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Primary Science · Year 1Chapter 2 · Plants around us
Year 1 · Chapter 2

Year 1 Science Plants Around Us: worked examples and questions with answers

By the end of this chapter you will be able to

  • Name some wild plants, such as a daisy, a dandelion and a buttercup
  • Name some garden and spring flowers, such as a tulip and a daffodil
  • Name a tree by looking at its leaves
  • Say which trees lose their leaves in autumn and which stay green all year
  • Describe how a tree changes through the year
  • Look at plants safely: look, do not pick, and never eat any plant or berry

You should already know

  • Living things and things that are not alive (Reception)
  • Looking closely with a magnifying glass (Chapter 1: Being a scientist)

Where this leads

  • Parts of a plant (Chapter 3)
  • Animal groups (Chapter 4)

National Curriculum for England, Key Stage 1 science, Year 1. Content: Identify and name common wild and garden plants, Identify and name deciduous and evergreen trees, How deciduous trees change through the year.

Printable worksheets. Every lesson in this chapter has a free worksheet and an answer sheet to download and print.

Exercise P  Do you remember?

1
FWhich one is a living thing: a tree or a table?
2
FWhich tool helps us look closely at a small leaf: a magnifying glass, a spoon or a cup?
3
FWhich one does a plant need to grow: water or a toy car?
4
FCount the plants in the picture.
5
FWhich of these is a plant: a sunflower, a spoon or a brick?
2.1

Plants all around us

Year 1
Identify and name common wild and garden plants

Printable: Worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF) · Open this lesson on its own page

Video lesson: Plants all around usComing soon
Plants grow all around us, in gardens, parks and fields.

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.

DaisyTulipSunflower
A daisy, a tulip and a sunflower.

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.
Worked example 2.1.1
Which of these is a plant: tulip, spoon or brick?

Method. Compare each choice with what you know about it.

  1. Look at each choice. Think about what each one is like.
    tulip / spoon / brick
  2. Choose the one that matches. A tulip is a plant that grows. A spoon and a brick are not plants.
    tulip
  3. Write the answer.
    tulip

Check. Check that the other choices do not match. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole clue before you choose.

Worked example 2.1.2
How many plants are in this picture?

Method. Point to each one once, and say its number. The last number you say is how many there are.

  1. Count each one. Each one gets one number. Do not count one twice.
    1, 2, 3
  2. Look at the last number. The last number tells us how many there are.
    The last number is 3.
  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.

Worked example 2.1.3
Ali says, “Grass is not a plant, because it has no big flowers.” Is Ali right?

Method. Read the sentence, then think about the fact.

  1. Read the sentence. Think about what it says.
    Ali says grass is not a plant.
  2. 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
  3. 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

1
FIs a daisy a plant? Write Yes or No.
2
FCircle the plant: a rock, a sunflower, a spoon.
3
FHow many plants are in this picture?
4
FIs each thing a plant? Write Yes or No.
(a)Is a rose a plant?
(b)Is a bus a plant?
(c)Is a tree a plant?
(d)Is a pebble a plant?
5
FWhich plant usually grows on its own in a field: a dandelion or a tulip?
6
FWhich plant is usually planted in a garden by people: a sunflower or a dandelion?
7
PSMia finds a plant growing in a crack in the pavement. Nobody planted it. Is it a wild plant or a garden plant?
8
FWhich of these is not a plant: a rose, a tree, a chair?
9
RRavi says, “Plants are only flowers.” Is he right? Explain.
10
RExplain how you know that a plant is a living thing.
11
FIs grass a plant? Write Yes or No.
2.2

Flowers in the grass

Year 1
Identify and name common wild plants: daisy, dandelion, buttercup, clover and grass

Printable: Worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF) · Open this lesson on its own page

Video lesson: Flowers in the grassComing soon
Wild flowers grow in the grass of a park.

Look at a lawn or a field in spring or summer. You may see small wild plants growing among the grass. Each one looks a little different.

A daisy has white petals and a yellow middle. A dandelion has lots of thin yellow petals. A buttercup has five shiny yellow petals. Clover has leaves in threes. Grass has long thin leaves and no big petals.

DaisyDandelionButtercupCloverGrass
Five plants that grow in lawns and fields.

Key ideas

  • A daisy has white petals and a yellow middle.
  • A dandelion has lots of thin yellow petals.
  • A buttercup has five shiny yellow petals.
  • Clover has leaves in threes.
  • Grass has long thin leaves and no big petals.
Worked example 2.2.1
Which flower has five shiny yellow petals: daisy, buttercup or clover?

