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Science lesson plan · 1st grade (Year 2 in England) · 30 minutes

Young plants and animals are like their parents, but not identical

Animals and habitats

CCSS NGSS.1-LS3-1England: KS2 Y6 Evolution and inheritanceEngland: KS1 Y2 Animals, including humans

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Young plants and animals are like their parents, but not identical.

  • 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: Match animals to their young

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Animal picture cards, Habitat maps, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Match animals to their young). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. What is the young of this animal called: dog? (foal / puppy / calf / duckling) → puppyPrompt: Think of farm animals, pets and wild animals you know.
  2. A duckling grows up to become which animal? (horse / cat / duck / bear) → duckPrompt: Young animals grow into adults of the same kind.
  3. Which young animal hatches from an egg? (a puppy / a kitten / a chick / a calf) → a chickPrompt: Which group of animals lays eggs with hard shells?

Hook · 3 min

  • Show a picture of an unusual animal and ask where it might live and how it survives there.
  • Share the objective: Young plants and animals are like their parents, but not identical. 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: Two sunflower seeds from the same flower are planted side by side. What will you probably see?
  • Step 1: Plants from the same parent are the same kind but vary a little.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: two sunflowers that are similar but slightly different in height
  • Answer: two sunflowers that are similar but slightly different in height
  • 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.
  1. A litter of puppies all have the same parents. What do you notice? (Each one looks like a different kind of animal. / They look alike, but their markings and sizes are a bit different. / None of them look like dogs. / They are all exactly identical.) → They look alike, but their markings and sizes are a bit different.Prompt: Look at brothers and sisters in a family.
  2. True or false? Young animals are the same kind of animal as their parents. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Same kind, but every one a little different.

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.
  1. True or false? Young animals are the same kind of animal as their parents. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Same kind, but every one a little different.
  2. A litter of puppies all have the same parents. What do you notice? (They look alike, but their markings and sizes are a bit different. / Each one looks like a different kind of animal. / None of them look like dogs. / They are all exactly identical.) → They look alike, but their markings and sizes are a bit different.Prompt: Look at brothers and sisters in a family.

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: Match animals to their young.
  • Use concrete materials: animal picture cards.
  • 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

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Young plants and animals are like their parents, but not identical

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  1. Question 1

    Two sunflower seeds from the same flower are planted side by side. What will you probably see?

    • A. two identical plastic flowers
    • B. two sunflowers that are similar but slightly different in height
    • C. no plants at all
    • D. one sunflower and one rose

  2. Question 2

    What does this chart of sheepdog puppies show?

    Puppies born on a farm this year01234567892black3white6brown9spotted
    • A. Puppies choose their own colour.
    • B. All puppies of the same kind are identical.
    • C. Puppies with the same kind of parents can look different from each other.
    • D. Sheepdogs can have kittens.

  3. Question 3

    True or false? Brothers and sisters can look different from each other.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  4. Question 4

    A black cat and a ginger cat have kittens. Which is most likely?

    • A. All the kittens are bright blue.
    • B. The kittens have feathers.
    • C. The kittens are puppies.
    • D. The kittens are cats, and their colours may differ from each other.

  5. Question 5

    True or false? An apple seed can grow into a rose bush.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  6. Question 6

    True or false? Young animals are the same kind of animal as their parents.

    • A. True
    • B. False

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Answer key: Young plants and animals are like their parents, but not identical

  1. 1. B. two sunflowers that are similar but slightly different in height

  2. 2. C. Puppies with the same kind of parents can look different from each other.

  3. 3. A. True

  4. 4. D. The kittens are cats, and their colours may differ from each other.

  5. 5. B. False

  6. 6. A. True