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Science lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 45 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 · 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. The trunk of a tree is a very thick… (flower / stem / leaf / root) → stemPrompt: It holds the tree up.
  2. Plant parts: which statement is true? (Only flowers are part of a plant. / Roots grow up towards the sky. / Trees are not plants. / A tree trunk is a stem.) → A tree trunk is a stem.Prompt: Picture a plant from its roots to its flower.
  3. Which part of a plant takes in water from the soil? (the roots / the leaves / the stem / the flower) → the rootsPrompt: Which part is under the ground?

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: Pollinators: animals that help flowers make seeds. 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: 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 · 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. Farmers sometimes bring beehives to their apple orchards in spring. Why? (The bees pollinate the blossom, so more apples grow. / Bees keep the frost away. / Bees water the trees. / Bees eat the pests.) → The bees pollinate the blossom, so more apples grow.Prompt: What turns into an apple?
  2. Does this animal help pollinate flowers: crab? (pollinator / not a pollinator) → not a pollinatorPrompt: Does it fly or crawl from flower to flower looking for nectar?

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. Pollinators: which statement is true? (Using lots of insect spray in gardens helps pollinators. / Without pollination, many flowers cannot make seeds or fruit. / Bees make pollen. / Only bees can pollinate flowers.) → Without pollination, many flowers cannot make seeds or fruit.Prompt: Who makes pollen, and who carries it?
  2. A bee visits one flower, then another. What does it carry between them? (water / soil / leaves / pollen) → pollenPrompt: It is a yellow powder that sticks to the bee's hairy body.

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

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Pollinators: animals that help flowers make seeds

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Pollinators: which statement is true?

    • A. Grasses and wheat are pollinated by the wind, not animals.
    • B. Using lots of insect spray in gardens helps pollinators.
    • C. Only bees can pollinate flowers.
    • D. Bees make pollen.

  2. Question 2

    Why are many flowers brightly coloured and sweet-smelling?

    • A. to scare animals away
    • B. to catch rain
    • C. to keep warm at night
    • D. to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies

  3. Question 3

    Does this animal help pollinate flowers: fruit bat?

    • A. pollinator
    • B. not a pollinator

  4. Question 4

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

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

  5. Question 5

    Does this animal help pollinate flowers: goldfish?

    • A. pollinator
    • B. not a pollinator

  6. Question 6

    Why do bees visit flowers?

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

  7. Question 7

    Does this animal help pollinate flowers: hummingbird?

    • A. pollinator
    • B. not a pollinator

  8. Question 8

    Does this animal help pollinate flowers: crab?

    • A. pollinator
    • B. not a pollinator

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Answer key: Pollinators: animals that help flowers make seeds

  1. 1. A. Grasses and wheat are pollinated by the wind, not animals.

  2. 2. D. to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies

  3. 3. A. pollinator

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

  5. 5. B. not a pollinator

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

  7. 7. A. pollinator

  8. 8. B. not a pollinator