Method. Compare each choice with what you know about it.

  1. Look at each choice. Think about what each one is like.
    daisy / buttercup / clover
  2. Choose the one that matches. Only the buttercup has five shiny yellow petals.
    buttercup
  3. Write the answer.
    buttercup

Check. Check that the other choices do not match. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole clue before you choose.

Worked example 2.2.2
How many leaves does this clover have?

Method. Point to each one once, and say its number. The last number you say is how many there are.

  1. Count each one. Each one gets one number. Do not count one twice.
    1, 2, 3
  2. Look at the last number. The last number tells us how many there are.
    The last number is 3.
  3. Write the answer.
    There are 3 leaves.

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.

Worked example 2.2.3
Tom finds a flower with lots of thin yellow petals. Is it a daisy or a dandelion?

Method. Compare each choice with what you know about it.

  1. Look at each choice. Think about what each one is like.
    daisy / dandelion
  2. Choose the one that matches. A dandelion has lots of thin yellow petals. A daisy has white petals and a yellow middle.
    dandelion
  3. Write the answer.
    dandelion

Check. Check that the other choices do not match. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole clue before you choose.

Watch out

Watch out: a daisy and a dandelion can grow close together. Look closely. A daisy has white petals with a yellow middle. A dandelion is all yellow.

Try it at home (with a grown-up)

Lawn look. Go to a lawn or a field with a grown-up. Find a daisy, a dandelion and a clover plant. Look at them closely from where you kneel. Do not pick the flowers. Count the leaves on one clover. Wash your hands afterwards.

Working scientifically

What do you notice about the middle of a daisy and the middle of a buttercup? How could we find out which flower in the lawn has the most petals?

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Kneel by the flowers together and ask, “What colour is the middle? How many petals can you count?” Wild flowers grow best where they are, so take a photo or a drawing instead of picking them.

Exercise 2B  Naming flowers in the grass

1
FName this plant.
2
FName this plant.
3
FName this plant.
4
FName this plant.
5
FHow many leaves does this clover have?
6
FHow many petals does this buttercup have? Count carefully.
7
FWhich plant has long thin leaves and no big petals: daisy, dandelion or grass?
8
FWrite Yes or No for each sentence.
(a)Does clover have leaves in threes?
(b)Does grass have big petals?
(c)Does a buttercup have five petals?
(d)Does a daisy have a yellow middle?
9
PSMia finds a yellow flower in the grass. It has five shiny petals. Which flower is it: daisy, buttercup or dandelion?
10
PSTom counts the flowers in a patch of lawn. He finds 4 daisies, 2 dandelions and 3 buttercups. Which flower did he find the most of?
11
RRavi says a dandelion is a daisy because both are yellow and white. Is he right? Explain how you know.
2.3

Garden and spring flowers

Year 1
Identify and name common garden and spring flowers: sunflower, rose, tulip, daffodil and bluebell

Printable: Worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF) · Open this lesson on its own page

Video lesson: Garden and spring flowersComing soon
Garden and spring flowers.

Some flowers grow in gardens, parks and flower beds. Others come up in spring, when the days get warmer. Here are five to know.

A sunflower is very tall, with a big yellow flower and a dark middle full of seeds. A rose has lots of petals and a stem with prickles, which are sharp bumps, so we must be careful. A tulip is shaped like a cup and grows from a bulb, a round lump under the soil. A daffodil is yellow, with six outer petals and a trumpet in the middle. A bluebell is blue and bell-shaped. Its bells hang down on one side of the stem.

SunflowerRoseTulipDaffodilBluebell
Five garden and spring flowers.

Key ideas

  • A sunflower is tall, with a big yellow flower.
  • A rose has lots of petals and prickles on its stem.
  • A tulip is shaped like a cup and grows from a bulb.
  • A daffodil has six outer petals and a trumpet.
  • A bluebell is blue, with bells that hang down on one side of the stem.
Worked example 2.3.1
Which flower has a trumpet in its middle: rose, daffodil or tulip?

Method. Compare each choice with what you know about it.

  1. Look at each choice. Think about what each one is like.
    rose / daffodil / tulip
  2. Choose the one that matches. A daffodil has a trumpet in the middle. A rose and a tulip do not.
    daffodil
  3. Write the answer.
    daffodil

Check. Check that the other choices do not match. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole clue before you choose.

