Following new curriculum standards for middle school courses in Biology and Life Sciences, this video program introduces middle school students to the basic biology of plants. Topics covered include: cellular respiration and photosynthesis, including detailed equations for both; the roles of water, sunlight, carbon dioxide and oxygen; the process of taking and using nutrients from the environment; asexual and sexual reproduction; growth and repair of damaged plants; and response to stimuli (light, water and gravity); carbon fixation (light independent reactions) and photolysis (light dependent reactions.) Using live-action photography, animation, video graphics and illustrations, the program takes viewers on a step-by-step introduction to plants by first establishing that plants are indeed "living organisms," then carefully examining the remarkable biology that allows plants to live and flourish among other living organism. In addition to the topics listed above, students will learn the characteristics that plants share with all living things. Students will be able to identify the various parts of a plant and understand the function of each part. Students will examine the chemistry of photosynthesis and the energy conversion that occurs. Student viewers will build a strong plant biology vocabulary, and in addition to the topics covered above, will understand fission, fragmentation, budding, spores, angiosperms (flowering plants), monocot and dicot flowers, sepals, petals, calyx, stamen, pollen, anther, carpel, stigma, pollination, zygote, endosperm, stomata, chlorophyll and more.