Context and Curriculum Links

Level: CfE Level 2 / Early Level 3 (Age 9-10; Year 5)
Subject: Sciences
Duration: 60 minutes
Class Size: 30 pupils

Relevant CfE Experiences and Outcomes:

• Sciences:
  • I can explain how plants adapt to different conditions and describe how they contribute to our everyday lives. (SCN 2-14a)
  • I can explore the roles of plants and animals in food chains and explain the importance of plants in providing food, materials, and medicines. (SCN 2-15a)
• Technologies:
  • I can use digital technologies to gather and record information for learning. (TCH 2-01a)
• Literacy:
  • I can read and derive meaning from texts with support, using strategies suited to learners with additional support needs such as dyslexia (LIT 2-11a).
• Health and Wellbeing:
  • I can use what I learn about the environment to make informed choices and take action to protect it. (HWB 2-03a)

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Learning Intentions

By the end of the lesson, pupils will:

• Understand the purpose and eco-friendly goals of the Eden Project.
• Identify key roles of plants in food chains, medicine, materials, and photosynthesis.
• Use digital tools to research and record scientific facts about plants.
• Develop discussion skills by imagining a world without plants.

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Success Criteria

• I can explain what the Eden Project is and why it is eco-friendly.
• I can describe how plants contribute to food chains, medicine, materials, and photosynthesis.
• I can use laptops to find information using websites with help from a worksheet.
• I can share facts clearly and participate in discussions using simple language and visuals.

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Resources

• Projector and screen for visuals and virtual map walkthrough.
• Laptops/tablets with internet access (1 per pair).
• Printed guided research worksheets with dyslexia-friendly fonts (Open Dyslexic or similar), simple language, and clear visuals/icons.
• Printed vocabulary support sheets with plant-related terms and images.
• Whiteboard or flipchart for plenary notes.
• Colour pencils/markers for future activity outline.

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Differentiation Strategies

• Visual supports: Use images, icons, and colour coding throughout materials and presentation.
• Text accessibility: Use dyslexia-friendly font and spacing; provide vocabulary sheets.
• Pairing: Pair stronger readers with support learners for collaborative research.
• Chunking: Break worksheet and instructions into smaller steps.
• Oral support: Allow pupils to discuss answers verbally before writing.
• Extension: More able pupils can research additional plant uses or eco-friendly methods at Eden Project to present later.

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Lesson Structure

1. Introduction and Hook (10 minutes)

• Activity: Show engaging slides introducing the Eden Project, emphasising its eco goals: sustainable environment, conservation, education. Use photos of the biomes and plants growing there.
• Virtual walkthrough: Take the class on a “virtual tour” using an online interactive map of the Eden Project’s domes, showing different plant habitats.
• Interactive prompt: Ask pupils to spot and name plants they recognise and think about why the Eden Project might be important for our planet.

Success Criteria: Pupils can state 1 goal of the Eden Project and identify plants from the virtual tour.
Differentiation: Use short sentences with images. Encourage verbal answers or point to images rather than writing immediately.

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2. Main Activity: Paired Research (35 minutes)

• Setup: Pupils work in pairs at laptops/tablets. Each pair receives a coloured, dyslexia-friendly worksheet. The worksheet guides their research focusing on:
  • What role do plants play in food chains?
  • How do plants help create medicines?
  • What materials do plants provide?
  • How does photosynthesis work?
• Pupils use the BBC Bitesize KS2 section on Plants and the Eden Project site for research (teacher pre-selects pages).
• The worksheet includes: simple questions, sentence starters, visuals, and space for notes.
• Teacher and assistants circulate to support reading, typing, and summarising.
• Extension: Some pairs may create a simple poster or diagram to show one plant’s uses.

Success Criteria: Pairs can answer each research question with at least one fact in their own words or with keywords.
Differentiation:

• Provide sentence starters (e.g., “Plants help us by ...”) for struggling pupils.
• Use voice-to-text options for pupils with writing difficulties.
• Visual glossaries on worksheets reinforce key vocabulary.

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3. Plenary and Discussion (15 minutes)

• Sharing facts: Invite 4-5 pairs to share the most interesting fact they discovered, verbally or by holding up posters/diagrams. Support with sentence frames to aid expression (e.g., “I found out that...”).
• Class discussion: Imagine a world without plants – what would happen? What would be missing? Use whiteboard to gather ideas, adding simple icons (food, air, medicine, clothes).
• Future learning outline: Highlight upcoming Eden Project-inspired activities:
  • Creating art pieces using natural materials.
  • Outdoor plant observation and mini-habitats building.
  • Using ICT to design digital plant fact files or quizzes.

Success Criteria: Pupils participate actively by sharing facts or ideas and listen respectfully to classmates.
Differentiation: Allow non-verbal sharing using visuals, thumbs up/down, or drawing ideas.

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Additional Teacher Tips and WOW Factor

• Use a large printed laminated Eden Project map for tactile group exploration in future lessons.
• Provide individual audio recordings of key worksheet instructions for pupils needing auditory support.
• Plan to create a classroom “Eden Project Wall” with pupils’ research, pictures, and art.
• Use simple quiz tools (like Kahoot or Wordwall) after the lesson to reinforce learning in a fun, interactive way.
• Incorporate a breathing or mindfulness moment focusing on “plant power” and the air we breathe to connect science and wellbeing.

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By following this detailed plan, teachers will deliver an engaging, accessible, and curriculum-aligned introduction to the Eden Project and the essential role of plants, supported by digital research and creative thinking.