Science lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 45 minutes
Seeds, bulbs and germination
Plants
CCSS NGSS.2-LS2-1England: KS1 Y2 Plants
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Seeds, bulbs and germination.
- 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: What plants need to grow
Leads to: Life cycle of a flowering plant; How seeds travel: wind, water, animals and bursting pods
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 (What plants need to grow). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- A plant is left in a dark cupboard for two weeks. What will probably happen? (It grows flowers faster. / It turns pale and weak. / It grows greener. / Nothing changes.) → It turns pale and weak.Prompt: What do leaves need to make food?
- What plants need: which statement is true? (Plants never need water. / Plants grow best in the dark. / Plants need water. / The more water you give a plant, the better it always grows.) → Plants need water.Prompt: Think about what keeps a plant healthy.
- What plants need: which statement is NOT true? (Plants eat soil to get their food. / Plants need water. / Plants need air. / Plants need light to grow well.) → Plants eat soil to get their food.Prompt: One sentence is a common mistake.
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: Seeds, bulbs and germination. 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: Is this a seed or a bulb: sunflower seed?
- Step 1: Seeds are made by flowers and grow into new plants.
- Step 2: So the answer is: seed
- Answer: seed
- 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.
- Is this a seed or a bulb: acorn? (seed / bulb) → seedPrompt: Seeds are usually small and hard. Bulbs are rounder, with papery layers.
- What do most seeds need to start growing (germinate)? (water and warmth / darkness and cold / salt / sweets) → water and warmthPrompt: Seeds wake up when it is damp and not too cold.
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.
- What do most seeds need to start growing (germinate)? (salt / water and warmth / sweets / darkness and cold) → water and warmthPrompt: Seeds wake up when it is damp and not too cold.
- Is this a seed or a bulb: sunflower seed? (seed / bulb) → seedPrompt: Seeds are usually small and hard. Bulbs are rounder, with papery layers.
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: What plants need to grow.
- 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
- Move on to: Life cycle of a flowering plant; How seeds travel: wind, water, animals and bursting pods.
- 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