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Science lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 45 minutes

Growing up: stages of a human life

Human body and health

CCSS NGSS.3-LS1-1England: KS1 Y2 Animals, including humansEngland: KS2 Y5 Animals, including humans

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Growing up: stages of a human life.

  • 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: Body parts and the five senses

Leads to: Compare how long mammals grow before birth

Materials: Stopwatches, Body diagrams, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Body parts and the five senses). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which body part do you use for smelling a flower? (eyes / ears / nose / tongue) → nosePrompt: Is it about seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting or touching?
  2. Which of these do you do with your skin? (reading a book / smelling a flower / feeling a cold ice cube / smelling soap) → feeling a cold ice cubePrompt: Act out each one. Which body part are you using?
  3. Our senses: which statement is true? (Each part of the tongue can only taste one flavour. / Taste buds can detect sweet, salty, sour and bitter tastes. / Only fingers can feel touch. / We hear with our eyes.) → Taste buds can detect sweet, salty, sour and bitter tastes.Prompt: Think about what each body part does.

Hook · 5 min

  • Ask everyone to find their pulse, then jump for 30 seconds and find it again.
  • Share the objective: Growing up: stages of a human life. 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 life stage fits this description: fully grown, may work and raise a family?
  • Step 1: So the answer is: adult
  • Answer: adult
  • 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 life stage fits this description: body changing quickly, growing towards adulthood? (baby / older adult / toddler / teenager) → teenagerPrompt: Think of people you know of different ages.
  2. What do humans need at EVERY stage of life? (homework / a phone / a bicycle / food, water, air and shelter) → food, water, air and shelterPrompt: These are the basic needs of all animals.

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. Which life stage fits this description: at primary (elementary) school, losing baby teeth? (baby / older adult / child / teenager) → childPrompt: Think of people you know of different ages.
  2. Why do babies need adults to care for them? (They cannot feed, keep warm or keep safe by themselves. / Babies are bigger than adults. / They do not need care. / Babies can already cook.) → They cannot feed, keep warm or keep safe by themselves.Prompt: What can a newborn do on its own?

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: Body parts and the five senses.
  • Use concrete materials: stopwatches.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Compare how long mammals grow before birth.
  • 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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Growing up: stages of a human life

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Which life stage fits this description: drinks milk, cannot walk or talk yet?

    • A. teenager
    • B. baby
    • C. older adult
    • D. toddler

  2. Question 2

    How is a human life cycle like a dog's life cycle?

    • A. Both are born as babies, grow up, can have young, and grow old.
    • B. Neither grows after birth.
    • C. Both change into a totally different shape, like a caterpillar.
    • D. Both hatch from eggs.

  3. Question 3

    Which life stage fits this description: learning to walk and say first words?

    • A. teenager
    • B. child
    • C. toddler
    • D. adult

  4. Question 4

    Which change happens to most children around age 6 to 12?

    • A. They shrink.
    • B. They lose their baby teeth and adult teeth grow.
    • C. Their hair turns grey.
    • D. They stop growing completely.

  5. Question 5

    Which life stage fits this description: fully grown, may work and raise a family?

    • A. adult
    • B. toddler
    • C. child
    • D. baby

  6. Question 6

    Why do babies need adults to care for them?

    • A. Babies are bigger than adults.
    • B. They do not need care.
    • C. Babies can already cook.
    • D. They cannot feed, keep warm or keep safe by themselves.

  7. Question 7

    Which life stage fits this description: may have grey hair and wrinkles; often retired?

    • A. teenager
    • B. toddler
    • C. child
    • D. older adult

  8. Question 8

    Which life stage fits this description: body changing quickly, growing towards adulthood?

    • A. child
    • B. adult
    • C. older adult
    • D. teenager

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Answer key: Growing up: stages of a human life

  1. 1. B. baby

  2. 2. A. Both are born as babies, grow up, can have young, and grow old.

  3. 3. C. toddler

  4. 4. B. They lose their baby teeth and adult teeth grow.

  5. 5. A. adult

  6. 6. D. They cannot feed, keep warm or keep safe by themselves.

  7. 7. D. older adult

  8. 8. D. teenager