A plant is a living thing that often has roots, a stem and leaves.

In a comparative test, the thing that is being changed has labels, such as the types of materials.

Variables are the things that can be changed, measured or kept the same in a comparative or fair test.

To record information is to keep it so that it can be passed on to others. This can be done in many ways including notes, photos and drawings.

What plants need: do

Science

In this What plants do and what they need unit, pupils learn about the part that flowers play in the life cycle of flowering plants. In the Reproduction and life cycles unit: plants, they will build on this knowledge to describe the life process of reproduction in some plants

In the Growing plants unit, pupils learnt that plants need water, light and a suitable temperature to grow and stay healthy. In this What plants do and what they need unit, pupils will build on this knowledge to explore a greater number of requirements of plants for life and growth and how they vary from plant to plant

What plants do and what they need

Physical activity and equipment requiring safe use

Use of equipment that may require supervision for safety, e.g. scissors in KS1, needles, paint, knives, cooking.

Scientists create schedules for their observations. A good schedule for observing how plants grow over time would be to make observations…

scientists use secondary sources to learn more about something.

one thing is changed, another is measured and everything else is kept the same.

jobs are shared out equally between scientists.

A comparative test is a type of investigation where...

In comparative test investigations, the scientific word for the things that are kept the same, measured an changed is {{}}.

Jacob is carrying out a comparative test to investigate the question: How does having no light affect how a plant grows?
Which variable will he change in his investigation?

Using her memory to keep track of changes.

Taking photographs of how the plants are changing.

Writing notes about what the plants look like over time.

Drawing a graph to show how much water the plants get.

Aisha is investigating the effect of having no light on plant growth. Which of these could she use to record her results?

Sam is carrying out a comparative test to find out how a plant grows differently without any water. What could she measure over time for this investigation?

To see how they are similar and different.

Plants require light, {{}}, air, warmth, room to grow, and nutrients from soil to grow and stay healthy.

What equipment could we use to measure the height of a plant?

Scientists can find out how things change by making {{}} of them over time.

Plants are living things that need certain conditions to stay healthy.

Plants need plenty of exercise to stay healthy.

Plants can take in nutrients from soil that help them to stay healthy.

Light is a requirement for plants to stay healthy.

Which of these statements about plants is not correct?

Results that can be used to make conclusions.

Equipment used to take measurements such as rulers or thermometers.

Things that can be changed, measured or kept the same.

What are variables in a comparative test investigation?

Content guidance

Risk assessment required - equipment

Adult supervision required

Starter Quiz