Plants and Seasons
- Part 1: Spring
Summary
This is the first of two half-day courses which will give pupils the
opportunity to observe how a selection of habitats vary throughout
the year and how these variations are linked to the lifecycle of
plants living in the habitats.
During the day pupils will use a range of scientific equipment to
record information about the environmental conditions in two
habitats. When studied alongside data collected from the same
habitats at different seasons This will enable pupils to compare the
variation in conditions between the two habitats and explore the
effect of seasonality on the plant life found.
Pupils will also explore the role of flowers in the lifecycle of
flowering plants in particular investigating methods of pollination
used by insect and wind pollinated plants.
Learning
objectives
Key stage
NC links
N.B.
 Although it can be carried out on its own, this day course is
intended to be followed later in the year by the second half-day
course Plants and Seasons – Part 2:Summer. If both courses
are booked together schools will be charged the standard daily
rate of £4 per pupil. This is a saving of £1 per pupil on the
usual rate of £2.50 per pupil for a half day course.
By the end of the day the pupils will:
 Make systematic and careful observations, taking accurate
measurements using a range of equipment including light
meters.
 Gather record and present data in a variety of ways.
 Identify and describe the functions of different parts of flowering
plants.
 Explore the requirements of plants for life and growth.
 Explore the part that flowers play in the lifecycle of flowering
plants
 Recognise that habitats can change throughout the year and
that this can have an impact on the plants living in them.
Lower KS2
Science
 Working scientifically
 Plants
 Living things and their habitats
Sample Programme
Time*
10:00
Activity
Arrival and introduction to site and course
Pupils will work in groups to correctly sequence the stages in the
lifecycle of a flowering plant and identify which stage they think
10:30
11:30
11:45
1:00
most plants are likely to be in at this time of the year.
Requirements of plants.
Pupils will work in groups to identify the requirements of a plant for
life and growth. They will then collect data on environmental
conditions in two separate habitats in order to identify how
effective the habitats are providing these requirements throughout
the year.
Break
Investigating pollination
Pupils will look for examples of different flowers found growing in
Ferry Meadows and explore the methods used by each different
species to ensure pollination.
Lunch
If pupils are participating in a half day course teachers may decide
to eat a packed lunch in the Discovery Den before returning to
school.
*timings are for example only and can be adjusted to meet the requirements of your
group
Plants and Seasons
- Part 2: Summer
Summary
This is the second of two half-day courses which will give pupils
the opportunity to observe how a selection of habitats vary
throughout the year and how these variations are linked to the
lifecycle of plants living in the habitats.
During the day pupils will use a range of scientific equipment to
record information about the environmental conditions in two
habitats. When studied alongside data collected from the same
habitats at different seasons this will enable pupils to compare the
variation in conditions between the two habitats and explore the
effect of seasonality on the plant life found.
Pupils will also explore the role of flowers in the lifecycle of
flowering plants in particular investigating methods of seed
dispersal
Learning
objectives
Key stage
NC links
N.B.
 Although it can be carried out on its own, this day course is
intended to follow on from the first half-day course Plants and
Seasons – Part 1:Spring. If both courses are booked together
schools will be charged the standard daily rate of £4 per pupil.
This is a saving of £1 per pupil on the usual rate of £2.50 per
pupil for a half day course.
 If required this course can be extended to a full day course.
By the end of the day the pupils will:
 Make systematic and careful observations, taking accurate
measurements using a range of equipment including light
meters.
 Gather record and present data in a variety of ways.
 Identify and describe the functions of different parts of flowering
plants.
 Explore the requirements of plants for life and growth.
 Explore the part that flowers play in the lifecycle of flowering
plants
 Recognise that habitats can change throughout the year and
that this can have an impact on the plants living in them.
Lower KS2
Science
 Working scientifically
 Plants
 Living things and their habitats
Sample Programme
Time*
10:00
Activity
Arrival and introduction to site and course
Pupils will work in groups to correctly sequence the stages in the
10:30
11:30
11:45
1:00
lifecycle of a flowering plant and identify which stage they think
most plants are likely to be in at this time of the year.
Requirements of plants.
Pupils will revise the requirements of a plant for life and growth.
They will then work in groups to collect data on environmental
conditions in two separate habitats in order to identify how
effective the habitats are providing these requirements throughout
the year. They will compare this with the data they collected
earlier in the year in order to investigate how the variation in
seasons effects the ability of plants to gain all their requirements
for life from their habitat.
Break
Investigating seed dispersal
Pupils will look for examples of different seeds found in Ferry
Meadows and explore the methods used by each different species
to ensure their seeds are spread as widely as possible.
Lunch
If pupils are participating in a half day course teachers may decide
to eat a packed lunch in the Discovery Den before returning to
school.
*timings are for example only and can be adjusted to meet the requirements of your
group