Worked example 2.3.2
How many outer petals does this daffodil have?

Method. Point to each one once, and say its number. The last number you say is how many there are.

  1. Count each one. Each one gets one number. Do not count one twice.
    1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
  2. Look at the last number. The last number tells us how many there are.
    The last number is 6.
  3. Write the answer.
    There are 6 outer petals.

Check. Count back from 6 to 1 to check. ✓

Watch out. Point to each one, or move it, so you do not miss one or count one twice.

Worked example 2.3.3
Name this flower.

Method. Look for the clue that tells you which one it is.

  1. Look at the picture. Look at the colour, the shape and the leaves.
    blue bells that hang down on one side of the stem
  2. Match the clue to a name. The clue tells us which one it is.
    bluebell
  3. Write the answer.
    bluebell

Check. Read the clue again: blue bells that hang down on one side of the stem. ✓

Watch out. Look closely. Do not guess from the colour alone.

Watch out

Watch out: a tulip and a daffodil can both look a little like a cup at first. A daffodil has six outer petals and a trumpet in the middle. A tulip is one cup shape with no trumpet.

Try it at home (with a grown-up)

Flower match. With a grown-up, look at flowers in a garden, a park or a shop. Find a tulip, a daffodil or a rose. Draw it and write its name. Do not pick flowers without asking, and never taste or eat a flower. Wash your hands afterwards.

Working scientifically

What do you notice about the shape of each flower? Which flower looks most like a cup? How could we find out how many petals a daffodil has?

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Name the flowers together as you walk past them. Explain that roses have prickles, so we look and do not touch the stem. Wild bluebells grow in woods in spring, so we leave them where they are.

Exercise 2C  Naming garden and spring flowers

1
FName this flower.
2
FName this flower.
3
FName this flower.
4
FName this flower.
5
FWhich flower is blue, with bells that hang down on one side of the stem: bluebell, rose or daffodil?
6
FWhich flower is shaped like a cup and grows from a bulb: tulip, sunflower or rose?
7
FHow many outer petals does this daffodil have?
8
FTrue or false?
(a)A rose has prickles on its stem.
(b)A sunflower has a blue flower.
(c)A daffodil has six outer petals.
(d)A tulip has a trumpet in the middle.
9
PSSam says a bluebell is yellow. Is Sam right? Explain.
10
PSMia has a tulip and a daffodil. How can she tell them apart?
11
RWhy do we leave wild bluebells where they grow?
2.4

Trees that lose their leaves

Year 1
Identify and name deciduous trees: oak, horse chestnut, apple, sycamore and birch

Printable: Worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF) · Open this lesson on its own page

Video lesson: Trees that lose their leavesComing soon
Trees in a park. Each tree has its own leaves.

A tree is a tall plant with a trunk and branches. Many trees in the UK are deciduous. This word means the tree loses all its leaves in autumn. Each tree has its own leaves.

Oak leaves have rounded, wavy lobes, and acorns grow on oak trees. Horse chestnut leaves are made of five to seven leaflets that spread out like fingers, and conkers grow in a spiky green case. Apple leaves are oval with a toothed edge, and apples grow on the tree. Sycamore leaves have five points, and its seeds spin down like helicopters. Birch has small pointed leaves and white bark that peels.

OakHorse chestnutAppleSycamoreBirch
The leaves of five deciduous trees.

Key ideas

  • A deciduous tree loses all its leaves in autumn.
  • Each tree has its own leaf shape.
  • Look at the leaf, its edges, and any fruit or seeds.
  • Conkers and acorns are not for eating.
Worked example 2.4.1
Which tree is this leaf from?

Method. Look for the clue that tells you which one it is.

  1. Look at the picture. Look at the colour, the shape and the leaves.
    rounded, wavy lobes on the leaf, and acorns
  2. Match the clue to a name. The clue tells us which one it is.
    oak
  3. Write the answer.
    oak

Check. Read the clue again: rounded, wavy lobes on the leaf, and acorns. ✓

Watch out. Look closely. Do not guess from the colour alone.

Worked example 2.4.2
Which tree has conkers in a spiky green case: oak, horse chestnut or birch?

Method. Compare each choice with what you know about it.

  1. Look at each choice. Think about what each one is like.
    oak / horse chestnut / birch
  2. Choose the one that matches. A horse chestnut has conkers in a spiky green case.
    horse chestnut
  3. Write the answer.
    horse chestnut

Check. Check that the other choices do not match. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole clue before you choose.

