Why Are Plants Important in Our Daily Lives?
We can see lots of plants around us. They are of different colours, shapes, and sizes. They also show a wide diversity among them. Some plants grow in cold regions and some grow in hot regions. Certain plants grow in tropical regions.
Plants belong to the kingdom Plantae. There are various types of plants. These include trees, shrubs, herbs, medicinal plants, creepers, etc. Plants require an optimum amount of water, air and nutrients. They get these from nature itself.
Trees are big and strong. They have trunks, branches and leaves. Some trees may bear fruits, for example, the mango tree, apple tree and jackfruit tree while the banyan tree is known for its gigantic appearance. Shrubs are small woody plants which are smaller than trees. Rose plants, tulsi plants, and hibiscus plants are some examples.
Herbs such as basil, mint, and coriander are used for flavouring food. Medicinal plants such as tulsi are very useful medicines. Climbers and creepers such as melons and pea plants have weak stems and need support to grow.
Tropical Rainforest
Plants – How Do They Help Us?
Human beings and other animals largely depend upon plants for their survival. Plants play an important role in our existence. There are various uses of plants. Here we are mainly discussing the uses of plants for Class 2.
One of the important things those plants provide us is that they provide clean air for our breathing. The environment consists of carbon dioxide and oxygen. The plants take up carbon dioxide and give out oxygen which we respire. In this way, they also help us out in regulating air pollution. By growing more and more trees we can reduce air pollution.
Another important use of plants is that they provide us with food. Plants bear fruits like mango, grapes, apples, oranges etc and we can consume those fruits. Even leaves like spinach and lettuce are also consumable. From the roots, we can get potatoes, radishes, and tapioca. From seeds, we can consume almonds, wheat, and cashew nuts.
Plants shelter us. The branches of big trees can serve as shelter for many birds and small animals. They give us shade from the scorching sun during hot summers. They also provide wood for constructing houses. They provide wood for making tables, chairs and other materials. During olden times people used to take a rest under the big banyan trees.
We need clothing and we use cotton for making different types of clothing. From where do we get this cotton? Have you wondered about that? Yes, it is obtained from cotton plants. The obtained cotton can be used to make different types of clothes for us.
Also, plants provide us with perfumes, rubber, latex etc. Beautiful flowers like jasmine and rose are used for preparing perfumes. Rubber plants provide us with rubber and we use them to make erasers, tyres etc. Some seeds are oily and they provide us with oils such as sunflower oil, coconut oil, etc.
We all love to write and draw. We need paper for that purpose. Papers are manufactured by using wood pulp. So plants also provide us with paper which is one of the stationeries we use in our day-to-day life. These are some of the various uses of plants.
Uses of Plants Chart
Medicinal Plants
Some plants can cure our diseases. Such plants are called medicinal plants. For example, in our households, we may see that our mother or grandmother will give us tulsi leaves to cure a cold and cough. Tulsi is one of the medicinal plants and it has the benefits of curing a cold, cough and fever. Tulsi is also known as the queen of medicinal plants.
Neem is another medicinal plant which can cure many diseases such as bacterial infections, aches and chicken pox. Aloe vera is known as the king of medicinal plants. It can cure poor body immunity and acne. Ginger is a perfect solution for digestion problems. Fenugreek leaves also help in controlling cholesterol and diabetes. The following image shows some of the popular medicine plant names.
Medicinal Plants Chart
Medicinal Plants
Interesting Facts about Brahmi Plants
Ayurveda is a famous medical practice followed in our country. Brahmi is a medicinal plant used in Ayurveda medicines.
Brahmi plants have a soft stem with white flowers and mostly they are found in damp and marshy areas. By observing these features, we know how to identify Brahmi plants.
This small plant is a hub of various medicinal values. Here are some interesting facts about this plant.
It acts as a powerful antioxidant. It can reduce anxiety and stress. By taking Brahmi, kids can boost their memory power. This will help their brain to develop. So Brahmi is vital for small children for their brain development and memory.
Also, this plant can reduce blood pressure and aches. Brahmi is also helpful for wound healing and reducing diabetes and it is good for hair growth.
Brahmi Plant
How to Draw a Plant?
Drawing is always fun, right? Plant drawings for kids can be one of the easiest art to start with. Let us now see how to draw a plant easily from these steps.
Steps of Drawing a Plant
This is how we can easily draw a plant.
