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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. The trunk of a tree is a very thick… (root / stem / leaf / flower) → stemPrompt: It holds the tree up.
  2. Plant parts: which statement is true? (Leaves take in water from the soil. / Leaves are usually green. / Trees are not plants. / Roots grow up towards the sky.) → Leaves are usually green.Prompt: Picture a plant from its roots to its flower.
  3. Which part of a plant takes in water from the soil? (the flower / the leaves / the roots / the stem) → 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: 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: spinach? (root / flowers (flower buds) / seeds / leaves) → leavesPrompt: 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. Which of these foods is a seed? (a pea / a stick of asparagus / a carrot / a lettuce leaf) → a peaPrompt: Which one could you plant to grow a new plant?

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. When you eat a carrot, which job did that part do for the plant? (attracted bees / made seeds / caught sunlight / took in water and stored food underground) → took in water and stored food undergroundPrompt: Which part of the plant is a carrot?
  2. Which part of the plant is this food: peas? (fruit (holds seeds) / leaves / seeds / root) → seedsPrompt: 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?

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

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Which part of the plant do we eat?

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Which of these foods is a seed?

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

  2. Question 2

    Which part of the plant is this food: artichoke?

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

  3. Question 3

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

    • A. lettuce
    • B. kale
    • C. cabbage
    • D. artichoke

  4. Question 4

    Scientists call a tomato a fruit, not a vegetable. Why?

    • A. It is red.
    • B. It is sweet like sweets.
    • C. It grows under the ground.
    • D. It grows from a flower and has seeds inside.

  5. Question 5

    Which part of the plant is this food: basil?

    • A. leaves
    • B. root
    • C. flowers (flower buds)
    • D. stem

  6. Question 6

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

    • A. artichoke
    • B. broccoli head
    • C. cauliflower
    • D. peas

  7. Question 7

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

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

  8. Question 8

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

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

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

  1. 1. A. a pea

  2. 2. B. flowers (flower buds)

  3. 3. D. artichoke

  4. 4. D. It grows from a flower and has seeds inside.

  5. 5. A. leaves

  6. 6. D. peas

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

  8. 8. A. stem