Year 1 Science: Plants all around us
Part of the Year 1 Science plants around us chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page · Download worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF)
Plants all around us
Plants are all around us. Look out of a window. Can you see a tree, some grass or a flower? Plants are living things. They grow, and they need water and light to grow well.
Some plants grow on their own, in fields, woods and on lawns. These are wild plants. Other plants are garden plants. People plant them in gardens, parks and pots.
Key ideas
- A plant is a living thing that grows.
- Plants need water and light to grow.
- A wild plant grows on its own, without anyone planting it.
- A garden plant is often planted by people.
- Trees, grass and flowers are all plants.
Method. Compare each choice with what you know about it.
- Look at each choice. Think about what each one is like.tulip / spoon / brick
- Choose the one that matches. A tulip is a plant that grows. A spoon and a brick are not plants.tulip
- Write the answer. tulip
Check. Check that the other choices do not match. ✓
Watch out. Read the whole clue before you choose.
Method. Point to each one once, and say its number. The last number you say is how many there are.
- Count each one. Each one gets one number. Do not count one twice.1, 2, 3
- Look at the last number. The last number tells us how many there are.The last number is 3.
- Write the answer. There are 3 plants.
Check. Count back from 3 to 1 to check. ✓
Watch out. Point to each one, or move it, so you do not miss one or count one twice.
Method. Read the sentence, then think about the fact.
- Read the sentence. Think about what it says.Ali says grass is not a plant.
- Check the fact. Grass is a plant. Its flowers are very small, and it has no big petals, but it is still a plant.No
- Write the answer. No
Check. Say the fact in your own words: Grass is a plant. Its flowers are very small, and it has no big petals, but it is still a plant. ✓
Watch out. Think about what is true, not what sounds right.
Watch out
Watch out: a plant does not have to have a big flower. Trees, grass and the leaves on a bush are plants too.
Try it at home (with a grown-up)
Plant hunt. Walk round your garden, a park or your street. Find three different plants. Look at them closely and draw each one. Do not pick them, and do not put any plant or berry in your mouth. Wash your hands afterwards.
Working scientifically
What do you think you will find on your plant hunt? How could we find out which plants grow wild and which are in a garden?
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Walk round a park or garden together and ask, “What plants can you see?” Plants can be tall like trees or small like grass. Some grow in cracks in the pavement, so look down too. Never let your child pick, taste or eat a plant or berry.
Exercise 2A Plants, and what they are not
Method. Read the sentence, then think about the fact.
- Read the sentence. Think about what it says.A daisy is a plant.
- Check the fact. A daisy is a living thing. It grows from the ground.Yes
- Write the answer. Yes
Check. Say the fact in your own words: A daisy is a living thing. It grows from the ground. ✓
Watch out. Think about what is true, not what sounds right.
Method. Compare each choice with what you know about it.
- Look at each choice. Think about what each one is like.a rock / a sunflower / a spoon
- Choose the one that matches. A sunflower is a plant. A rock and a spoon are not.a sunflower
- Write the answer. a sunflower
Check. Check that the other choices do not match. ✓
Watch out. Read the whole clue before you choose.
Method. Point to each one once, and say its number. The last number you say is how many there are.
- Count each one. Each one gets one number. Do not count one twice.1, 2, 3, 4
- Look at the last number. The last number tells us how many there are.The last number is 4.
- Write the answer. There are 4 plants.
Check. Count back from 4 to 1 to check. ✓
Watch out. Point to each one, or move it, so you do not miss one or count one twice.
Method. Read the sentence, then think about the fact.
- Read the sentence. Think about what it says.A rose is a plant.
- Check the fact. A rose grows and is a living thing.Yes
- Write the answer. Yes
Check. Say the fact in your own words: A rose grows and is a living thing. ✓
Watch out. Think about what is true, not what sounds right.
Method. Read the sentence, then think about the fact.
- Read the sentence. Think about what it says.A bus is a plant.
- Check the fact. A bus is a machine. It is not alive and it does not grow.No
- Write the answer. No
Check. Say the fact in your own words: A bus is a machine. It is not alive and it does not grow. ✓
Watch out. Think about what is true, not what sounds right.
Method. Read the sentence, then think about the fact.
- Read the sentence. Think about what it says.A tree is a plant.
- Check the fact. A tree is a living thing that grows.Yes
- Write the answer. Yes
Check. Say the fact in your own words: A tree is a living thing that grows. ✓
Watch out. Think about what is true, not what sounds right.
Method. Read the sentence, then think about the fact.
- Read the sentence. Think about what it says.A pebble is a plant.
- Check the fact. A pebble is a stone. It is not alive.No
- Write the answer. No
Check. Say the fact in your own words: A pebble is a stone. It is not alive. ✓
Watch out. Think about what is true, not what sounds right.
Method. Compare each choice with what you know about it.
- Look at each choice. Think about what each one is like.dandelion / tulip
- Choose the one that matches. A dandelion is a wild plant. It grows on its own in fields and lawns. A tulip is usually planted in a garden.dandelion
- Write the answer. dandelion
Check. Check that the other choices do not match. ✓
Watch out. Read the whole clue before you choose.
Method. Compare each choice with what you know about it.
- Look at each choice. Think about what each one is like.sunflower / dandelion
- Choose the one that matches. People usually plant sunflowers in gardens and fields. A dandelion usually grows on its own.sunflower
- Write the answer. sunflower
Check. Check that the other choices do not match. ✓
Watch out. Read the whole clue before you choose.
Method. Compare each choice with what you know about it.
- Look at each choice. Think about what each one is like.wild plant / garden plant
- Choose the one that matches. Nobody planted it, so it grows on its own. That makes it a wild plant.wild plant
- Write the answer. wild plant
Check. Check that the other choices do not match. ✓
Watch out. Read the whole clue before you choose.
Method. Compare each choice with what you know about it.
- Look at each choice. Think about what each one is like.a rose / a tree / a chair
- Choose the one that matches. A chair is not alive and it does not grow. A rose and a tree are plants.a chair
- Write the answer. a chair
Check. Check that the other choices do not match. ✓
Watch out. Read the whole clue before you choose.
Method. Look at what Ravi said, then think about the other plants you know.
- Read what Ravi said. He says plants are only flowers.Plants are only flowers?
- Think of other plants. Trees, grass and the leaves on a bush are plants too, and they have no big flowers.Tree, grass, leaves
- Write the answer. No. Trees, grass and leaves are plants too.
Check. Name three plants that are not flowers: a tree, grass, a bush. ✓
Watch out. A plant does not have to be a flower.
Method. Think about what plants do.
- Look at a plant. A plant grows bigger over time.It grows
- Think about what it needs. Plants need water and light to grow well.Water and light
- Write the answer. It grows, and it needs water and light to grow well.
Check. A stone does not grow or need water, so it is not a living thing. ✓
Watch out. Living things grow and need food or water. Stones and toys do not.
Method. Read the sentence, then think about the fact.
- Read the sentence. Think about what it says.Grass is a plant.
- Check the fact. Grass grows and is a living thing, so it is a plant.Yes
- Write the answer. Yes
Check. Say the fact in your own words: Grass grows and is a living thing, so it is a plant. ✓
Watch out. Think about what is true, not what sounds right.