Fertilisers are minerals that are added to the soil to help plants to grow.

Pesticides are chemicals that are used to kill organisms such as insects and weeds, which prevent crop growth.

Organic farming only uses chemicals that come from other living things (are not man-made).

Herbicides are a type of pesticide. They kill plants. They are sometimes also known as weedkillers.

Insecticides are a type of pesticide. These chemicals kill insects.

Using chemicals in farming

Science

Food chains

Predator-prey relationships

Adaptations of predators and prey

Food webs

Ecosystems and habitats

Pollination and human food security

Bioaccumulation

The importance of biodiversity

Pupils will move on to construct and interpret pyramids of number and biomass from food chains data. Pupils will learn about how plants and animals are adapted to survive and the impact of changes to the environment on biodiversity. The importance of biodiversity and the importance of gene banks. How to sample plant and animal populations to aid our understanding and monitoring of populations. 

In Y4 pupils learnt about their local environment and to recognise that environments can change. Pupils also explored examples of human impact (both positive and negative) on environments. Pupils looked at a variety of food chains to identify producers, predators and prey.

This unit explores the interdependence of organisms in ecosystems, including food webs and insect-pollinated crops. It examines how organisms interact with their environment and the impact of toxic materials. It also highlights the importance of biodiversity and preserving genetic material.

Ecosystems

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce, poverty, deprivation.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

provides producers with minerals that they need to grow well

Match each word to the correct definition.

to kill organisms that cause damage to a crop

to kill bees and insects that pollinate a crop

to kill all organisms other than the crop itself

Which of the following is a reason why a farmer might use a pesticide?

Look at the food chain diagram. What would a farmer use to kill the aphids on the potato crop?

{{}} are chemicals that are used to make plants grow to produce lots of flowers or fruits.

The herbicide kills all plants that are sprayed.

The herbicide kills only some types of plants that are sprayed.

The herbicide kills only insects that are sprayed.

The herbicide kills no plants that are sprayed.

Some herbicides are called selective herbicides. What does this mean?

causes algae to grow quickly in lakes, reducing light and oxygen

can kill organisms that help with pollination

can kill plants that provide habitats for other organisms

Chemicals are important in farming to help grow food for humans and other animals. However, too much use can be dangerous. Match the chemical with possible impacts on other organisms.

A {{}} is an organism that eats other organisms to get the food that they need to survive.

An insect is an organism with how many **pairs** of legs?

Producers make food using light and chemicals from their surroundings.

Producers depend on other organisms to get the food that they need to survive.

Consumers depend on producers to get the food that they need to survive.

Consumers are able to make their own food.

Look at the food chain diagram. What is the name of the organism that the mole eats?

A habitat provides organisms with three things. These are food, {{}} and a place to reproduce.

Look at this food chain from the sea. What will happen if all of the copepods die?

Using chemicals in farming

Lesson outcome

Content guidance