Plants: What they need to grow and why we need them

This resource contains easy to carry out, practical lessons on plant growth and decomposition and using microorganisms. The activities covered in this resource are:
- Contained Decomposition
- Germination
- Light Maze
- Plant Identification
- Sterilised Soil
Curriculum for Excellence benchmarks covered in the lessons :
SCN 2-01a Diversity and developmental parts of plants
- I can identify and classify examples of living things, past and present, to help me appreciate their diversity. I can relate physical and behavioural characteristics to their survival or extinction. Identifies characteristics of living things and their environment which have contributed to the survival or extinction of a species.
SCN 2-02b Plants benefiting society
- Through carrying out practical activities and investigations, I can show how plants have benefited society. Relates findings from practical investigations to describe how plants have benefited society.
SCN 2-13a Micro-organisms
- I have contributed to investigations into the role of micro-organisms in producing and breaking down some materials. Investigates, observes and records how microscopic organisms are necessary for the process of decomposition (the breaking down of dead material – decay).
SCN 2-14a Life cycle of plants
- By investigating the lifecycles of plants and animals, I can recognise the different stages of their development. Investigates and explains how a seed germinates into a plant using water, oxygen, a food store and warmth.
SCN 2-14b Plant responses and adaptation to the environment
- By exploring the characteristics offspring inherit when living things reproduce, I can distinguish between inherited and non-inherited characteristics. Investigate the response of a plant to directional light sources.
Inquiry and Investigation Skills
- Plans and designs scientific investigations and enquiries
- Carries out practical activities in a variety of learning environments
- Analyses, interprets and evaluates scientific findings
- Presents scientific findings
Skills and attributes of scientifically literate citizens
- Expresses informed views about scientific and environmental issues based on evidence.
This resource is available under a CC BY 4.0 license and has been made available on TES Connect which hosts a range of lesson materials for early years, primary, secondary, and special needs teaching.
Plants: what they need to grow and why we need them on Tes Connect

These works created by Sara Thornton and Tabitha Ewing as part of the GeoScience Outreach Course at The University of Edinburgh, are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) Licence.
Cover image “Plassiflora seedling” by BlueRidgeKitties on Flickr under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 license