Schools 

Lesson Plan Excerpt

There are five different lesson plans for different age groups, below is an excerpt of one of the topics for 7-11 year olds. Sign up to receive the full set in our resource pack.

Plants and Me

This Topic is in 6 parts.

Part 1 WHAT HAVE PLANTS GOT TO DO WITH ME?

We all depend on plants in our every day lives – no matter whom we are or where we live. In Part 1, pupils look at the world around them to see how their lives are intricately dependent on plants: such as for food, keeping healthy, clothes, buildings, tools.

Part 2 PLANTS LINK US TO PEOPLE AND PLACES

Pupils focus on food to look at how their use of plants links them to people and places locally, nationally, and globally. Information is provided to help pupils track where some of the plants in their meals have come from. They draw a map, calculate food miles and consider some of the issues relating to transportation of food.

Part 3 PLANTS AND MY PLACE

The main useful plants grown locally are identified and pupils describe their growing seasons, harvest times and uses. Pupils also interview older members of their community to find out about how plant uses have changed. They find out about any myths and folklore stories relating to plants in their area.

Part 4 ACTIONS FOR PLANTS – GARDEN DESIGNERS

Pupils choose an area of land in their school or local community and design a real or imaginary ‘garden’. The garden design may include plants for survival throughout the year (such as food, building materials, medicines etc.), plants that are special to the area and plants that are important in the history and folklore of the local area.

Part 5 EXCHANGING INFORMATION

An Exchange Form is completed with examples of pupils work to send to schools in other countries. Pupils receive similar Exchange Forms in return.

Part 6 COMPARING INFORMATION WITH OTHER COUNTRIES

Pupils compare and discuss the responses from different countries. They discuss similarities and differences about how people use local and imported plants. They share folklore stories and consider which garden designs are most successful for incorporating plants for survival.

These lesson plans were developed in conjunction with Science Across the World.