Tissues in Action: common misconceptions

If your child says… “Any cells beside each other make a tissue.”

Ask together

What shared job do the cells covering this leaf do?

What’s true

A tissue needs cells organised around a shared job.

If your child says… “Plants only make new cells at their tips.”

Ask together

Which highlighted growth regions are away from the tips?

What’s true

Dividing tissues also occur along stems and near certain nodes or leaf bases.

If your child says… “Hard supporting cells are built just like soft storage cells.”

Ask together

How do the walls differ between the storage cells and rigid supporting cells?

What’s true

Mature sclerenchyma usually has dead cells with strengthened walls that provide rigid support.

If your child says… “Both transport tissues carry the same things.”

Ask together

Which route supplies roots with food made in leaves?

What’s true

Water and mineral transport uses xylem; food transport uses phloem.

If your child says… “Any plant cell can grow a plant unaided.”

Ask together

What help does the tissue receive in this diagram?

What’s true

Culture needs living cells, sterile conditions, nutrients, growth chemicals, and suitable light and air.

If your child says… “Blood can't be connective tissue because it's liquid.”

Ask together

Does carrying substances between body parts require blood to be hard?

What’s true

Connective tissues have different materials around their cells to suit different jobs.

If your child says… “I decide when my gut and heart muscles work.”

Ask together

Would your heart wait for a conscious command while you sleep?

What’s true

Gut and heart muscles keep working without a decision for each action.

If your child says… “Joints move bones by themselves.”

Ask together

What tightened when your forearm rose?

What’s true

Joints allow movement, but muscles supply the pull.