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Living Things and Their Habitats

Science Year 5/6 Illustrating Life Cycles

You have been commissioned to create an inspirational and informative illustrated book on the theme of animal and plant life cycles. Develop your mastery of key art skills as you create eye catching illustrations that accurately tell the life cycle story of a range of nature’s wonders. Along the way, hone your skills as a natural scientist and top off your work by ‘meeting’ David Attenborough, Jane Goodall and their natural scientist colleagues. Enter your final book into the ‘Excellence in Scientific Illustration’ awards.

block outcomes Background Science

Session 1 Flowering plant reproduction

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Objectives

Dissect a flower and explore the fascinating world of flowering plant reproduction. Capture the key sexual structures of a flower and its life cycle in the form of a botanical drawing.

Science Objectives
i) Describe the life process of reproduction in some plants and animals

Working Scientifically

  1. Recording data and results of increasing complexity using scientific diagrams and labels
  2. Identifying scientific evidence that has been used to support or refute ideas or arguments

Other Curriculum Areas
Art & Design: To improve mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing

You Will Need

Provided Resources

  • Botanical illustrations, art & questions
  • Various flower diagrams
  • Flowers for dissection instructions
  • Botanical illustration guidance
  • Drawing equipment guidance

Additional Resources

  • Flowers for dissection & instructions
  • Drawing equipment
  • Potted plants

Weblinks
Permanent botanical exhibitions, Botanical art & artists from www.botanicalartandartists.com
Find out about plants from www.dkfindout.com
Reproduction, BBC (to 3mins 16) from www.bbc.co.uk
Find out about flowers from http://studyjams.scholastic.com
The reproductive cycle of flowering plants from www.youtube.com

Lesson Planning

Teaching

  • To dissect and label the parts of a flowering plant, including male and female structures (Y5&6)
  • To record findings in the form of an annotated botanical illustration (Y5&6)
  • To research the life cycle and reproduction of a flowering plant (Y5&6)


Activities

  1. Make a detailed Linnaean illustration of a flowering plant using watercolour pencils (Y5&6)
  2. Research the lifecycle and reproduction of their flowering plant (Y5&6)
  3. Dissect and label the parts of a flower, identifying the male and female gametes (Y5)
  4. Dissect and label the parts of a complex flower, identifying the male and female gametes (Y6)


Investigation
Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants. Dissect a flower and explore the fascinating world of flowering plant reproduction. Capture the key sexual structures of a flower and its life cycle in the form of a botanical drawing. (Analysing secondary sources, Pattern seeking, Classifying and identifying)
Year 5 – Dissect, label, draw botanical illustrations, and research the lifecycle of a simple flower, identifying the male and female gametes
Year 6 – Dissect, label, draw botanical illustrations, and research the lifecycle of a complex flower, identifying the male and female gametes


Vocabulary
Gamete, stamen, stigma, carpel, pistil, pollination, germination, flowering, sexual reproduction, life cycle, seed, pollen, anther, filament, style, ovary, botanical illustration, dissection

Session 2 Ways that plants reproduce asexually

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Objectives

Investigate ways that plants reproduce asexually and continue to hone your botanical illustration skills. Have a go at growing new plants from a range of parent plant parts – you may be surprised at what will flourish!

Science Objectives
i) Describe the life process of reproduction in some plants and animals

Working Scientifically

  1. Planning different types of scientific enquiries to answer questions, including recognising and controlling variables where necessary
  2. Recording data and results of increasing complexity using scientific diagrams and labels

Other Curriculum Areas
Art & Design: To improve mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing (Y5&6)

Lesson Planning

Teaching

  • To learn about and investigate natural & artificial asexual reproduction in plants (Y5&6)
  • To record findings in the form of an annotated botanical illustration (Y5&6)


Activities

  1. Identify and explain the ways that plants reproduce asexually, both naturally and artificially (Y5&6)
  2. Draw botanical illustrations of asexually reproducing plants, using watercolour pencils (Y5&6)
  3. Suggest enquiry questions and investigate artificial asexual reproduction in flowering plants (Y5)
  4. Set up a ‘fair’ investigation into artificial asexual reproduction in flowering plants (Y6)


