Break students into groups of 2 or 3. Ask them to sit quietly while materials are distributed and the activity is explained.