Worked example 2.4.3
Which tree has leaves with five points and winged seeds that spin like helicopters: apple, sycamore or birch?

Method. Compare each choice with what you know about it.

  1. Look at each choice. Think about what each one is like.
    apple / sycamore / birch
  2. Choose the one that matches. A sycamore leaf has five points, and its winged seeds spin down like helicopters.
    sycamore
  3. Write the answer.
    sycamore

Check. Check that the other choices do not match. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole clue before you choose.

Watch out

Watch out: conkers and acorns are not for eating. Do not put them, or any leaf, in your mouth. Pick them up only with a grown-up, and wash your hands afterwards.

Try it at home (with a grown-up)

Leaf sort. With a grown-up, collect four or five different leaves that have already fallen in a park or garden. Do not pick leaves from the tree. Lay them on paper and sort them into groups with similar shapes. Look at the edges: are they smooth, wavy or toothed? Wash your hands afterwards.

Working scientifically

What do you think will happen to the leaves of an oak tree in autumn? How could we find out?

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Look at a leaf together and ask, “Are the edges smooth, wavy or pointed? How many parts does it have?” Use leaves that have already fallen. Remind your child that conkers and acorns are not for eating.

Exercise 2D  Naming deciduous trees by their leaves

1
FWhich tree is this leaf from?
2
FWhich tree is this leaf from?
3
FWhich tree is this leaf from?
4
FWhich tree is this leaf from?
5
FWhich tree is this leaf from?
6
FWhich tree has conkers: oak, horse chestnut or birch?
7
FWhich fruit or seed does each tree have?
(a)An oak tree
(b)An apple tree
(c)A sycamore tree
(d)A horse chestnut tree
8
PSWhich tree has white bark that peels off in thin layers: birch, oak or apple?
9
PSAli found a leaf with five points and a seed that spins like a helicopter. Which tree did it come from: sycamore, oak or birch?
10
FWhich of these trees is deciduous: oak, holly or pine?
11
RYusuf says every tree has leaves that look the same. Is he right? Explain.
12
RWhy must we never eat conkers?
2.5

Trees that stay green

Year 1
Identify and name evergreen trees: pine, fir, yew and holly

Printable: Worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF) · Open this lesson on its own page

Video lesson: Trees that stay greenComing soon
Evergreen trees keep their leaves all year, even in a wood in winter.

An evergreen tree keeps most of its leaves all year. It stays green in winter, too. Many evergreen trees have needles. A needle is a thin, pointed leaf.

Pine has long, thin needles, and cones. Fir has short needles packed along its twigs. Yew has flat, dark green needles and red berries. Yew is poisonous. Holly has shiny, spiky leaves and red berries. Holly berries are poisonous too.

PineFirYewHolly
Needles and leaves of four evergreen trees.

Key ideas

  • An evergreen tree keeps its leaves all year.
  • Pine, fir and yew have needles.
  • Holly has spiky leaves and red berries.
  • Yew and holly berries are poisonous. Never eat them.
Worked example 2.5.1
Which tree keeps its leaves in winter: oak or pine?

Method. Compare each choice with what you know about it.

  1. Look at each choice. Think about what each one is like.
    oak / pine
  2. Choose the one that matches. A pine tree is evergreen. It keeps its needles in winter. An oak loses its leaves in autumn.
    pine
  3. Write the answer.
    pine

Check. Check that the other choices do not match. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole clue before you choose.

Worked example 2.5.2
Which tree is this?

Method. Look for the clue that tells you which one it is.

  1. Look at the picture. Look at the colour, the shape and the leaves.
    shiny spiky leaves, and red berries
  2. Match the clue to a name. The clue tells us which one it is.
    holly
  3. Write the answer.
    holly

Check. Read the clue again: shiny spiky leaves, and red berries. ✓

Watch out. Look closely. Do not guess from the colour alone.

Worked example 2.5.3
Which tree is the odd one out: pine, fir or oak?

Method. Think about which tree keeps its leaves in winter.

  1. Look at pine. A pine keeps its needles all year.
    Pine: evergreen
  2. Look at fir. A fir keeps its needles all year.
    Fir: evergreen
  3. Look at oak. An oak loses all its leaves in autumn.
    Oak: deciduous
  4. Write the answer.
    Oak is the odd one out, because it loses its leaves.

Check. Two trees keep their leaves. One does not. ✓

Watch out. The odd one out is the one that does not match the others.

