Year 3Science Plants – Block 3P – Roots and Shoots

Session 2:Roots, Shoots and So Much More!
Science curriculum area: Plants / i. identify and describe the functions of different parts of flowering plants: roots, stem/trunk, leaves and flowers
ii. explore the requirements of plants for life and growth (air, light, water, nutrients from soil, and room to grow) and how they vary from plant to plant
Working Scientifically (LKS2) / i. making systematic and careful observations and, where appropriate, taking accurate measurements using standard units
ii. recording findings using simple scientific language, drawings, labelled diagrams, keys, bar charts, and tables
Teaching Objectives /
  • To continue to take measurements and notes from our seedling investigation and make comparisons of their growth and health.
  • To make labelled, annotated drawings of plants from close first hand observation.

Other Curriculum areas / Maths - Measurement
  • measure, compare, add and subtract: lengths (m/cm/mm)

Teaching Objectives /
  • To measure the height of seedlings in cm at each observation point.

Key Vocabulary: Plants, investigate, seedlings, research, height, root, stem, leaves, flowers, petals
Resources
Task PowerPoint, 3 Strikes and You’re Out PowerPoint, How to Play Flower Power PowerPoint, games pieces and reminder sheet, teachers’ notes.
Bean seedlings set up in the investigation last session, task sheets begun last session (for recording observations from the investigation), pencils, pens, rulers, scissors, glue sticks, a variety of different whole plants including roots (see Teachers’ Notes) at least 6 or 7 diff. species and enough for more than 1 between 2 chn. These specimen plants should be placed on sheets of card before the lesson so they can be brought out quickly.Good quality art paper (white cartridge paper and some textured paper in darker earthy shades, e.g. black, brown, green and grey sugar paper) cut into sizes similar to your whole plants, good quality coloured art crayons (soft pencil crayons are preferable to pastels as they will give finer definition to lines), magnifying lenses (1 per ch), dice (enough for 1 between 6 chn).
Whole Class: Before the session read the Teachers’ Notes.Welcome back Planet Earth Plant Researchers! Wow, it was amazing getting that message from Zinnia on Dock 5 wasn’t it? We have an important job to do now don’t we? We’ve already made a start on our research. What have we done so far? Yes we have begun an investigation on what bean seedlings need to grow strong and healthy and we have researched some interesting facts on plants to help us become experts. Later we will take a look at our seedlings and measure their growth but first let’s play a game called 3 Strikes and You’re Out. Show the 3 Strikes PowerPoint. Well played everyone. Now let’s take a look at our seedling investigation. Encourage each group to measure the height of their 3 seedlings and make a comparison of their health and appearance. It is important that all the seedlings are collected together so any differences are apparent. Notes and measurements should be recorded on the ongoing task sheet from last session (the chn may have already made interim observations). Encourage the groups to discuss any possible differences that are emerging. Remind them we will be coming back to our seedlings again and again. I’m sure Zinnia will be excited about the progress we are making with our investigation. To help answer some of her other questions we need to become used to looking very closely at different types of plant and being able to name the various parts. Lay out your whole specimen plants on the tables. Ask the chn to spend a few minutes looking at the variety. Give a few quick challenges to focus on variety, e.g. find the plant with the largest/smallest leaves, the thickest/thinnest stem, or the longest/shortest roots. It’s amazing how much plants can vary isn’t it? Now let’s focus really closely on just one plant.
Activity / Making close observations of plants - See Teachers’ Notes for advice
Show the task PowerPoint. Provide the chn with a selection of art paper in similar sizes to the plant specimens. Give a choice of colours including white and earthy shades, e.g. brown, green, black and grey as well as magnifying lenses and coloured art pencils. As far as possible, allow chn to choose their own plant to draw but allow only 2 chn at each specimen (they need to have close access to it). Encourage them to label and annotate with further observations. Teacher to support as necessary
Plenary / Play Flower Power. Divide into teams of 3. Give each team a colour cardboard copy of the Flower Power Playing pieces and the reminder sheet. Show the How to Play PowerPoint and pause after slide 2 so the teams can cut out their playing pieces. Continue through the slides to teach the rules of the game. Pair up teams and give each pair a dice. Play the game. Congratulate the winning team and praise all the chn for their expert plant knowledge.
Outcomes / Children will
  • Play a game to recap on plant knowledge and teach some new concepts
  • Continue with ongoing investigation of plant needs for growth and health, making comparisons and taking measurements of height
  • Closely observe whole specimen plants and make detailed, labelled and annotated drawings
  • Play a game to reinforce the various parts of a plant and their functions

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