What plants need: do
I can set up a comparative test investigation to find out what plants need.
What plants need: do
I can set up a comparative test investigation to find out what plants need.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Scientists can investigate what plants need by observing plant growth when requirements are removed.
- In a comparative test investigation, variables must be kept the same so only one thing is changed and one is measured.
- Scientists create a schedule for observations and choose a method to record change, such as a diary or photograph log.
Keywords
Plant - A plant is a living thing that often has roots, a stem and leaves.
Comparative test - In a comparative test, the thing that is being changed has labels, such as the types of materials.
Variables - Variables are the things that can be changed, measured or kept the same in a comparative or fair test.
Record - To record information is to keep it so that it can be passed on to others. This can be done in many ways including notes, photos and drawings.
Common misconception
Pupils may not see the need to use a second plant in their investigation that has all of its needs met, as they will be able to observe changes in the plant from which they are removing a requirement.
Explain that we need an additional plant with all of its needs met so that we can make direct comparisons between this plant and the one we are depriving of something.
To help you plan your year 3 science lesson on: What plants need: do, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 3 science lesson on: What plants need: do, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 2 science lessons from the What plants do and what they need unit, dive into the full primary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What does it mean to compare things?
Q2.Plants require light, , air, warmth, room to grow, and nutrients from soil to grow and stay healthy.
Q3.What equipment could we use to measure the height of a plant?
Q4.Scientists can find out how things change by making of them over time.
Q5.Which of these statements about plants is not correct?
Q6.What are variables in a comparative test investigation?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Scientists create schedules for their observations. A good schedule for observing how plants grow over time would be to make observations…
Q2.A comparative test is a type of investigation where...
Q3.In comparative test investigations, the scientific word for the things that are kept the same, measured an changed is .
Q4.Jacob is carrying out a comparative test to investigate the question: How does having no light affect how a plant grows?
Which variable will he change in his investigation?
Q5.Aisha is investigating the effect of having no light on plant growth. Which of these could she use to record her results?
Q6.Sam is carrying out a comparative test to find out how a plant grows differently without any water. What could she measure over time for this investigation?
