Forest Plants, Guess the Missing Word, 3rd. Grade, Mr. Hills

Forest Plants

Some forests have plants that keep their leaves all year. Coniferous (co•nif•er•ous) trees have small and waxy leaves, sometimes needles, which are usually kept all year. In other forests, called deciduous (dee-SIH-joo-us) forests, most of the trees lose their leaves in ( 1 ). This type of forest is home to many kinds of tall trees, short ( 2 ), and flowers.

The forest plants grow and thrive in spring and summer. In fall, they begin to get ready for the long cold ( 3 ). The leaves on the trees will change ( 4 ) then fall to the ground. The trees will rest until spring. In ( 5 ), sunlight reaches the forest ( 6 ). Many plants sprout and grow in the spring ( 7 ). Soon summer comes and the trees are ( 8 ) of leaves. The leaves form a canopy that acts like a ( 9 ). The canopy stops most sunlight from reaching the forest floor. Few plants can grow in the ( 10 ) of the trees. But plants can grow in the sunny places along the ( 11 ) edge of the forest. The plants that receive the most sunlight grow the ( 12 ).