Unit 6A: Interdependence and adaptation Section 2: Plants and light
Objectives
Children should learn:
that green plants need light in order to grow well
to make careful observations of plant growth and to explain these using simple scientific knowledge and understanding
that green plants make new plant material using air, water in the presence of light
that for this to take place the green plant requires leaves
Activities
Outcomes
Children:
Ask children to suggest what will happen to the plant kept in the dark if it is placed on the window sill for a few days. Ask children to observe the plant to see whether it grows better eg becomes more sturdy, develops more leaves. If possible show time-lapse pictures eg on video, CD-ROM to illustrate how plants grow and make new stems, leaves etc. Discuss with children what they have seen and explain that plants grow by making new materials using the air around them and the water they take in through their roots, and that they need leaves to do this.
recognise that the plant will grow healthily once it is returned to the light by making a prediction eg its leaves will turn green and it will begin to grow stronger after a few days
make relevant observations which provide information about how the plant is growing
Points to note
It is not necessary at this stage to introduce the term 'photosynthesis'.
Plants which have leaves which are not green eg copper beech contain green chlorophyll.
Children often think that plants require soil in order to grow. It may be helpful to point out that some substances found in soil are needed for healthy plant growth but that soil itself is not essential.
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.