Important Questions
1. What is coconut oil used for?
Ans: Coconut oil is mainly used for cooking purposes. The coconut oil is extracted from the coconut tree. The oil has many health benefits and intake of it is very useful.
2. Which part of the plant is used for making perfumes?
Ans: We use perfumes in our daily life. The flowers of different plants are used for making perfumes. Roses and Jasmines are some of the examples of flowers used for making perfumes.
Practise Questions
1. Plants take up ______ and give out ___________.
Ans: Carbon dioxide, Oxygen
2. Give an example of food from the root of the plant.
Almonds
Potato
Mango
Grapes
Ans: Potato
Key Features
Plants are living beings which prepare food by using sunlight. They grow in soil.
They act as helping hands for the survival of living beings in mother nature.
They have various uses such as they provide shelter, food, clothing, perfumes, clean air and paper.
Medicinal plants are those having medicinal value. They have many medicinal qualities and can be used to cure many diseases.
FAQs on Uses of Plants for Class 2: Easy Facts for Young Learners
1. What are plants and why are they so important for everyone on Earth?
Plants are living things that grow in the soil and make their own food using sunlight. They are very important because they give us oxygen to breathe, which is necessary for us to live. They are also the main source of food for almost all animals and humans, making them the foundation of life on our planet.
2. What are the main things we get from plants for Class 2?
Plants provide us with many essential things that we use every day. Some of the most important things we get from plants are:
- Food: We get fruits, vegetables, cereals (like wheat and rice), and pulses (like dal).
- Oxygen: Plants release oxygen, which we need to breathe to stay alive.
- Clothing: Fibres like cotton come from plants and are used to make our clothes.
- Shelter: Wood from large trees is used to build houses and make furniture like tables and chairs.
- Medicines: Some plants like Tulsi and Neem have medicinal properties that help cure illnesses.
- Spices: We get spices like pepper and cardamom from plants, which add flavour to our food.
3. What are the different types of plants we see around us?
Plants come in many different shapes and sizes. The main types of plants are:
- Trees: Very big and strong plants with a thick woody stem called a trunk. Examples are the Mango tree and Banyan tree.
- Shrubs: Smaller than trees, with many woody stems growing from the ground. Examples are Rose and Hibiscus plants.
- Herbs: Small plants with soft, green stems. Examples are Mint and Coriander.
- Climbers: Plants with weak stems that need support to grow upwards. Examples are the Money plant and Grapevine.
- Creepers: Plants with weak stems that grow along the ground. Examples are Pumpkin and Watermelon.
4. Besides food, how do plants help us in our daily lives?
While food is a major use, plants help us in many other ways. They give us wood from trees to make furniture like beds, tables, and doors. We get fibres like cotton from the cotton plant to make our clothes, bedsheets, and towels. Plants also give us paper to write on and make the air fresh and clean to breathe.
5. Why do people say that humans cannot survive without plants?
People say this because our survival is directly linked to plants. Firstly, we cannot live for more than a few minutes without oxygen, and plants are the primary source of oxygen on Earth. Secondly, all the food we eat either comes directly from plants (like fruits and vegetables) or from animals that eat plants. Without plants, there would be no oxygen to breathe and no food chain to provide us with energy.
6. How do plants help in making the air clean?
Plants act like natural air purifiers. They breathe in a gas called carbon dioxide, which is harmful to us in large amounts. They use this gas, along with sunlight and water, to make their food. In the process, they release fresh oxygen, which is the gas we need to breathe. This cycle helps keep the air clean and healthy for all living beings.
7. Which common plants found at home can be used as medicine?
Many common household plants have medicinal uses. For example, Tulsi (Holy Basil) leaves are often used to treat coughs and colds. The gel from an Aloe Vera plant can be applied to soothe skin burns. Neem leaves have properties that can help with skin infections, and Mint (Pudina) is good for soothing an upset stomach.
8. If we get useful wood from trees, why is cutting down too many trees considered bad?
This is a very important question. While we do use wood, cutting down too many trees, known as deforestation, is harmful. Trees do much more than just provide wood; they produce oxygen, attract rainfall, and are homes for many birds and animals. When we cut trees, we must also plant new ones. If we only cut them down without planting more, we will run out of fresh air, there will be less rain, and many animals will lose their homes, which damages the balance of our environment.
