Planting Day Fun

Overview

Unit: Gardening Basics Exploration
Lesson: 7 of 10
Duration: 50 minutes
Class Size: 10 students
Level: Entry Level 1 (typically ages 5-7)
Subject Area: Other (Cross-curricular focus on Science and PSHE)

National Curriculum Links

This lesson aligns with the following areas of the National Curriculum for England:

Science
- KS1 - Plants (Year 1):
  - Identify and name a variety of common wild and garden plants, including deciduous and evergreen trees.
  - Describe how plants need water, light, and a suitable temperature to grow and stay healthy.
Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE)
- Developing cooperation skills through group activities.
Physical Development (Early Years Foundation Stage principles embedded for Entry Level 1)
- Developing fine motor skills through hands-on gardening activities.

Learning Objectives (By end of session students will be able to:)

Demonstrate correct techniques for planting a seedling or seed in soil, considering depth and spacing.
Understand the importance of watering and plant care after planting.
Work collaboratively with peers to prepare and carry out the planting process.
Use simple gardening vocabulary (e.g., seed, soil, water, root, stem).
Show respect for living things and the environment during outdoor activities.

Resources Needed

Small pots or garden beds prepared in advance
Varied seeds or seedlings (e.g., beans, sunflowers, easy herbs)
Hand trowels and small gardening tools suitable for young children
Watering cans
Tray or table for soil and tools
Visual aids showing correct planting depth and spacing
Gloves (optional)
Chart paper or whiteboard to record vocabulary and observations

Lesson Structure

1. Introduction & Recap (8 minutes)

Begin with circle time outdoors or near gardening space.
Briefly recap previous lessons (plant parts, what plants need to grow).
Use picture cards or real plants to name parts again.
Introduce today’s goal: "Today, we will plant! We will learn how to get our hands dirty and help plants grow strong."
Show visual aids demonstrating planting techniques (depth, spacing).
Key Questions: “Why do we need to plant seeds in soil?” “How deep should a seed go?”

2. Demonstration (7 minutes)

Teacher models planting a seed/seedling step-by-step:
- Loosening soil gently
- Making a hole of the right depth
- Placing the seed/seedling in the hole
- Covering with soil carefully
- Watering slowly
Emphasise spacing to avoid crowding.
Use simple language and encourage children to ask questions.

3. Hands-On Planting Activity (25 minutes)

Distribute pots or designate garden bed sections to pairs or individuals (depending on space).
Provide seeds/seedlings, tools, and watering cans.
Children plant under teacher and assistant supervision.
Circulate, providing guidance and praising correct technique.
Encourage children to describe what they are doing using gardening vocabulary.
Support children with physical tasks as necessary but encourage independence.
Discuss spacing with children as they work: “Are your plants close together or far apart?”

4. Reflection & Plant Care Discussion (6 minutes)

Gather children back for a short reflection circle.
Ask: “How did you find planting today? What did you learn about how deep and far apart plants should be?”
Talk briefly about watering routines, sunlight and looking after their plants at home/school.
Introduce a simple plant care chart they will follow over next lessons.

5. Assessment and Plenary (4 minutes)

Formative assessment through observation:
- Did the learner follow planting instructions?
- Can the learner explain the importance of spacing and depth in planting?
- Are they using appropriate vocabulary?
Quick oral quiz using thumbs up/down:
- “Is it good to plant seeds very close together?”
- “Should we cover seeds gently with soil?”
Praise all efforts and enthusiasm for gardening.

Differentiation

Support: Provide adult assistance for children with fine motor difficulties when handling tools and seeds.
Extension: Encourage advanced learners to measure spacing with a ruler or fingers and record spacing on a chart.
Use pictures and simple sentence prompts for less confident speakers.
Pair pupils strategically to foster peer support.

Cross-Curricular Ideas

Literacy: Collect new gardening words to create a word wall for the unit.
Numeracy: Count seeds planted; compare bigger and smaller seeds; measure spacing approximately with non-standard measures (fingers, hand spans).
Expressive Arts: Draw pictures of their planted seedling to observe growth next time.

Teacher’s Notes

Ensure all tools and planting areas are safe and child-friendly.
Encourage hygiene by having hand-washing facilities or wipes available after planting.
Take photographs or short video clips documenting planting for display or e-portfolio use.
Consider follow-up activities linking to science observations in later lessons.
Reinforce environmental stewardship by explaining how gardening helps nature.

This hands-on, sensory-rich lesson will engage young learners effectively while developing foundational scientific understanding and social skills, perfectly grounded in the National Curriculum’s expectations for early KS1.

Teaching Instructions