THE LITTLE WONDER ATLAS · AGES 6–12 WITH A GROWN-UP
How trees work
A tree is a living sugar maker, with roots below and a leafy workshop above.
Follow the wonder
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Roots absorb water and dissolved minerals from the soil.
Tiny tubes carry water upward. Other tissues move sugars to places that need them.
Leaves use light energy, water and carbon dioxide to make sugars. This is photosynthesis.
Sugars supply energy and building material. Photosynthesis also releases oxygen.
LITTLE WONDER LAB
Predict. Explore. Discover.
No score and no timer. A surprising result is a discovery too.
1 · Make a prediction
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2 · Change one thing
A simplified model, not a real-world measurement.
Without light, photosynthesis cannot happen. The tree can use stored sugars for a while.
0 / 3 settings explored
Leaves use light to make food for the tree. Water and air help too.
3 · Keep your discovery
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TRY ONE QUESTION · HINTS ARE WELCOME
Where does a tree make most of its food?
Take your time. You can read the map again.
Show me the answer
In its green leaves
For grown-ups: sources and learning notes
Reviewed 28 September 2026. These are introductory explanations; the diagrams simplify real structures and processes.