Science at key stages 1 and 2 (Year 1)

Unit 1B: Growing plants
Section 1: Introduction

Objectives

Children should learn:

that there are different plants in the immediate environment
to treat growing plants with care
to make careful observations of one or two plants and of where they grow and to communicate these
that plants have leaves, stems and flowers

Activities		Outcomes
		Children:
Take children for a walk around the school and challenge them to find (but not pick or pull up) plants growing in as many different places as they can. Ask them for their ideas about why plants grow where they do. Have a prepared, large, outline plan of the area visited and ask children to stick labels or pictures of plants where they were found eg on the path, in the pond, in the field. With the children, draw some of the plants showing what they are like and where they grow and naming their main parts. Ask children to suggest why it is important not to pull up growing plants.		name some plants found around the school eg daisy, dandelion and name groups of plants eg trees, grass, pondweed, moss describe orally, by drawing or in simple writing, what the plants are like eg trees are tall and have thick branches, dandelions have yellow flowers and green leaves and where they can grow eg there is grass in the path cracks recognise when plants should not be pulled up

Points to note

If this unit is carried out in the Autumn or Spring it would be helpful to set aside some time in the Summer to look at plants when they are in flower. Work in this unit, which involves observing plants grow, may require short periods of time over several weeks.

It may be helpful to plant some seeds in advance so that eventually children will be able to see them flower.

Some children do not think that 'weeds' and trees are plants.

SAFETY - Some children are allergic to some plants eg hyacinth bulbs. Some plants are poisonous, see 'Be Safe' section 12.

Sections in this unit

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This unit is divided into sections. Each section contains a sequence of activities with related objectives and outcomes. You can view this unit by moving through the sections or print/download the whole unit.


	1. Introduction
	2. Finding plants
	3. Watching plants grow
	4. Plants for our food
	5. Watering plants
	6. Plants and light
	7. Living and artificial plants
	8. Review

Science at key stages 1 and 2 (Year 1)

Objectives

Activities

Outcomes

Points to note

Sections in this unit