Science lesson plan · 1st grade (Year 2 in England) · 30 minutes
Which part of the plant do we eat?
Plants
CCSS NGSS.1-LS1-1England: KS1 Y1 Plants
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Which part of the plant do we eat?.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Parts of a plant
Leads to: the next skill in this area.
Materials: Real plants or seeds, Hand lenses, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Parts of a plant). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Which part holds the plant up and carries water to the leaves? (the roots / the flower / the stem / the petals) → the stemPrompt: It is like a straw and a pole at the same time.
- Plant parts: which statement is true? (Only flowers are part of a plant. / Roots grow up towards the sky. / A tree trunk is a stem. / Trees are not plants.) → A tree trunk is a stem.Prompt: Picture a plant from its roots to its flower.
- Which part of a plant makes seeds? (the flower / the leaves / the stem / the roots) → the flowerPrompt: Bees visit this colourful part.
Hook · 3 min
- Bring in a plant that has been kept in the dark next to one in the light, and ask what happened.
- Share the objective: Which part of the plant do we eat?. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 7 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Which part of the plant is this food: cauliflower?
- Step 1: These are bunches of tiny flower buds.
- Step 2: So the answer is: flowers (flower buds)
- Answer: flowers (flower buds)
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 6 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Which part of the plant is this food: carrot? (leaves / stem / root / flowers (flower buds)) → rootPrompt: Did it grow under the ground, hold the plant up, catch sunlight, bloom, or is it something you could plant to grow a new plant?
- Which of these foods is a seed? (a carrot / a pea / a lettuce leaf / a stick of asparagus) → a peaPrompt: Which one could you plant to grow a new plant?
You do: independent practice · 7 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 3 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Which of these foods is a seed? (a stick of asparagus / a carrot / a lettuce leaf / a pea) → a peaPrompt: Which one could you plant to grow a new plant?
- Which part of the plant is this food: radish? (seeds / flowers (flower buds) / root / leaves) → rootPrompt: Did it grow under the ground, hold the plant up, catch sunlight, bloom, or is it something you could plant to grow a new plant?
Watch out for
- Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
- Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Parts of a plant.
- Use concrete materials: real plants or seeds.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-1.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder