Mrs Mactivity

Year 2 Science Block 5: Plant Growth

Year 2 Plants – Plant Growth

Teach Year 2 Plants – Plant Growth with a complete unit exploring how plants grow, what they need to stay healthy and how seeds develop into mature plants. Fully aligned with the National Curriculum, this unit supports pupils to observe plant growth over time and understand the conditions needed for germination and survival.

Pupils investigate how seeds and bulbs grow into mature plants, learning that water and the right temperature are essential for germination, while light becomes important as plants begin to grow. Lessons are practical and enquiry-led, with regular opportunities for pupils to observe closely, ask questions and carry out simple comparative tests.

View small steps and unit outcomes

Small steps

  • How do plants grow?
  • How do seeds grow into plants?
  • What do seeds need to germinate?
  • What do seeds need to germinate? Results and conclusions
  • Do seeds contain food?
  • Did my bean grow?

Unit outcomes (secure)

Plants

  • Observe and describe how seeds and bulbs grow into mature plants
  • Find out and describe how plants need water, light and a suitable temperature to grow and stay healthy
  • Understand that seeds contain a store of food and do not always need light to germinate

Working scientifically

  • Observing closely, using simple equipment
  • Observing changes over time
  • Asking simple questions and recognising that they can be answered in different ways
  • Performing simple comparative tests
  • Using observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions
  • Gathering and recording data to help answer questions

Year 2 Plants – Plant Growth lesson plans and worksheets

Teach Year 2 Plants – Plant Growth with a fully planned and sequenced unit aligned with the KS1 science curriculum. This unit helps pupils understand how plants grow from seeds and bulbs, and what they need to stay healthy.

Across the unit, pupils plant and grow their own beans, observe changes in the local environment and track plant growth over time. They learn that seeds need water and a suitable temperature to germinate, and that most do not require light at this stage because they contain a store of food. Pupils then explore how plants need light, water and the right conditions to continue growing and stay healthy.

What’s included?

  • Step-by-step planning for all six lessons
  • Interactive Year 2 science PowerPoint slides for each lesson
  • Differentiated Year 2 plants worksheets to support recording and explanation
  • Knowledge organisers with key vocabulary and scientific facts
  • Bean Growth Observation Log and investigation resources
  • Practical investigations, outdoor learning and structured discussions
  • Built-in assessment opportunities to check understanding

Hands-on investigations and activities

  • Planting and growing beans to observe changes over time
  • Carrying out a comparative test to investigate germination conditions
  • Observing plant growth in the local environment across multiple lessons
  • Measuring plant growth and recording data accurately
  • Exploring whether seeds need light or water to germinate
  • Applying learning through practical activities, including food and real-life contexts

Scientific vocabulary

  • Seed, germination, seedling, mature plant, root, shoot, leaf, flower, fruit
  • Water, light, temperature, air, healthy
  • Observe, predict, measure, record, compare, conclusion