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Roots, Shoots and So Much More!

Science Year 3/4
This unit is part of Year 3/4 Science Greatly Green Growers

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Objectives

The Greatly Green Growers are very excited that you can help them win the growing competition so you need to continue your quest to discover more about plants. You will need to measure your investigation seedlings to record their progress and study some whole plants at close range, making beautiful detailed drawings and scientific observation.

Science Objectives
i) Identify and describe the functions of different parts of flowering plants: roots, stem/trunk, leaves and flowers.
ii) Explore the requirements of plants for life and growth (air, light, water, nutrients from soil, and room to grow) and how they vary from plant to plant.

Working Scientifically

  1. Make systematic and careful observations and, where appropriate, take accurate measurements using standard units.
  2. Record findings using simple scientific language, drawings, labelled diagrams, keys, bar charts and tables.

Other Curriculum Areas
Art

  • Improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing, painting and sculpture with a range of materials [for example, pencil, charcoal, paint, clay].

You Will Need

Provided Resources

  • Task PowerPoint
  • 3 Strikes and You’re Out PowerPoint
  • How to Play Flower Power PowerPoint
  • Games pieces and reminder sheet
  • Teachers’ Notes

Additional Resources

  • Bean seedlings set up in the investigation last session
  • Task sheets begun last session (for recording observations from the investigation)
  • Pencils, pens, rulers, scissors, glue sticks
  • A variety of different whole plants including roots (see Teachers’ Notes) at least 6 or 7 diff. species and enough for more than 1 between 2 children. These specimen plants should be placed on sheets of card before the lesson so they can be brought out quickly
  • Good quality art paper (white cartridge paper and some textured paper in darker earthy shades, e.g. black, brown, green and grey sugar paper) cut into sizes similar to your whole plants
  • Good quality coloured art crayons (soft pencil crayons are preferable to pastels as they will give finer definition to lines)
  • Magnifying lenses (1 per child) and dice (1 between 6 children)

Lesson Planning

Teaching

  • Continue to take measurements and notes from our seedling investigation and make comparisons of their growth and health.
  • Make labelled, annotated drawings of plants from close first hand observation.

Activities

  1. Play a game to recap on plant knowledge and teach some new concepts (Yrs 3&4).
  2. Continue with ongoing investigation of plant needs for growth and health, making comparisons and taking measurements of height (Yrs 3&4).
  3. Closely observe whole specimen plants and make detailed, labelled and annotated drawings (Yr3 - 3 annotations, Yr4 – 5 annotations).
  4. Play a game to reinforce the various parts of a plant and their functions (Yrs 3&4).

Investigation - exploring over time/observation
Continue with the ongoing investigation to find the requirements of seedlings for strong healthy growth. Make close observational drawings of whole plant specimens.
Year 3 - Write at least 3 annotated labels
Year 4 - Write 5 annotated labels

Vocabulary
Plants, investigate, seedlings, research, height, root, stem, leaves, flowers, petals

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