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Science lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 60 minutes

How seeds travel: wind, water, animals and bursting pods

Plants

CCSS NGSS.2-LS2-2England: KS2 Y3 Plants

Objective and success criteria

Students will: How seeds travel: wind, water, animals and bursting pods.

  • 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: Seeds, bulbs and germination

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 (Seeds, bulbs and germination). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Is this a seed or a bulb: apple pip? (seed / bulb) → seedPrompt: Seeds are usually small and hard. Bulbs are rounder, with papery layers.
  2. What grows first out of a germinating bean? (a flower / a root / a fruit / a new bean) → a rootPrompt: The plant needs to hold on and find water first.
  3. Which of these is a bulb? (bean / sunflower seed / onion / conker (horse chestnut)) → onionPrompt: Seeds come from inside fruits and pods. Bulbs are round and have papery layers.

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: How seeds travel: wind, water, animals and bursting pods. 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: How are the seeds of this plant spread: burdock burr?
  • Step 1: Hooked seeds cling to fur and socks and drop off later.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: hook onto animal fur
  • Answer: hook onto animal fur
  • 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. How are the seeds of this plant spread: tomato? (pods that burst open / carried by the wind / eaten by animals / hook onto animal fur) → eaten by animalsPrompt: Is the seed light and fluffy, floating, juicy, hooked, or in a pod?
  2. A sycamore (maple) seed has a wing. How does this help? (It sticks to animals. / It makes the seed taste nice. / It spins slowly down, so the wind can carry it further. / It helps the seed swim.) → It spins slowly down, so the wind can carry it further.Prompt: Drop one and watch how it falls.

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. How are the seeds of this plant spread: thistle? (hook onto animal fur / carried by water / carried by the wind / eaten by animals) → carried by the windPrompt: Is the seed light and fluffy, floating, juicy, hooked, or in a pod?
  2. True or false? Animals never help plants spread their seeds. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Think about parachutes, hooks, juicy fruit and floating.

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: Seeds, bulbs and germination.
  • 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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How seeds travel: wind, water, animals and bursting pods

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Why is it good for a plant's seeds to travel far away?

    • A. The young plants will not fight the parent for light, water and space.
    • B. Seeds get bored near the parent.
    • C. Parent plants eat their seeds.
    • D. Seeds can only grow in the sea.

  2. Question 2

    How are the seeds of this plant spread: gorse?

    • A. eaten by animals
    • B. carried by the wind
    • C. carried by water
    • D. pods that burst open

  3. Question 3

    True or false? Dandelion seeds have tiny parachutes.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  4. Question 4

    Why do many fruits taste sweet and look brightly coloured?

    • A. To attract animals to eat them and spread the seeds.
    • B. So the wind can see them.
    • C. To keep animals away.
    • D. To help them float.

  5. Question 5

    How are the seeds of this plant spread: balsam (touch-me-not)?

    • A. pods that burst open
    • B. carried by the wind
    • C. eaten by animals
    • D. carried by water

  6. Question 6

    True or false? Coconuts can float across the sea to new islands.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  7. Question 7

    A sycamore (maple) seed has a wing. How does this help?

    • A. It helps the seed swim.
    • B. It sticks to animals.
    • C. It makes the seed taste nice.
    • D. It spins slowly down, so the wind can carry it further.

  8. Question 8

    How are the seeds of this plant spread: cherry?

    • A. hook onto animal fur
    • B. eaten by animals
    • C. pods that burst open
    • D. carried by the wind

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Answer key: How seeds travel: wind, water, animals and bursting pods

  1. 1. A. The young plants will not fight the parent for light, water and space.

  2. 2. D. pods that burst open

  3. 3. A. True

  4. 4. A. To attract animals to eat them and spread the seeds.

  5. 5. A. pods that burst open

  6. 6. A. True

  7. 7. D. It spins slowly down, so the wind can carry it further.

  8. 8. B. eaten by animals