By Maria Eales 1
Subject: KS1/KS2 LESSON PLAN Sc2 Life processes and living things Date: Class: Year: Number: 1 NC/strategy references: Green plants 3. a recognise that plants need light and water to grow 3.b recognise and name the leaf, flower, stem and root of flowering plants 3.c seeds grow into flowering plants. Children s previous experience: None Teacher Activity Pupil Activity Introduction Read the Sunflower Story to the children Verbally Answer the questions on each page The Sunflower Story Main Assessment of learning and activity sheets Plenary The Sunflower song Explain to the children how to fill in their worksheets. Split class into groups by level of ability Sing the children the Sunflower Song and do some actions for them to follow Average ability learners complete the missing word worksheet on page 10 Higher ability learners complete the missing words worksheet on page 11 Kinesthetic learners or SEN learners complete the make a sunflower activity on page 12 Children copy the actions listen to the words and sing as many as they can. 2
A bird dropped a seed In my garden one day I said Thank you, And the bird flew away Question: Where do you think the bird got the seed from before he dropped it in my garden? 3
A planting pot is What I need, To plant my little Sunflower seed. Question: What equipment do you think you might need if you were going to plant a seed? 4
I took the seed, And said In you go! Into the soil, Where you can grow. Question: Why do we plant seeds in soil? 5
Seeds need water, So they can grow. That s something Everyone will know! Question: What else do seeds need to grow? 6
I put the pot Out in the lawn, And the sunshine keeps My small seed warm. Question: Can you think of another sunny place that you could put a plant pot? 7
My seed grows roots Deep down in the ground To suck up the water That is all around. Question: Where does the water come from? My seed grows a stem, And then, the leaves grow. Water is sent to them, From the roots down below. 8
And then one day. Before my eyes, A yellow flower, A big surprise! With soil and water And sunshine power I d grown my own Pretty Sunflower! 9
Can you label the parts of the sunflower? Root Leaf Petal Seed Stem Can you draw and label the roots of the flower? 10
Can you fill in the missing words? seeds water roots stem ground Leaves bud flower We plant seeds in s _ and then we give them some w. The seed grows r that go down into the ground. The seed also grows a s _ that is like a straw. It sucks up water from the g _ to feed the plant. L _ grow on the stem and a b grows on the top of the stem. The bud opens its p _ and then we can see the whole f _. 11
Can you make a sunflower and stick the labels on? Petal Stem Leaf Roots 12
Plenary Activity The Sunflower Song Sing this to the tune of I m a little Tea pot I'm a little sunflower I'm so small. Soil, sun, and water Make me tall. When I get all grown up You will see, That I'm as big As I can be! I have a very tall stem Green leaves too I use my leaves to Wave at you. On my big bright flower You will see Yellow petals to Attract the bees. 13
You will need: Extension Activity PART 1 Growing a Sunflower April Plant pots, plastic cups ( make a small drainage hole in the bottom) or other vessels that can be filled with soil or compost. Make sure you have enough for everyone in the class. Enough sunflower seeds for the children to put one in each pot. These can be bought very cheaply from health food shops or in packets from garden centres. Moonwalker or Russian Giant are ideal seeds for this project. Brightly coloured labels for the children to stick onto their pot to help identify them later. ( See the next page for examples) A large tray or area for the pots to stand on close to a window. A source of water and receptacles for children to collect water for their seeds. Instructions Show the children how to fill their pots with soil and then let them to do it for themselves. Show the children how to make a hole in the soil in the centre of the pot and ask them to do the same. Hand out the Sunflower seeds to each child, reminding them not to eat them ( t hey are not poisonous, in fact eaten by vegetarians ) and tell them to put them in the hole. Now cover the seed with soil. Show the children how to water their seed. The amount of water is important because too much will drown the seed and too little will not be enough to allow the seed to grow. The soil should be moist but not swimming in water. Show the children how the water drains down through the soil. This will encourage the seed to grow a root so that it can drink. Place the pots on a sunny windowsill and explain that the seed needs light to grow. 14
This Sunflower belongs to: My Sunflower Seed Growing Project Name - Name - These labels can be printed off or photocopied so that each child can label their sunflower seed pot 15
Instructions Extension Activity PART 2 Watching your Sunflower grow Children should be encouraged to water their seeds every two days or Monday, Wednesday and Friday. This routine will mean that the sunflower seeds will be okay to be left over the weekend. If there is a bank holiday, cover the pots with a light plastic or cling film which will keep the moisture in. Once the seeds starts to sprout, the children should measure their seedling every week and enter their measurements onto a chart. This will show the children how fast their seed is growing. They can compare it other children s seedlings. See page 17 for an example chart. Remember to have a few spare sunflower seedlings, just in case a few of the children s seeds fail to shoot. When the seedlings are 5cm high they can be transplanted into the school garden or sent home with the children for their own garden. If you plant them into the school garden, the children can continue to monitor their Sunflower and collect the seeds in September when they return for the new school year. 16
How fast does my sunflower grow? Name _ Measure your sunflower every week and write down how many cm tall it is. Date How many cm is your sunflower? 17