Comparing what plants need in different habitats
I can compare how the requirements of plants can vary from plant to plant.
Comparing what plants need in different habitats
I can compare how the requirements of plants can vary from plant to plant.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- A good habitat for a plant provides a combination of air, light, water, nutrients from the soil and room to grow.
- The requirements of plants for life and growth vary from plant to plant.
- Different habitats provide different conditions that plants need to survive.
- A plant which grows well in the desert would not survive in the Arctic.
- A plant which thrives in wetlands would not survive in dry climates.
Keywords
Requirements - The requirements of something are the things it needs.
Habitat - The place where a plant or animal lives is called its habitat.
Vary - To vary is to differ or change.
Conditions - Living things need certain conditions to grow and be healthy.
Common misconception
Pupils may think that all plants need exactly the same things, in the same quantities, in order to survive and grow.
Use the lesson resources to explain how plant requirements differ from plant to plant.
To help you plan your year 3 science lesson on: Comparing what plants need in different habitats, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 3 science lesson on: Comparing what plants need in different habitats, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 science lessons from the What plants do and what they need unit, dive into the full secondary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
None required.
Licence
Starter quiz
6 Questions






reproduction (making more plants)
providing support and transporting water
making food
anchoring the plant and absorbing water and nutrients
Exit quiz
6 Questions







