• 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 petals / the flower / the roots / the stem) → 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. / Leaves take in water from the soil. / Roots grow up towards the sky. / Flowers help plants make seeds.) → Flowers help plants make seeds.Prompt: Picture a plant from its roots to its flower.
3. The trunk of a tree is a very thick… (root / leaf / flower / stem) → stemPrompt: It holds the tree up.

• Bring in a plant that has been kept in the dark next to one in the light, and ask what happened.
• Share the objective: Test what a plant needs: light and water. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: One plant is kept in a dark cupboard and one on a sunny windowsill. Which grows green and strong?
• Step 1: Plants need light to make food, so the one in the light grows well.
• Step 2: So the answer is: the plant on the windowsill
• Answer: the plant on the windowsill
• Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

• Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
• Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.

1. Two bean plants are the same. One gets water, one gets none. After a week, what do you see? (The watered plant turned brown. / Both look exactly the same. / The plant with no water is droopy and dry. / The plant with no water grew taller.) → The plant with no water is droopy and dry.Prompt: What happens to a plant left without a drink?
2. Plant experiments: which statement is NOT true? (To test light, you should also give one plant more water. / In a fair test you change only one thing. / Plants need water, light and air to grow well. / Plants grown in the dark often turn pale and weak.) → To test light, you should also give one plant more water.Prompt: Remember what plants need and what makes a test fair.

• 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.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. A plant on a windowsill leans towards the glass. Why? (It is growing towards the light. / It is trying to get out. / It is cold inside. / The glass pulls it.) → It is growing towards the light.Prompt: Where does most light come from in a room?
2. Plant experiments: which statement is NOT true? (A plant gets its food by eating soil. / Plants grown in the dark often turn pale and weak. / Plants need water, light and air to grow well. / A plant without water will wilt.) → A plant gets its food by eating soil.Prompt: Remember what plants need and what makes a test fair.

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/kindergarten.