Watch out

Watch out: an evergreen tree is not a tree with no leaves. Evergreen trees keep their needles or green leaves all year, even in winter.

Try it at home (with a grown-up)

Green in winter. On a winter walk with a grown-up, find an evergreen tree, such as a pine or a holly bush. Find a tree with no leaves. Look at both. Which one is still green? Look at the holly leaves from a safe distance. Do not touch the berries, and never eat any part of these trees. Wash your hands afterwards.

Working scientifically

What do you notice about the needles of a pine tree in winter? How could we find out whether they fall off?

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. If you have a real Christmas tree, look at its needles together. Are they long or short? Soft or prickly? Remind your child that holly and yew berries are poisonous, and that they must never eat them.

Exercise 2E  Naming evergreen trees and needles

1
FWhich tree is this?
2
FWhich tree is this?
3
FWhich tree is this?
4
FWhich tree is this?
5
FWhich tree keeps its leaves all year: oak or holly?
6
FWrite Yes or No for each question.
(a)Does a pine keep its needles in winter?
(b)Does an oak lose its leaves in autumn?
(c)Are holly berries safe to eat?
(d)Are holly leaves needles?
7
PSRavi’s tree has flat, dark green needles and red berries. Which tree is it: yew, fir or pine?
8
PSSam says all trees with needles lose them in autumn. Is Sam right? Name a tree that proves your answer.
9
RExplain how you can tell an evergreen tree from a deciduous tree in winter.
10
RWhy must we never eat yew or holly berries?
2.6

Trees through the year

Year 1
Describe how deciduous trees change through the year

Printable: Worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF) · Open this lesson on its own page

Video lesson: Trees through the yearComing soon
A tree in the park changes through the year.

A deciduous tree changes a lot through the year. Look at the four trees in the picture.

In spring, new green leaves grow, and some trees have blossom, which are flowers on the branches. In summer, the leaves are full and dark green. In autumn, the leaves change colour to yellow, orange, red or brown, and they fall to the ground. In winter, the tree has no leaves. It looks bare, with just its branches. Then new leaves grow again in spring.

SpringSummerAutumnWinter
The same tree in spring, summer, autumn and winter.

Key ideas

  • A deciduous tree loses its leaves in autumn.
  • New leaves grow in spring.
  • Autumn leaves can be yellow, orange, red or brown.
  • In winter, a deciduous tree has no leaves.
Worked example 2.6.1
In which season do the leaves change colour and fall off: spring, summer or autumn?

Method. Compare each choice with what you know about it.

  1. Look at each choice. Think about what each one is like.
    spring / summer / autumn
  2. Choose the one that matches. In autumn the leaves change colour and fall off the tree.
    autumn
  3. Write the answer.
    autumn

Check. Check that the other choices do not match. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole clue before you choose.

Worked example 2.6.2
Look at the four trees. In which season is the tree bare?
SpringSummerAutumnWinter

Method. Compare each choice with what you know about it.

  1. Look at each choice. Think about what each one is like.
    spring / summer / autumn / winter
  2. Choose the one that matches. In winter the tree has no leaves. It looks bare.
    winter
  3. Write the answer.
    winter

Check. Check that the other choices do not match. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole clue before you choose.

Worked example 2.6.3
Put the seasons in order, starting with spring.

Method. Go round the year, one season at a time, starting with spring.

  1. Start with spring. Spring comes first in the year.
    spring
  2. Name the seasons in turn. Summer follows spring, then autumn, then winter.
    spring, summer, autumn, winter
  3. Write the order.
    spring, summer, autumn, winter

Check. The year goes spring, summer, autumn, winter, and then spring again. ✓

Watch out. Winter comes last, not first.

Watch out

Watch out: a tree with no leaves is not dead. In winter a deciduous tree is resting. New leaves grow again in spring.

Try it at home (with a grown-up)

Tree diary. With a grown-up, choose one tree near your home or school, such as an oak or an apple tree. Draw it every month, or take a photo. Colour the leaves you can see and write the season. Do not climb the tree.

Working scientifically

What do you think the leaves of your tree will look like next month? How could we find out?

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Look at the same tree together in each season. Ask, “What is different? What colour are the leaves? Are any leaves on the ground?” Use the tree diary to see the changes over the year.

