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Science lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 60 minutes

Group plants: flowering and non-flowering

Plants

CCSS NGSS.4-LS1-1England: KS2 Y4 Living things and their habitatsEngland: KS2 Y6 Living things and their habitats

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Group plants: flowering and non-flowering.

  • 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 · 6 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? (Roots grow up towards the sky. / Only flowers are part of a plant. / A tree trunk is a stem. / Trees are not plants.) → A tree trunk is a stem.Prompt: Picture a plant from its roots to its flower.
  3. Which part of a plant makes food using sunlight? (the leaves / the stem / the roots / the seeds) → the leavesPrompt: Which part is usually green and flat to catch the light?

Hook · 6 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: Group plants: flowering and non-flowering. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 12 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Is this a flowering or a non-flowering plant: grass?
  • Step 1: Flowering plants make flowers, then fruits holding seeds.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: flowering plant (makes seeds in flowers and fruits)
  • Answer: flowering plant (makes seeds in flowers and fruits)
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 12 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. Is this a flowering or a non-flowering plant: fir tree? (flowering plant (makes seeds in flowers and fruits) / non-flowering plant) → non-flowering plantPrompt: Does it ever grow flowers, even small green ones?
  2. How do ferns reproduce without flowers or seeds? (with fruit / with bulbs only / with spores from brown dots under their leaves / with cones) → with spores from brown dots under their leavesPrompt: Turn over a fern leaf (frond).

You do: independent practice · 17 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 · 7 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Is this a flowering or a non-flowering plant: pine tree? (flowering plant (makes seeds in flowers and fruits) / non-flowering plant) → non-flowering plantPrompt: Does it ever grow flowers, even small green ones?
  2. Three of these are non-flowering plants. Which one is NOT? (pine tree / moss / fir tree / cactus) → cactusPrompt: Does each one make flowers, or spores or cones?

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-4.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Group plants: flowering and non-flowering

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Grass doesn't seem to have flowers. Why is it called a flowering plant?

    • A. It has tiny green flowers that are pollinated by the wind.
    • B. It has no flowers at all.
    • C. It makes cones.
    • D. It grows from spores.

  2. Question 2

    Three of these are flowering plants. Which one is NOT?

    • A. cactus
    • B. yew
    • C. sunflower
    • D. oak tree

  3. Question 3

    Is this a flowering or a non-flowering plant: fir tree?

    • A. flowering plant (makes seeds in flowers and fruits)
    • B. non-flowering plant

  4. Question 4

    Three of these are non-flowering plants. Which one is NOT?

    • A. oak tree
    • B. fern
    • C. pine tree
    • D. moss

  5. Question 5

    Is this a flowering or a non-flowering plant: fern?

    • A. flowering plant (makes seeds in flowers and fruits)
    • B. non-flowering plant

  6. Question 6

    Mosses have no roots, so where do they usually grow?

    • A. floating in the open sea
    • B. in damp, shady places
    • C. inside rocks
    • D. in hot, dry deserts

  7. Question 7

    Is this a flowering or a non-flowering plant: oak tree?

    • A. flowering plant (makes seeds in flowers and fruits)
    • B. non-flowering plant

  8. Question 8

    Where does a pine tree make its seeds?

    • A. in fruits
    • B. underground
    • C. in cones
    • D. in flowers

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Answer key: Group plants: flowering and non-flowering

  1. 1. A. It has tiny green flowers that are pollinated by the wind.

  2. 2. B. yew

  3. 3. B. non-flowering plant

  4. 4. A. oak tree

  5. 5. B. non-flowering plant

  6. 6. B. in damp, shady places

  7. 7. A. flowering plant (makes seeds in flowers and fruits)

  8. 8. C. in cones