Choose exam board for KS4 Computer Science (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 English
Choose exam board for KS4 French
Choose exam board for KS4 Geography
Choose exam board for KS4 German
Choose exam board for KS4 History
Choose tier for KS4 Maths
Choose exam board for KS4 Music
Choose exam board for KS4 Physical education (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 Religious education (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 Spanish

      Conservation using seed banks (non-statutory Climate Change & Sustainability)

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can describe how different species of plants are being conserved by the use of seed banks.

      Key learning points

      1. Seeds contain a tiny plant and a store of food to allow the plant to start growing.
      2. Germination is when a seed first starts to grow into a plant.
      3. Seeds require warmth, water and air to germinate.
      4. Conservation is the act of protecting Earth's natural resources for current and future generations.
      5. A seed bank is a place where seeds are kept safely to conserve different species of plants for the future.

      Keywords

      • Seed - Some plants reproduce by making seeds.

      • Germination - Germination is when a plant starts to grow from a seed.

      • Seed bank - A seed bank is a place where seeds are kept safely to conserve different species of plants for the future.

      • Conservation - Conservation is the act of protecting Earth’s natural resources for current and future generations.

      • Crop - A crop is a plant that is grown to be sold, often as food.

      Common misconception

      Pupils may not think that species of plants can become extinct in the same way that animals can.

      Explain that if all of a particular species of plant, and its seeds, were destroyed then that plant would be extinct and none would ever live or reproduce again in the future.

      Teacher tip

      Alongside this lesson, pupils could create their own mini seed banks using egg boxes and seeds collected from the environment around them. Seeds could be gathered from plants in the school grounds or from the food they eat, for example apple or orange pips.

      Equipment

      None required

      Content guidance

      Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

      Supervision

      Adult supervision required

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

      Loading...

      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What does it mean to protect something?

      Correct answer: to keep it safe from harm
      to keep it in a locked away place
      to create many copies of it

      Q2.
      What does it mean to store something?

      to lose it
      Correct answer: to keep it
      to hide it
      to sell it

      Q3.
      Which part of a plant makes seeds?

      Correct answer: flowers
      leaves
      stems
      roots

      Q4.
      What does it mean when a species has become extinct?

      it will be very hard for that species to reproduce
      the species has lost its habitat
      the species has lost its food source
      Correct answer: there are no individuals of that species alive.

      Q5.
      Crops are plants that have…

      been bought from a shop.
      Correct answer: been grown to be sold.
      grown in the wild without help from humans.

      Q6.
      Plants have certain requirements to survive and grow. What are requirements?

      tests they have to pass
      places they can grow
      Correct answer: things that they need

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      The act of protecting the natural world to keep it safe for present and future generations is called…

      extinction.
      climate change.
      Correct answer: conservation.

      Q2.
      What do seeds contain?

      a very tiny flower
      Correct answer: a very tiny plant
      Correct answer: a store of food
      a store of water
      soil

      Q3.
      is when a plant begins to grow from a seed.

      Correct Answer: germination, germinating, germinate

      Q4.
      What do seeds require to germinate?

      Correct answer: warmth
      Correct answer: air
      light
      Correct answer: water
      nutrients from soil

      Q5.
      What is a seed bank?

      laboratories where rare seeds are grown
      farms where seeds are carefully harvested
      Correct answer: places where seeds are conserved
      shops where people can buy seeds

      Q6.
      What sort of conditions are seeds stored in to keep them safe and prevent them from germinating in seed banks?

      very warm and humid
      very cold and humid
      very warm and dry
      Correct answer: very cold and dry

      To help you plan your 5 science lesson on: Conservation using seed banks (non-statutory Climate Change & Sustainability), download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...