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Multi coloured celery.

Year 2
How Plants Grow

Discover the life cycle of plants. Do they need water and sunlight to grow and thrive? Can celery be turned blue or red through simple experiments to reveal how water travels through them and their leaves. We are passionate about providing positive educational experiences for children through interactive and engaging hands-on activities. Whilst meeting the standards in the National Curriculum in England, our activities encourage children to play, explore, observe, build, create and much more.

Within this topic you will find:

  • 9 activity plans, all of which clearly explain how to prepare and carry out each activity.
  • 8 activity sheets to support your child in recording their investigations.

This topic meets aspects within the National Curriculum in England in the following subjects: Design & Technology and Science.

Gain Full Access with an
Annual Key Stage 1 Membership
    Relation to Curriculum in England: = Design & Technology = Science
    Download Links: = Activity Plan = Activity Sheet(s) = Play Video = Download Video
Click to Enlarge Activity Resources Relation to National Curriculum Downloads
Activity One - Sorting Seeds

Activity 1
Sorting Seeds

  • Variety of seeds of different shapes and sizes
  • Magnifying glass
  • Sc2/1.4 identifying and classifying
Activity Two - Plant A Seed

Activity 2
Plant A Seed

  • Sc2/1.1 asking simple questions and recognising that they can be answered in different ways
  • Sc2/1.2 observing closely, using simple equipment
  • Sc2/1.5 using their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions
  • Sc2/2.2a observe and describe how seeds and bulbs grow into mature plants
Activity Three - Seeds In My Kitchen

Activity 3
Seeds In My Kitchen

  • DT1/2.1a use the basic principles of a healthy and varied diet to prepare dishes
  • DT1/2.1b understand where food comes from
  • Sc2/1.4 identifying and classifying
Activity Four - Label The Plant

Activity 4
Label The Plant

    Optional:
  • Coloured paper
  • Gardening magazines
  • Crayons / coloured pens
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Sc2/2.2a observe and describe how seeds and bulbs grow into mature plants
Activity Five - Life Cycle Of Plants

Activity 5
Life Cycle Of Plants

  • Sc2/2.2a observe and describe how seeds and bulbs grow into mature plants
Activity Six - Celery Absorbing Water Investigation

Activity 6
Celery Absorbing Water Investigation

  • Sc2/1.1 asking simple questions and recognising that they can be answered in different ways
  • Sc2/1.2 observing closely, using simple equipment
  • Sc2/1.3 performing simple tests
  • Sc2/1.5 using their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions
  • Sc2/2.2a observe and describe how seeds and bulbs grow into mature plants
  • Sc2/2.2b find out and describe how plants need water, light and a suitable temperature to grow and stay healthy
Activity Seven - Do Plants Need Soil Investigation

Activity 7
Do Plants Need Soil Investigation

  • Sc2/1.1 asking simple questions and recognising that they can be answered in different ways
  • Sc2/1.2 observing closely, using simple equipment
  • Sc2/1.3 performing simple tests
  • Sc2/1.5 using their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions
  • Sc2/2.2a observe and describe how seeds and bulbs grow into mature plants
  • Sc2/2.2b find out and describe how plants need water, light and a suitable temperature to grow and stay healthy
Activity Eight - Do Seeds Need Sunlight Investigation

Activity 8
Do Seeds Need Sunlight Investigation

  • Sc2/1.1 asking simple questions and recognising that they can be answered in different ways
  • Sc2/1.2 observing closely, using simple equipment
  • Sc2/1.3 performing simple tests
  • Sc2/1.5 using their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions
  • Sc2/2.2a observe and describe how seeds and bulbs grow into mature plants
  • Sc2/2.2b find out and describe how plants need water, light and a suitable temperature to grow and stay healthy
Activity Nine - Do Seeds Need Water Investigation

Activity 9
Do Seeds Need Water Investigation

  • Sc2/1.1 asking simple questions and recognising that they can be answered in different ways
  • Sc2/1.2 observing closely, using simple equipment
  • Sc2/1.3 performing simple tests
  • Sc2/1.5 using their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions
  • Sc2/2.2a observe and describe how seeds and bulbs grow into mature plants
  • Sc2/2.2b find out and describe how plants need water, light and a suitable temperature to grow and stay healthy

