Year 1

Plants – Observations of Common Garden plants

Lesson 1

Objective Identify and name a variety of common garden plants, including trees.
Compare plants
Observe and identify the plants in reality
Success Criteria Be able to:
- name different plants
- observe and compare plants
- identify plants in reality
Key/New Words Seeds, bulbs, plants, planting, grow, soil, pots, observations, similar, different
Material  3-part cards of common garden plants
 Common garden hunt sheet
 Mini book template

Learning process Engagement (great stories, charts, demonstrations, and experiments 

introduce Language and concepts)

Recap the children’s prior knowledge of plants. Show children a range of

photographs of plants. Give them time to discuss each photograph in pairs.
Explain that plants grow in soil. Can the children name different plants?

Exploration
Using the Lesson Presentation, compare some photographs of plants. Explain
to children what ‘similar’ and ‘different’ mean. In small groups, children look
closely at either live plants or the photographs in the Plant Photo Pack.
If using live plants, ensure that the children understand how to handle the
plants, are supervised doing so and are reminded not to taste/eat any part of
the plant.
Encourage the children to look carefully at the plants, observing their color,
shape, and texture. Use the question prompts on the Lesson Presentation to
encourage comparisons between the plants.
Look at these two plants.
Can you tell me some of the ways they are similar?
Can you tell me some of the ways they are different?

Some words to describe shape:

Pointy: Having a sharp or tapered end.
Wide: Having a broad or spacious form.
Tall: Reaching a great height.
Round: Having a circular or curved shape.
Flat: Lacking significant height or depth.
Slim: Thin or slender in form.
Curved: Bent or arched.
Bulbous: Swollen or rounded.
Twisted: Having a spiral or winding shape.
Bushy: Dense and full of foliage.
Conical: Resembling a cone, tapering to a point.
Vase-shaped: Narrow at the base and widening toward the top, like an

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inverted vase.
Linear: Elongated and straight, often with parallel sides.
Clumped: Growing in dense clusters or groups.
Heart-shaped (Cordate): With a sharp tip at the apex and a base
resembling a heart.
Elliptical: Longer than wide, tapering at both ends.
Lanceolate: Longer than wide, tapering to a smaller apex.
Ovate: Egg-shaped, widest at the base.
Rugged: Having rough or uneven surfaces, like bark.
Graceful: Displaying elegance and fluidity in its form.
Some words to describe texture:
Smooth: Having an even, unblemished surface.
Rough: Having an uneven or coarse texture.
Fuzzy: Covered in fine hairs or fuzz.
Leathery: Resembling the texture of leather.
Prickly: Covered in sharp thorns or spines.
Waxy: Having a glossy, water-resistant surface.
Spongy: Soft and porous, like a sponge.
Brittle: Easily broken or crumbly.
Velvety: Soft and plush, like velvet fabric.
Ribbed: Marked with raised lines or ridges.

Consolidation + communication / Follow-up activity

Doing the common garden plant hunt sheet.
Follow-up Make a mini book of plants in the school garden: draw and write the names.
activity Make a picture dictionary.

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Lesson 2: Seeds and bulbs

Objective Identify and describe the basic structure of various common flowering plants,
including trees.
Observing closely, using simple equipment.
To describe and compare seeds and bulbs
Success Criteria Be able to:
- name different seeds and bulbs.
- observe and compare seeds and bulbs
Key/New Words Seeds, bulbs, plants, planting, grow, soil, pots, observations, similar, different
Material 

Learning process
Follow-up -
activity