Biology · KS2 · 8 lessons

Plants and Photosynthesis

Eight lessons on the characteristics of living things, how plants move, grow, sense, reproduce and cycle carbon.

1
The big picture — the seven characteristics of living things
Demonstrations
- • Resurrection plant
- • Cacti
- • A selection of plants
Pupil investigations
- • What comes out of leaves?
- • Classifying leaves
2
Movement and respiration
Demonstrations
- • What comes out of leaves part 2
- • CO₂ and water testing — proving leaves absorb
Pupil investigations
- • Using microscopes and hand lenses to study leaves
- • Testing for oxygen
3
Respiration and sensitivity
Demonstrations
- • Venus flytraps and carnivorous plants
Pupil investigations
- • Holly leaf investigation
- • Where does water leave the plant? Leaf peel
4
Growth of plants
Demonstrations
- • Tree trunk cross section
Pupil investigations
- • Growing trees
- • Root view farm
5
Reproduction in plants part 1
Demonstrations
- • Gymnosperms: rehydrating a pine cone
- • Ripening fruit
- • Honey
Pupil investigations
- • Angiosperms: flower dissection
6
Reproduction in plants part 2
Demonstrations
- • Model flower and bee
- • What is a seed? Broad bean dissection
Pupil investigations
- • Germination
- • Seed dispersal: walk-along glider
7
Excretion
Demonstrations
- • Chlorophyll extraction and leaf chromatography
- • Waste products of respiration
Pupil investigations
- • Where do leaves lose most of their water?
8
Repacking the big picture and carbon
Demonstrations
- • Darwin, nutrients and worms
- • Diamond, coal, carbon and graphite
Pupil investigations
- • Testing foods for starch
- • Carbon lesson