Exercise 2F  The seasons of a deciduous tree

1
FIn which season do deciduous trees grow new leaves: spring, summer or autumn?
2
FLook at the four trees. Which tree has no leaves?
SpringSummerAutumnWinter
3
FLook at the four trees. Which tree has bright orange leaves?
SpringSummerAutumnWinter
4
FLook at the four trees. Which season has full, dark green leaves?
SpringSummerAutumnWinter
5
FPut these seasons in order, starting with spring: winter, autumn, spring, summer.
6
FTrue or false?
(a)Oak trees lose their leaves in autumn.
(b)Pine trees lose all their needles in winter.
(c)Autumn leaves can be red.
(d)Trees grow new leaves in winter.
7
FFill the gap: In autumn, the leaves fall off the tree and land on the ___.
8
PSTom says trees lose their leaves in summer. Is Tom right? Explain.
9
PSMia says the tree is dead in winter because it has no leaves. Is she right?
OakPine
10
RYusuf draws the same tree in summer and in winter. What has changed, and why?
SpringSummerAutumnWinter

Chapter summary

SkillMethod
Wild and garden plantsWild plants grow on their own. Garden plants are planted by people. Both are living plants.
Flowers in the grassDaisy: white petals and a yellow middle. Buttercup: five yellow petals. Clover: leaves in threes.
Garden and spring flowersTulip: a cup shape. Daffodil: six petals and a trumpet. Bluebell: blue bells on one side of the stem.
Deciduous treesThey lose all their leaves in autumn. Look at the leaf shape to name them: oak, sycamore, birch and more.
Evergreen treesThey keep their leaves or needles all year. Pine, fir, yew and holly are evergreen.
Through the yearSpring: new leaves. Summer: full green leaves. Autumn: leaves change and fall. Winter: bare branches.

Can you…?

  • I can name some wild plants, such as a daisy, a dandelion and a buttercup
  • I can name some garden and spring flowers, such as a tulip and a daffodil
  • I can name a tree by looking at its leaves
  • I can say which trees lose their leaves in autumn and which stay green
  • I can describe how a deciduous tree changes through the year
  • I can look at plants safely, and I know not to eat any plant or berry

Key terms

plant
a living thing that grows
wild plant
a plant that grows on its own, without anyone planting it
garden plant
a plant that people plant and look after
petal
one of the coloured parts of a flower
prickle
a sharp bump on a stem, like the stem of a rose
bulb
a round lump under the soil that some plants grow from
blossom
the flowers on a tree in spring
deciduous
a tree that loses all its leaves in autumn
evergreen
a plant or tree that stays green all year
needle
a thin, pointed leaf, like the leaves of a pine tree
poisonous
can make us ill if we eat it, so never eat it
season
one of the four parts of the year: spring, summer, autumn and winter

Exercise 2Z  Check-up

1
Name this plant.
2
Which tree is this leaf from?
3
Which tree keeps its needles all year: pine or birch?
4
Which flower is shaped like a cup and grows from a bulb: tulip, sunflower or rose?
5
In which season do deciduous trees lose their leaves: autumn, spring, summer or winter?
6
Which tree has white bark that peels: birch, oak or pine?
7
True or false?
(a)A rose is a plant.
(b)Yew berries are safe to eat.
(c)Sycamore seeds spin down like helicopters.
(d)Holly is an evergreen tree.
8
Which spring flower has blue bells that hang down on one side of the stem: bluebell, rose or daffodil?
9
Name one way an evergreen tree is different from an oak tree in winter.
OakPine
10
Which season comes just before summer: spring, autumn or winter?

Total 14 marks. Allow about 14 minutes.

Exercise 2X  End-of-chapter quiz

1
FWhich flower has white petals and a yellow middle: daisy, dandelion or buttercup?[1 mark]
2
FWhat colour are the bells of a bluebell?[1 mark]
3
FWhich evergreen tree has red berries and spiky, shiny leaves: holly, fir or pine?[1 mark]
4
FName the tree this leaf comes from.[1 mark]
5
FName this flower.[1 mark]
6
FHow many leaves does this clover have?[1 mark]
7
PSSort these trees. Write the names of the trees that keep their leaves all year: oak, pine, holly, apple, fir.[2 marks]
8
PSRavi finds a yellow flower with six outer petals and a trumpet in the middle. What is it: daffodil, tulip or buttercup?[2 marks]
9
RExplain why we must never eat holly or yew berries.[2 marks]
10
FWrite the four seasons in order, starting with spring: winter, autumn, summer, spring.[2 marks]
← Chapter 1: Being a scientistChapter 3: Parts of a plant →

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