Algae
Name:

The word "primitive" can be confused with the word "simple" when we refer to algae. Algae are among the most primitive forms of plant life. Primitive makes it sound as if they are inferior in some way, but they are not. Primitive in this case means that algae, as an organism, has been around a long, long time. Algae is a very simple plant in that they do not have leaves roots or stems. If you have ever had the chance to visit a pond in the summer and noticed a green film on the surface of the water, this is algae. The green color comes from the chlorophyll which algae contains, to help convert sunlight into food for the plant. Algae cells bud out from one cell to the next, forming long beadlike strings. Seaweed is a form of algae that becomes long and leathery.

They exist wherever there is water, or even moisture: in the ocean (where they are a major constituent of plankton), lakes, rivers, streams, hot springs with a high mineral content, ponds - even rain puddles. They may be found living on the ground or beneath the earth's surfaces, on the bark of trees, on rocks and even within the bodies of higher plants and animals.

Vocabulary - Type your answer in the box.
(Correct Spelling Counts)

  • green
  • chlorophyll
  • seaweed
  • strings
  • bud out
  • fish
  • sun's
  • primitive
  • film
  • sea

1. Algae contains ____ .


2. Algae are ____ forms of plant life.


3. Most algae are ____ in color.


4. Some algae grow in the ____ .


5. Algae in a pond may look like a green ____ sitting on the surface of the water.


6. Plants use the ____ rays, to make food.


7. Algae cells form long ____ .


8. A form of algae found in the sea is called ____ .


9. Algae cells ____ when they grow.


10. Algae provides food for ____ .


Your score is out of 10.

Find Out!

Use the Internet to find out more about simple plants:

Further Your Interest

To further your interest in simple plants use the Internet and information discussed here to create an attractive brochure that outlines information about a group of simple plants or fungi. You may choose from these groups of organisms:

  • algae
  • lichens
  • mushrooms
  • bracket fungi

Your brochure should be designed to promote a positive understanding by the reader about your selected simple plant or fungi. For example, a person should be able to read your brochure and say to themself, "Wow! I never knew what an important role lichens plays in our world."

In addition to the library resources and the internet, you will need these materials to complete your project:

  1. blank paper for brochure
  2. markers or colored pencils
  3. fingers for keyboarding!

Step 1

Page one of your brochure is your title page and it should include this information:

  • the name of your simple plant or fungi group
  • your name and period
  • a drawing without labels, either by computer or hand, that shows an example of your simple plant or fungi group

Step 2

Page two of your brochure should contain information that explains as many of the following items as possible:

  • classification info
  • how it reproduces
  • how it gets food
  • how it is put together or its structure
  • any other useful info not covered elsewhere on other pages

Step 3

This page should contain any info you can find about:
  • the importance of this group of organisms to humans
  • the importance of this group of organisms to other things in our world

Step 4

On the fourth and final page, you will want to include:

  • a detailed drawing, either by a computer or by hand, that shows the important structures of your type of living thing. For example, a drawing of a mushroom that contains the major parts.

Step 5

This is the assembly step - putting your information on your brochure paper.

  • Type out your information for all four pages using a word processing program.
  • Attach this typed information to your selected blank brochure paper.
  • Be sure to color in any diagrams or drawings.