Planting - Teacher Explanation

Welcome to Lesson 1.10 of the Year 1 unit on plants, aptly titled "Planting". This lesson is integral to meeting the National Curriculum's expectation for pupils to identify and name a variety of common wild and garden plants, including both deciduous and evergreen trees. A word of caution is advised for those pupils with plant allergies, as they will be handling plant matter, and it is essential for all pupils to wash their hands thoroughly after any contact with plants or soil. The lesson has cross-curricular ties with English, where pupils could create a planting guide, and with Maths, as they will measure the lengths of leaves. Additionally, there is an Art and Design Technology (ADT) component, where pupils will construct their own greenhouses.

During this hands-on lesson, pupils will engage in planting a variety of seeds and creating their own greenhouses, though there are no specific scientific activities planned. Instead, this lesson sets the stage for future observations and experiments. Pupils will craft plant pots from polystyrene cups, ensuring they include drainage holes, and construct greenhouse frames using lolly sticks, strong glue, and cling film. The makeshift greenhouses are designed to provide extra humidity to enhance plant growth, with the results to be reviewed in a subsequent lesson titled "Planting Review". It's important to maintain the moisture of the soil daily, and as the experiment progresses, pupils will monitor and record the growth of their plants, noting variables such as stem length and leaf count. Remember to label the plant pots and greenhouses for easy identification throughout the experiment. With patience and careful observation, pupils will learn about plant growth dynamics over the coming weeks.