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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: kangaroo? (foal / joey / calf / cygnet) → joeyPrompt: Think of farm animals, pets and wild animals you know.
  2. A tadpole grows up to become which animal? (kangaroo / swan / frog / sheep) → frogPrompt: Young animals grow into adults of the same kind.
  3. Ducklings follow their mother in a line wherever she goes. How does this help them? (It keeps the mother warm. / It makes them turn into swans. / It helps them grow feathers faster. / They stay safe and learn where to find food.) → They stay safe and learn where to find food.Prompt: What does the mother duck know that the ducklings do not yet?

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. An oak tree drops acorns. What will the acorns grow into? (young oak trees / sunflowers / apple trees / any tree at all) → young oak treesPrompt: Seeds grow into the same kind of plant as the parent.
  2. True or false? Brothers and sisters can look different from each other. (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 always look exactly like their parents. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Same kind, but every one a little different.
  2. An oak tree drops acorns. What will the acorns grow into? (sunflowers / apple trees / young oak trees / any tree at all) → young oak treesPrompt: Seeds grow into the same kind of plant as the parent.

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

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    A farm recorded the coat colour of every puppy born from its sheepdogs this year. How many puppies were born altogether?

    Puppies born on a farm this year01234566black3white4brown5spotted

    Answer

  2. Question 2

    A litter of puppies all have the same parents. What do you notice?

    • A. They look alike, but their markings and sizes are a bit different.
    • B. Each one looks like a different kind of animal.
    • C. None of them look like dogs.
    • D. They are all exactly identical.

  3. Question 3

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

    • A. True
    • B. False

  4. Question 4

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

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

  5. Question 5

    True or false? Young animals always look exactly like their parents.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  6. Question 6

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

    • A. True
    • B. False

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

  1. 1. 18

  2. 2. A. They look alike, but their markings and sizes are a bit different.

  3. 3. A. True

  4. 4. A. two sunflowers that are similar but slightly different in height

  5. 5. B. False

  6. 6. A. True