The Apprentice Gardener 

All about our learning:

This unit builds on Year 1 science learning where children identified plants, named their parts, tended a garden and observed seasonal change. Children should already be aware that plants need water and sunlight; this unit revisits and extends that understanding.

They will also be introduced to growing plants from bulbs and from seeds, learning the sequence of germination, and comparing and contrasting the requirements of germinating seeds with those of mature plants to maintain healthy growth. 

We will start with the children demonstrating their current knowledge and asking questions. There are then several lessons that provide contexts for setting up investigations. 

The main enquiry types that we will be focusing on are observing change over time and comparative tests; there is also identifying and classifying, pattern finding and research using secondary sources (videos). Children will record series of observations use labelled drawings and photographs in diaries. They will use their existing knowledge and their observations to make predictions at the start and during investigations. 

Key vocabulary:

seeds, plant (verb and noun), apprentice, gardener, bulb, grow, observe, observations, describe, identify, expert, question, predict, prediction, water, compare, answer, investigate, bean, soil, surface, test, bury, light, dark, water, germinate, fair, same, plan, suitable, radicle, root, shoot, leaves, change, evidence, height, tallest, shortest, bar chart, scale, pattern, question, connection, measure, seedling, mature plant, wilting, healthy, unhealthy, warmth, care, die, block, agree, disagree, alive, food store, fi rst, next, later, after…days, order, conclusion, because

FACT FILE:

Seeds need water and a suitable temperature to germinate. The required temperature varies from plant to plant; some seeds only germinate after a period of low temperatures. Most seeds do not need light to germinate. The seed provides a store of food for the growing plant until the first leaves are above the soil and it can start to make its own food by photosynthesis. Seeds do not need soil for germination to occur; any medium that holds water is suitable, although as the seedlings develop they need anchorage for their developing roots.

Growing plants need water, light and a suitable temperature. Temperature is also considered in OCW when children consider when to plant their seeds. 

Children need to recognise some causes of changes seen in unhealthy plants. Plants deprived of water wilt and eventually die. Plants deprived of light continue to grow at first, becoming etiolated (pale and drawn out), but they eventually die.