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Science lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 45 minutes

How seeds travel: wind, water, animals and bursting pods

Plants

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

Objective and success criteria

Students will: How seeds travel: wind, water, animals and bursting pods.

  • 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: Seeds, bulbs and germination

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 (Seeds, bulbs and germination). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Is this a seed or a bulb: tulip? (seed / bulb) → bulbPrompt: Seeds are usually small and hard. Bulbs are rounder, with papery layers.
  2. Where does a young seedling get its energy before its leaves can make food? (the rain / the soil / the Moon / the food store inside the seed) → the food store inside the seedPrompt: What is packed inside a seed?
  3. Which of these is a seed? (pea / hyacinth / onion / tulip) → peaPrompt: Seeds come from inside fruits and pods. Bulbs are round and have papery layers.

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: How seeds travel: wind, water, animals and bursting pods. 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: How are the seeds of this plant spread: burdock burr?
  • Step 1: Hooked seeds cling to fur and socks and drop off later.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: hook onto animal fur
  • Answer: hook onto animal fur
  • 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. How are the seeds of this plant spread: broom? (carried by water / carried by the wind / pods that burst open / hook onto animal fur) → pods that burst openPrompt: Is the seed light and fluffy, floating, juicy, hooked, or in a pod?
  2. A sycamore (maple) seed has a wing. How does this help? (It sticks to animals. / It makes the seed taste nice. / It helps the seed swim. / It spins slowly down, so the wind can carry it further.) → It spins slowly down, so the wind can carry it further.Prompt: Drop one and watch how it falls.

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. How are the seeds of this plant spread: balsam (touch-me-not)? (pods that burst open / carried by the wind / eaten by animals / hook onto animal fur) → pods that burst openPrompt: Is the seed light and fluffy, floating, juicy, hooked, or in a pod?
  2. True or false? Seeds with hooks are carried by water. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Think about parachutes, hooks, juicy fruit and floating.

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: Seeds, bulbs and germination.
  • 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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How seeds travel: wind, water, animals and bursting pods

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    A sycamore (maple) seed has a wing. How does this help?

    • A. It sticks to animals.
    • B. It makes the seed taste nice.
    • C. It helps the seed swim.
    • D. It spins slowly down, so the wind can carry it further.

  2. Question 2

    True or false? Coconuts can float across the sea to new islands.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  3. Question 3

    How are the seeds of this plant spread: gorse?

    • A. hook onto animal fur
    • B. carried by the wind
    • C. pods that burst open
    • D. carried by water

  4. Question 4

    After a walk in a field, a dog has little spiky seeds stuck in its fur. What will probably happen to them?

    • A. They will turn into burrs again.
    • B. They will grow on the dog.
    • C. They will hatch.
    • D. They will fall off somewhere new and may grow there.

  5. Question 5

    True or false? Dandelion seeds have tiny parachutes.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  6. Question 6

    How are the seeds of this plant spread: balsam (touch-me-not)?

    • A. carried by water
    • B. pods that burst open
    • C. hook onto animal fur
    • D. eaten by animals

  7. Question 7

    Why do many fruits taste sweet and look brightly coloured?

    • A. So the wind can see them.
    • B. To help them float.
    • C. To keep animals away.
    • D. To attract animals to eat them and spread the seeds.

  8. Question 8

    True or false? All seeds fall straight down under the parent plant.

    • A. True
    • B. False

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Answer key: How seeds travel: wind, water, animals and bursting pods

  1. 1. D. It spins slowly down, so the wind can carry it further.

  2. 2. A. True

  3. 3. C. pods that burst open

  4. 4. D. They will fall off somewhere new and may grow there.

  5. 5. A. True

  6. 6. B. pods that burst open

  7. 7. D. To attract animals to eat them and spread the seeds.

  8. 8. B. False