Horsetails

Horsetails, also known as Equisetum, are a group of primitive, non-flowering plants that belong to the genus Equisetum. They are commonly found in wetlands, marshes, and along riverbanks. Horsetails are known for their jointed, hollow stems and for producing spores for reproduction.

Anatomy of Horsetails

Stems: The stems of horsetails are hollow and jointed, resembling bamboo. They contain silica, which makes them rough to the touch and historically used for polishing metal.
Leaves: Horsetails have tiny, scale-like leaves that are arranged in whorls around the stem joints.
Reproduction: Horsetails reproduce through spores, which are produced in cone-like structures at the tips of the stems.

Ecological Importance

Horsetails play an important role in stabilizing wetland ecosystems and preventing erosion due to their extensive root systems. They also serve as habitat and food sources for various aquatic and semi-aquatic organisms.

Study Guide

What are the characteristics of horsetail stems?
How do horsetails reproduce?
Where are horsetails commonly found?
What ecological roles do horsetails play in wetland ecosystems?

◂Science Worksheets and Study Guides Sixth Grade. Plate Tectonics

Vocabulary/Answer key

Plate Tectonics

Vocabulary/Answer key

Plate Tectonics

Vocabulary/Answer key

Plate Tectonics

Vocabulary/Answer key

Plate Tectonics

The resources above cover the following skills:

EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE

Earth’s Systems

Use evidence to explain how different geologic processes shape Earth’s history over widely varying scales of space and time (e.g., chemical and physical erosion; tectonic plate processes; volcanic eruptions; meteor impacts; regional geographical features, including Alabama fault lines, Rickwood Caverns, and Wetumpka Impact Crater).

Provide evidence from data of the distribution of fossils and rocks, continental shapes, and seafloor structures to explain past plate motions.

Use models to explain how the flow of Earth’s internal energy drives a cycling of matter between Earth’s surface and deep interior causing plate movements (e.g., mid-ocean ridges, ocean trenches, volcanoes, earthquakes, mountains, rift valleys, volcanic islands).