Back to the lesson plan builder
Lesson length30 min45 min60 min
Questions🔀 New questions

Print the plan for yourself; the student sheet prints on its own page after it.

Science lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 30 minutes

Pollinators: animals that help flowers make seeds

Plants

CCSS NGSS.2-LS2-2England: KS2 Y3 Plants

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Pollinators: animals that help flowers make seeds.

  • 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.
  1. Which part holds the plant up and carries water to the leaves? (the stem / the petals / the roots / the flower) → the stemPrompt: It is like a straw and a pole at the same time.
  2. Plant parts: which statement is true? (Trees are not plants. / A tree trunk is a stem. / Only flowers are part of a plant. / Leaves take in water from the soil.) → A tree trunk is a stem.Prompt: Picture a plant from its roots to its flower.
  3. Which part of a plant makes food using sunlight? (the stem / the roots / the seeds / the leaves) → the leavesPrompt: Which part is usually green and flat to catch the light?

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: Pollinators: animals that help flowers make seeds. 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: Why are many flowers brightly coloured and sweet-smelling?
  • Step 1: Colours and scents guide pollinators to the flowers.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies
  • Answer: to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies
  • 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. Why do bees visit flowers? (to collect nectar and pollen for food / to lay eggs in every flower / to keep the flowers warm / to sleep in them) → to collect nectar and pollen for foodPrompt: What do bees use to make honey?
  2. Does this animal help pollinate flowers: bumblebee? (pollinator / not a pollinator) → pollinatorPrompt: Does it fly or crawl from flower to flower looking for nectar?

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. Does this animal help pollinate flowers: fruit bat? (pollinator / not a pollinator) → pollinatorPrompt: Does it fly or crawl from flower to flower looking for nectar?
  2. Pollinators: which statement is true? (Bees make pollen. / Planting wild flowers helps bees and butterflies. / Using lots of insect spray in gardens helps pollinators. / Only bees can pollinate flowers.) → Planting wild flowers helps bees and butterflies.Prompt: Who makes pollen, and who carries it?

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-2.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

eurekami

Pollinators: animals that help flowers make seeds

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Does this animal help pollinate flowers: bumblebee?

    • A. pollinator
    • B. not a pollinator

  2. Question 2

    Pollinators: which statement is true?

    • A. Only bees can pollinate flowers.
    • B. Using lots of insect spray in gardens helps pollinators.
    • C. Some bats pollinate flowers at night.
    • D. Bees make pollen.

  3. Question 3

    Farmers sometimes bring beehives to their apple orchards in spring. Why?

    • A. The bees pollinate the blossom, so more apples grow.
    • B. Bees water the trees.
    • C. Bees keep the frost away.
    • D. Bees eat the pests.

  4. Question 4

    Does this animal help pollinate flowers: butterfly?

    • A. pollinator
    • B. not a pollinator

  5. Question 5

    Why do bees visit flowers?

    • A. to collect nectar and pollen for food
    • B. to keep the flowers warm
    • C. to lay eggs in every flower
    • D. to sleep in them

  6. Question 6

    Does this animal help pollinate flowers: earthworm?

    • A. pollinator
    • B. not a pollinator

Free from eurekami.com

for the adult only

Answer key: Pollinators: animals that help flowers make seeds

  1. 1. A. pollinator

  2. 2. C. Some bats pollinate flowers at night.

  3. 3. A. The bees pollinate the blossom, so more apples grow.

  4. 4. A. pollinator

  5. 5. A. to collect nectar and pollen for food

  6. 6. B. not a pollinator