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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. Which part of a plant makes food using sunlight? (the leaves / the roots / the stem / the seeds) → the leavesPrompt: Which part is usually green and flat to catch the light?
  2. Plant parts: which statement is true? (Only flowers are part of a plant. / Roots grow up towards the sky. / Leaves take in water from the soil. / 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 holds the plant up and carries water to the leaves? (the petals / the roots / the flower / the stem) → the stemPrompt: It is like a straw and a pole at the same time.

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: orange? (fruit (holds seeds) / leaves / flowers (flower buds) / seeds) → fruit (holds seeds)Prompt: 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 carrot / a lettuce leaf / a stick of asparagus) → 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. Three of these foods come from the same plant part: root. Which one does NOT? (beetroot / parsnip / asparagus / carrot) → asparagusPrompt: Name the plant part for each food.
  2. Which part of the plant is this food: kale? (leaves / stem / seeds / flowers (flower buds)) → 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?

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

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

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

  2. Question 2

    Which part of the plant is this food: pepper?

    • A. root
    • B. leaves
    • C. fruit (holds seeds)
    • D. flowers (flower buds)

  3. Question 3

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

    • A. broccoli stalk
    • B. artichoke
    • C. sugar cane
    • D. asparagus

  4. Question 4

    Why are lettuce and spinach leaves usually green and thin?

    • A. They grow underground.
    • B. Leaves are made to catch light and make food.
    • C. They are not ripe yet.
    • D. They are full of seeds.

  5. Question 5

    Which part of the plant is this food: lentils?

    • A. fruit (holds seeds)
    • B. leaves
    • C. seeds
    • D. flowers (flower buds)

  6. Question 6

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

    • A. artichoke
    • B. carrot
    • C. radish
    • D. beetroot

  7. Question 7

    Which part of the plant is this food: asparagus?

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

  8. Question 8

    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.

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

  1. 1. A. took in water and stored food underground

  2. 2. C. fruit (holds seeds)

  3. 3. B. artichoke

  4. 4. B. Leaves are made to catch light and make food.

  5. 5. C. seeds

  6. 6. A. artichoke

  7. 7. B. stem

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