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Science lesson plan · 1st grade (Year 2 in England) · 45 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 · 5 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 of a plant makes food using sunlight? (the roots / the seeds / the leaves / the stem) → the leavesPrompt: Which part is usually green and flat to catch the light?
  2. Plant parts: which statement is true? (Only flowers are part of a plant. / Trees are not plants. / Roots grow up towards the sky. / A tree trunk is a stem.) → A tree trunk is a stem.Prompt: Picture a plant from its roots to its flower.
  3. The trunk of a tree is a very thick… (flower / root / leaf / stem) → stemPrompt: It holds the tree up.

Hook · 5 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 · 10 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 · 10 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. Which part of the plant is this food: pepper? (flowers (flower buds) / stem / root / fruit (holds seeds)) → fruit (holds seeds)Prompt: 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?
  2. Scientists call a tomato a fruit, not a vegetable. Why? (It grows from a flower and has seeds inside. / It grows under the ground. / It is sweet like sweets. / It is red.) → It grows from a flower and has seeds inside.Prompt: Cut one open: what do you find inside?

You do: independent practice · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Three of these foods come from the same plant part: seeds. Which one does NOT? (peas / pumpkin seeds / lentils / parsnip) → parsnipPrompt: Name the plant part for each food.
  2. Why are lettuce and spinach leaves usually green and thin? (They are not ripe yet. / They are full of seeds. / They grow underground. / Leaves are made to catch light and make food.) → Leaves are made to catch light and make food.Prompt: What job do leaves do for a 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

eurekami

Which part of the plant do we eat?

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Three of these foods come from the same plant part: seeds. Which one does NOT?

    • A. peas
    • B. pumpkin seeds
    • C. lettuce
    • D. sunflower seeds
  2. Question 2

    Why are lettuce and spinach leaves usually green and thin?

    • A. Leaves are made to catch light and make food.
    • B. They are full of seeds.
    • C. They grow underground.
    • D. They are not ripe yet.
  3. Question 3

    Which part of the plant is this food: tomato?

    • A. leaves
    • B. fruit (holds seeds)
    • C. root
    • D. stem
  4. Question 4

    Three of these foods come from the same plant part: leaves. Which one does NOT?

    • A. cauliflower
    • B. cabbage
    • C. spinach
    • D. kale
  5. Question 5

    Which of these foods is a seed?

    • A. a carrot
    • B. a lettuce leaf
    • C. a stick of asparagus
    • D. a pea
  6. Question 6

    Which part of the plant is this food: sunflower seeds?

    • A. seeds
    • B. leaves
    • C. root
    • D. flowers (flower buds)
  7. Question 7

    When you eat a carrot, which job did that part do for the plant?

    • A. caught sunlight
    • B. made seeds
    • C. attracted bees
    • D. took in water and stored food underground
  8. Question 8

    Which part of the plant is this food: sugar cane?

    • A. stem
    • B. flowers (flower buds)
    • C. seeds
    • D. fruit (holds seeds)

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Answer key: Which part of the plant do we eat?

  1. 1. C. lettuce

  2. 2. A. Leaves are made to catch light and make food.

  3. 3. B. fruit (holds seeds)

  4. 4. A. cauliflower

  5. 5. D. a pea

  6. 6. A. seeds

  7. 7. D. took in water and stored food underground

  8. 8. A. stem