Investigation
Asexual reproduction in plants. Investigate ways that plants reproduce asexually and continue to hone your botanical illustration skills. Have a go at growing new plants from a range of parent plant parts – you may be surprised at what will flourish! (Analysing secondary sources, Pattern seeking, Fair testing, Classifying and identifying, Observing over time)
Year 5 - Suggest enquiry questions and investigate artificial asexual reproduction in flowering plants with support
Year 6 - Set up a ‘fair’ investigation into artificial asexual reproduction in flowering plants, including enquiry questions, independently
Years 5&6 - Identify and explain the ways that plants reproduce asexually, both naturally and artificially and draw botanical illustrations of asexually reproducing plants


Vocabulary
Corm, bulb, spores, cutting, fern, moss, liverwort, tubers, asexual, non-flowering, propagation, artificial

Session 3 Life Cycles: insect and amphibian

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Objectives

Watch some online footage of insect and amphibian life cycles to help create your own life cycle illustrations for your book. Set up an in-school habitat for your choice of insect and amphibian so that you can observe them over time.

Science Objectives
i) Describe the differences in the life cycles of an amphibian and an insect
ii) Describe the life process of reproduction in some animals

Working Scientifically

  1. Recording data using scientific diagrams and labels, and tables
  2. Identify scientific evidence that’s been used to support/refute ideas or arguments

Other Curriculum Areas
Art & Design: To improve mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing

Lesson Planning

Teaching

  • To learn about the life cycle and reproduction of amphibians and insects (Y5&6)
  • To record the life cycle and reproduction of amphibians and insects in the form of a zoological illustration (Y5&6)
  • To record the key features of insect and amphibian life cycles in table form (Y6)

Activities

  1. Draw zoological illustrations of the life cycles of two insects and two amphibians (Y5&6)
  2. Research the life cycle of insects and amphibians noting that they reproduce sexually (Y5&6)
  3. Use watercolour pencils to create texture and colour in their drawing (Y5&6)
  4. Record and present key features of insect and amphibian life cycles in a table (Y6)

Investigation
Insect and Amphibian Life Cycles. Watch some online footage of insect and amphibian life cycles to help create your own life cycle illustrations for your book. Set up an in-school habitat for your choice of insect and amphibian so that you can observe them over time. (Analysing secondary sources, Pattern seeking, Classifying and identifying, Observing over time)
Years 5 – Research and draw zoological illustration of the life cycles of insects and amphibians noting that they reproduce sexually
Year 6 – Research, record and present key features of insect and amphibian life cycles in table form, highlighting how they reproduce, as well as draw zoological illustrations of the lifecycles


Vocabulary
Life cycle, asexual & sexual reproduction, metamorphosis, amphibian, insect

Session 4 Mammalian and bird life cycles

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Objectives

Research mammalian and bird lifecycles for two of your local species and transform what you discover into beautiful natural history illustrations. Hone your research skills as you explore sexual reproduction in animals.

Science Objectives
i) Describe the differences in the life cycles of a mammal and a bird
ii)Describe the life process of reproduction in some animals

Working Scientifically

  1. Recording data using scientific diagrams and labels
  2. Identify scientific evidence that’s been used to support/refute ideas or arguments

Other Curriculum Areas
Art & Design: To improve mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing

Lesson Planning

Teaching

  • To learn about the lifecycle and reproduction of mammals and birds (Y5&6)
  • To record the lifecycle and reproduction of mammals and birds in the form of a zoological illustration (Y5&6)
  • To consider the issues facing scientists that study animal lifecycles (Y6)


Activities

  1. Identify a local mammal and bird species and research their lifecycles online (Y5&6)
  2. Draw and annotate a life cycle zoological illustration for both mammal and bird life cycles (Y5&6)
  3. Use watercolour pencils to create texture and colour in their drawing (Y5&6)
  4. Identify possible challenges of scientifically gathering information on life cycles (Y6)


Investigation
Mammalian and Bird Life Cycles. Research mammalian and bird lifecycles for two of your local species and transform what you discover into beautiful natural history illustrations. Hone your research skills as you explore sexual reproduction in animals. (Analysing secondary sources, Pattern seeking, Classifying and identifying, Observing over time)
Years 5&6 - Identify a local mammal and bird species and research their lifecycles online, drawing and annotating a life cycle zoological illustration for both mammal and bird life cycles
Year 6 – Additionally identify possible challenges of scientifically gathering information on life cycles


Vocabulary
Mammal, bird, sexual reproduction, gestation, foetus, sperm, egg, uterus, chick, egg, baby, adult

Session 5 Life cycles from around the world

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Objectives

Time to do some travelling! You will need to find some interesting and quirky animals and plants from around the world and explore their life cycles online. Contrast life cycles from around the world. Make sure you find plenty of images so that you can create an informative but artistic representation of their life cycles in the form of scientific illustrations.

