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Year 6

More about plant adaptations

I can describe the key features of a plant adapted to suit its habitat.

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New
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Year 6

More about plant adaptations

I can describe the key features of a plant adapted to suit its habitat.

Download all resources
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Share activities with pupils
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These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Plants have special features, or adaptations, that help them to survive, live and grow in their habitats.
  2. Leaf shape is an adaptation that can help plants to survive in their habitats.
  3. Scientists can record their ideas using labelled scientific diagrams.

Keywords

  • Habitat - The place where a plant or animal lives is called its habitat.

  • Adaptation - An adaptation is a feature of a plant or animal that helps them to survive in their habitat.

  • Survive - To survive means to continue to stay alive.

  • Photosynthesis - The way in which plants make food in their leaves is called photosynthesis.

  • Environment - An environment is the surroundings or conditions that an animal or plant lives in.

Common misconception

Pupils may think that plants can decide or choose to grow in whatever way they think is best.

Explain that plant adaptations are inherited characteristics and the plant does not have any choice or understanding of its adaptations.


To help you plan your year 6 science lesson on: More about plant adaptations, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Children will be testing their leaf shapes using pipettes, but you could also have a watering can on hand to model a rainforest downpour to add excitement to the activity. You could also allow children to cut out and test their own design at the end of the lesson if there is time.
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Teacher tip
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Equipment

See Additional materials for guidance and leaf templates.

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Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - equipment
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Supervision

Adult supervision required

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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these pictures shows a rainforest habitat?
A
B
Correct answer: C
D
Q2.
What is the weather like in a tropical rainforest environment?
hot and dry
Correct answer: hot and humid
cold and dry
cold and humid
Q3.
Which part of a plant gathers sunlight to make food for the plant?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: leaves, leaf
Q4.
An adaptation is…
a habitat chosen by a species for its food sources.
Correct answer: a feature that allows a species to survive in its habitat.
a characteristic of an animal that makes it different to others in its species.
Q5.
What is an inherited characteristic?
A characteristic that an animal can change during its lifetime.
A characteristic that is identical in all animals.
Correct answer: A characteristic that is passed on from parents to their offspring.
Q6.
Match the plant adaptation to the habitat it is suited for.
Correct Answer:large leaves ,habitat with little sunlight
tick

habitat with little sunlight

Correct Answer:sharp thorns ,habitat with lots of plant-eating mammals
tick

habitat with lots of plant-eating mammals

Correct Answer:very small, light seeds ,very windy habitat
tick

very windy habitat

Correct Answer:hairy leaves and stem ,very cold habitat
tick

very cold habitat

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these leaves have adaptations to drain water off them in very rainy habitats?
Correct answer: A
B
Correct answer: C
Q2.
Scientists can use labelled scientific to record their ideas.
videos
secondary sources
Correct answer: diagrams
equipment
Q3.
How do plants get their natural leaf shape?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: It is inherited from their parent plants.
It is decided by the plant depending on the habitat it lives in.
It is cut by the humans helping the plant to grow.
Q4.
Which of these characteristics would help plants to survive in a very rainy environment?
large, flat leaves
Correct answer: holes in leaves
colourful flowers
seeds inside tasty fruits
Q5.
Why do some leaves have a pointed tip that points downwards at the end?
An image in a quiz
To help attract pollinators.
To stop animals from eating the leaf.
To help them blend in with their surroundings.
Correct answer: To help water drain away from the surface of the leaf.
Q6.
Why does this potted plant still have adaptations for rainforest habitats, even though it is living in a cool, dry house?
An image in a quiz
Because the plant wants to stay this shape.
Because the plant’s owner trims the leaves to be this shape.
Correct answer: Because its adaptations are inherited characteristics that it can’t change.
Because it's owner gives it as much water as it would get in a rainforest.

Additional material

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