Deciduous and Evergreen

Overview

This is lesson 6 of 14 in the "Seasons and Living Things" unit designed for Year 1 students (ages 5-6). The lesson aims to develop children's understanding of different types of trees by exploring and identifying deciduous and evergreen trees, linking this knowledge to seasonal changes. The lesson aligns with the National Curriculum for England, focusing on the Living Things and Their Habitats programme of study for Key Stage 1.

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National Curriculum Links

Subject: Science – Year 1
Programme of Study:

• Living things and their habitats
  • Identify and name a variety of common animals, including plants.
  • Identify and name a variety of common wild and garden plants.
  • Understand the basic structure of plants and trees.

Key learning objectives:

• Recognise deciduous and evergreen trees.
• Understand that some trees lose their leaves in autumn and others keep their leaves all year round.
• Explore how trees change with seasons.
• Develop observational skills by identifying trees using visual cues.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, children will be able to:

1. Describe the difference between deciduous and evergreen trees in simple terms.
2. Identify examples of deciduous and evergreen trees from pictures and real-life observations.
3. Understand that deciduous trees shed leaves in autumn, while evergreen trees retain their leaves year-round.
4. Record observations of trees during an outdoor search.

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Resources Needed

• Printed pictures of common UK deciduous trees (e.g., Oak, Maple, Birch) and evergreen trees (e.g., Pine, Holly, Fir).
• A large laminated Venn diagram poster for whole-class discussion.
• Clipboards, sheets with simple tree features checklist (leaf shape, colour, presence/absence of leaves).
• Pencils and crayons.
• Outdoor space with a variety of trees nearby.
• Interactive whiteboard (optional) or large display.

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Lesson Structure (50 minutes)

1. Introduction & Recap (10 minutes)

• Begin with a quick recap of previous lessons on seasons and living things to link concepts. Ask:
  "What happens to trees in autumn?"
• Show images of a deciduous and an evergreen tree, asking children what they notice.
• Introduce vocabulary: deciduous (trees that lose their leaves in autumn) and evergreen (trees that keep their leaves all year). Write down the two words with child-friendly definitions.
• Display the Venn diagram and discuss a few features that might belong to deciduous, evergreen, or both.

2. Group Activity: Sorting Tree Pictures (10 minutes)

• Give each child a selection of tree pictures.
• Ask children to work together to sort the trees into the categories ‘Deciduous’ and ‘Evergreen’ and place them on the Venn diagram.
• Circulate to support and ask open questions such as:
  "Why do you think this tree is evergreen?"
  "What do you notice about the leaves?"
• Reinforce use of vocabulary and encourage descriptive language.

3. Outdoor Exploration (20 minutes)

• Take the group outside to a designated area with various trees.
• Give each child a clipboard and a simple observation sheet listing features to check (e.g., leaf present or not, leaf shape, colour, needles or broad leaves).
• Encourage children to find examples of both deciduous and evergreen trees.
• Prompt observations with questions:
  "Can you find a tree without leaves?"
  "Can you spot a tree that has needles instead of leaves?"
• Collect evidence and briefly discuss as a group the differences found.

4. Reflection and Recording (7 minutes)

• Return inside and ask children to draw one deciduous and one evergreen tree based on what they observed.
• Help children write simple labels or sentences:
  "This tree has no leaves because it is deciduous."
  "This tree has green needles all year because it is evergreen."
• Share drawings with the class, encouraging verbal explanations.

5. Plenary & Assessment (3 minutes)

• Review key vocabulary with a quick “show me” activity: hold up pictures and ask,
  "Is this tree deciduous or evergreen?"
• Use thumbs up/down or a mini whiteboard for children to respond.
• Assess understanding informally by children's ability to identify and explain tree types.

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Differentiation

• Support: Provide picture cards with simple captions for recognition. Pair less confident students with more able peers during sorting and outdoor activities.
• Challenge: Ask higher-achieving children to explain why evergreen trees could be important habitats for animals in winter.

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Extension Ideas

• Introduce a simple class tree journal to observe one tree weekly through the seasons.
• Create leaf rubbings from collected deciduous and evergreen leaves to compare textures and shapes.
• Connect to art by making bark rubbings or natural sculptures with leaves and needles.

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Assessment Criteria

At the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

• Verbally describe two key differences between deciduous and evergreen trees.
• Correctly sort tree pictures into the two categories.
• Identify at least one example of each tree type outdoors.
• Record their observations using drawings and simple labels.

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Reflection for Teachers

• Did the children use the new vocabulary confidently?
• Were children able to apply their understanding during the outdoor activity?
• Was there enough time for outdoor exploration and reflection?
• Could further sensory or tactile resources enhance the lesson next time?

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Harness this lesson to spark curiosity about the natural world and how trees adapt through the year — planting seeds for lifelong observation and discovery!