Science Objectives
i) Describe the differences in the life cycles of a mammal, an amphibian, an insect and a bird
ii) Describe the life process of reproduction in some plants and animals

Working Scientifically

  1. Recording data and results of increasing complexity using scientific diagrams and labels
  2. Identifying scientific evidence that has been used to support or refute ideas or arguments

Other Curriculum Areas
Art & Design: To improve mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing

Lesson Planning

Teaching

  • To research the life cycles of a contrasting bird, insect, amphibian and plant (Y5&6)
  • To record life cycles in the form of annotated scientific illustrations (Y5&6)
  • To link life cycle features and processes to evolutionary theory (Y6)


Activities

  1. Research a range of life cycles that contrast with those already studied (Y5&6)
  2. Create annotated scientific illustrations that show life cycles of more unusual animals & plants (Y5&6)
  3. Show watercolour sketching, colour blending and texture forming skills developed over the block (Y5&6)
  4. Identify adaptations that relate directly to reproduction (Y6)


Investigation
Life Cycles from Around the World. Time to do some travelling! You will need to find some interesting and quirky animals and plants from around the world and explore their life cycles online. Make sure you find plenty of images so that you can create an informative but artistic representation of their life cycles in the form of scientific illustrations. (Analysing secondary sources, Pattern seeking, Classifying and identifying)
Years 5&6 - Research a range of life cycles that contrast with those already studied and create annotated scientific illustrations that show life cycles of these more unusual animals & plants
Year 6 – Additionally identify adaptations that relate directly to reproduction


Vocabulary
Life cycle, mammal, bird, amphibian, insect, reproduction

Session 6 Becoming natural scientists

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Objectives

Recognise your role as natural scientists during this block and hone your skills further today. Learn about some significant naturalists and animal behaviourists and create a book section that explores the importance and impact of their work within the scientific community.

Science Objectives
i) Describe the differences in the life cycles of a mammal, an amphibian, an insect and a bird
ii) Describe the life process of reproduction in some plants and animals

Working Scientifically

  1. Taking measurements, using a range of scientific equipment, with increasing accuracy and precision, taking repeat readings when appropriate
  2. Recording data and results of increasing complexity using scientific diagrams and labels, classification keys, tables, scatter graphs, bar and line graphs
  3. Reporting and presenting findings from enquiries, including conclusions, causal relationships and explanations of and degree of trust in results, in oral and written forms such as displays and other presentations
  4. Identifying scientific evidence that has been used to support or refute ideas or arguments



Lesson Planning

Teaching

  • To make observations, recording data and reporting findings (Y5&6)
  • To learn about some well-known naturalists’ and animal behaviourists’ work (Y5)
  • To identify the scientific significance of naturalists’ and animal behaviourists’ work (Y6)


Activities

  1. Make observations, record findings and draw conclusions, as natural scientists (Y5&6)
  2. Research and record info on significant naturalists & animal behaviourists (Y5)
  3. Research & record the scientific significance of the work of known naturalists & animal behaviourists(Y6)


Investigation
Meeting and Becoming Natural Scientists. Recognise your role as natural scientists during this block and hone your skills further today. Learn about some significant naturalists and animal behaviourists and create a book section that explores the importance and impact of their work within the scientific community. (Analysing secondary sources, Pattern seeking, Observing over time)
Year 5 - Research and record information on significant naturalists & animal behaviourists
Year 6 - Research & record the scientific significance of the work of known naturalists & animal behaviourists
Years 5&6 - Make observations, record findings and draw conclusions, as natural scientists


Vocabulary
Natural scientist, naturalist, observation, conservation, endangered

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