Unit 1: Plants are living things

How can we know that something is alive?

Look at the picture. Which things are alive?

Look at the picture. Which things have never been alive?

Are all plants and animals alive?

Is every part of a plant alive?

How could we care for a plant that is growing in the classroom?

Alive or not?

You will need: a plant, a bare branch, a plastic plant, a block of wood, a piece of rock.

With a friend talk about these things. Describe each one. What is it made of? Where did it come from? Is it alive or not alive? Use the seven rules to help you.

Record what you think in a table like this.

| Object | What is it made of? | Is it alive or not alive? |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A rock | rock | not alive |
| | | |
| | | |

Alive, once alive or never alive?

You will need: access to the school grounds, pencil.

Look around the classroom and in the school grounds. Copy and complete this table to record things that:

- are alive now
- were once alive
- have never been alive.

The seven rules will help you.

| Object | Once was alive | Alive | Not alive | Because... |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| two plants in the school library | | ✓ | | ... they grow, need water, air and food, make waste and can sense the world |

Are these things alive?

You will need: a branch, a block of wood, photos of chicken, meat and fish, seeds, a freshly picked fruit, a fossil.

Wash your hands after handling the materials.

Scientists identify and classify things. Scientists do this to see patterns and ask questions.

Look at these photos and the things listed above. Are they alive? Are they dead? Were they never alive?

Think about each thing. Does it or did it: grow? move? need water and food? make waste? have young? sense the world around?

Group the things in one of these three groups. Copy three circles like these and label them: once living but not now, living, never alive. Draw each thing and write its name in the right circle.

Making posters

Make two posters using the headings shown on the right. Use drawings and words in your posters.

- Poster 1: Things that are alive... We know they are alive because...
- Poster 2: Things that are not alive... We know they are not alive because...

What do the parts of this plant do?

The plant has one main stem. Why does the plant have many roots, leaves and flowers?

We can eat parts of some plants

Some plant parts are safe for people to eat. Some parts can be poisonous. The safe leaves, roots, stems and fruit are very good for you. We only ever eat safe plant parts. Which plant parts here are safe to eat?

Never eat parts of wild plants you find. Always check that plant parts are safe and clean before you eat them.

Do you know a plant or plant part that is dangerous to eat?

Looking at roots

You will need: a potted plant, soil, a larger pot, newspaper.

If you are allergic to plant parts tell your teacher now. Wash your hands if you have touched the plant or the soil.

Over newspaper, take a plant out of its pot. Take care not to damage the plant. Carefully observe the roots. Draw what you observe.

Does your plant need a new pot? If it does, replant it in the bigger plant pot.

Make a model plant

You will need: paper, card, a straw, string, glue, sticky tape.

Use the materials to make a model plant with a flower, stem, leaves and roots. Label your model.

Write a label to go beside your model. Your label should explain the way water enters and is transported inside the plant.

Learning about leaves

Marcus is asking some questions about leaves.

Why do some leaves fall each year?

Learning about leaves

Marcus is asking some questions about leaves.

Which is the biggest leaf?

Learning about leaves

Marcus is asking some questions about leaves.

Are all leaves green?

Learning about leaves

Marcus is asking some questions about leaves.

Is the top of a leaf the same as the bottom of a leaf?