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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. Which part of a plant makes seeds? (the leaves / the roots / the stem / the flower) → the flowerPrompt: Bees visit this colourful part.
  2. Plant parts: which statement is true? (Roots hold a plant in the ground. / Roots grow up towards the sky. / Leaves take in water from the soil. / Trees are not plants.) → Roots hold a plant in the ground.Prompt: Picture a plant from its roots to its flower.
  3. The trunk of a tree is a very thick… (root / stem / flower / leaf) → 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: 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. Why are many flowers brightly coloured and sweet-smelling? (to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies / to catch rain / to scare animals away / to keep warm at night) → to attract pollinators like bees and butterfliesPrompt: What would a bee notice from far away?
  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. Does this animal help pollinate flowers: hummingbird? (pollinator / not a pollinator) → pollinatorPrompt: Does it fly or crawl from flower to flower looking for nectar?
  2. Pollinators: which statement is true? (Planting wild flowers helps bees and butterflies. / Bees make pollen. / Only bees can pollinate flowers. / Using lots of insect spray in gardens helps pollinators.) → Planting wild flowers helps bees and butterflies.Prompt: Who makes pollen, and who carries it?

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

    Does this animal help pollinate flowers: goldfish?

    • A. pollinator
    • B. not a pollinator

  2. Question 2

    Pollinators: which statement is true?

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

  3. Question 3

    Why are many flowers brightly coloured and sweet-smelling?

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

  4. Question 4

    Does this animal help pollinate flowers: owl?

    • A. pollinator
    • B. not a pollinator

  5. Question 5

    Why do bees visit flowers?

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

  6. Question 6

    Does this animal help pollinate flowers: snail?

    • A. pollinator
    • B. not a pollinator

  7. Question 7

    A bee visits one flower, then another. What does it carry between them?

    • A. water
    • B. soil
    • C. leaves
    • D. pollen

  8. Question 8

    Does this animal help pollinate flowers: moth?

    • A. pollinator
    • B. not a pollinator

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Answer key: Pollinators: animals that help flowers make seeds

  1. 1. B. not a pollinator

  2. 2. C. Grasses and wheat are pollinated by the wind, not animals.

  3. 3. C. to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies

  4. 4. B. not a pollinator

  5. 5. D. to collect nectar and pollen for food

  6. 6. B. not a pollinator

  7. 7. D. pollen

  8. 8. A. pollinator