Symbols Key

    Relation to Curriculum in England: = Design & Technology = Science
    Download Links: = Activity Plan = Activity Sheet(s) = Play Video = Download Video
Activity One - Sorting Seeds
Activity 1
Sorting Seeds
Practical Resources:
  • Variety of seeds of different shapes and sizes
  • Magnifying glass
Relation to Curriculum in England:
  • Sc2/1.4 identifying and classifying
Downloads:
Activity Two - Plant A Seed
Activity 2
Plant A Seed
Practical Resources:
Relation to Curriculum in England:
  • Sc2/1.1 asking simple questions and recognising that they can be answered in different ways
  • Sc2/1.2 observing closely, using simple equipment
  • Sc2/1.5 using their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions
  • Sc2/2.2a observe and describe how seeds and bulbs grow into mature plants
Downloads:
Activity Three - Seeds In My Kitchen
Activity 3
Seeds In My Kitchen
Practical Resources:
Relation to Curriculum in England:
  • Sc2/1.4 identifying and classifying
  • DT1/2.1a use the basic principles of a healthy and varied diet to prepare dishes
  • DT1/2.1b understand where food comes from
Downloads:
Activity Four - Label The Plant
Activity 4
Label The Plant
Practical Resources:
    Optional:
  • Coloured paper
  • Gardening magazines
  • Crayons / coloured pens
  • Scissors
  • Glue
Relation to Curriculum in England:
  • Sc2/2.2a observe and describe how seeds and bulbs grow into mature plants
Downloads:
Activity Five - Life Cycle Of Plants
Activity 5
Life Cycle Of Plants
Practical Resources:
Relation to Curriculum in England:
  • Sc2/2.2a observe and describe how seeds and bulbs grow into mature plants
Downloads:
Activity Six - Celery Absorbing Water Investigation
Activity 6
Celery Absorbing Water Investigation
Practical Resources:
Relation to Curriculum in England:
  • Sc2/1.1 asking simple questions and recognising that they can be answered in different ways
  • Sc2/1.2 observing closely, using simple equipment
  • Sc2/1.3 performing simple tests
  • Sc2/1.5 using their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions
  • Sc2/2.2a observe and describe how seeds and bulbs grow into mature plants
  • Sc2/2.2b find out and describe how plants need water, light and a suitable temperature to grow and stay healthy
Downloads:
Activity Seven - Do Plants Need Soil Investigation
Activity 7
Do Plants Need Soil Investigation

Practical Resources:
Relation to Curriculum in England:
  • Sc2/1.1 asking simple questions and recognising that they can be answered in different ways
  • Sc2/1.2 observing closely, using simple equipment
  • Sc2/1.3 performing simple tests
  • Sc2/1.5 using their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions
  • Sc2/2.2a observe and describe how seeds and bulbs grow into mature plants
  • Sc2/2.2b find out and describe how plants need water, light and a suitable temperature to grow and stay healthy
Downloads:
Activity Eight - Do Seeds Need Sunlight Investigation
Activity 8
Do Seeds Need Sunlight Investigation
Practical Resources:
Relation to Curriculum in England:
  • Sc2/1.1 asking simple questions and recognising that they can be answered in different ways
  • Sc2/1.2 observing closely, using simple equipment
  • Sc2/1.3 performing simple tests
  • Sc2/1.5 using their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions
  • Sc2/2.2a observe and describe how seeds and bulbs grow into mature plants
  • Sc2/2.2b find out and describe how plants need water, light and a suitable temperature to grow and stay healthy
Downloads:
Activity Nine - Do Seeds Need Water Investigation
Activity 9
Do Seeds Need Water Investigation
Practical Resources:
Relation to Curriculum in England:
  • Sc2/1.1 asking simple questions and recognising that they can be answered in different ways
  • Sc2/1.2 observing closely, using simple equipment
  • Sc2/1.3 performing simple tests
  • Sc2/1.5 using their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions
  • Sc2/2.2a observe and describe how seeds and bulbs grow into mature plants
  • Sc2/2.2b find out and describe how plants need water, light and a suitable temperature to grow and stay healthy
Downloads:

Suggested Resources

Suggested Books
Suggested Books
Our World in Pictures: Trees, Leaves, Flowers & Seeds: A visual encyclopedia of the plant kingdom

An encyclopedia of nature. This book is good for identifying trees and plants after your nature walks.

Suggested Books
Suggested Books
Life Cycles: Everything from Start to Finish
by DK

Use this book for examples of plant and animal lifecycles.

Suggested Books
Suggested Books
Slow Down
by Rachel Williams

Use this to inspire observations in nature throughout the year.

Suggested Books
Suggested Books
The Wonders of Nature
by Ben Hoare

Find out about unusual plants with interesting facts and amazing illustrations.

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