Plants and Vegetables
Years 5-6 (ages 9-11)
School Closure Learning Programme
2 of 5 days
Germination and Growth
Activity 1
Introduction
Through this stimulating activity your child will learn that plants reproduce and that seeds
need water and warmth (but not light) to germinate.
What to do
Go to http://ve.lgfl.net and select Virtual Experiments then 5B – Germination and Growth.
Ask you child ‘What do you think this seed will need to make it grow?’
Questions you could ask
Why doesn’t the seed need light to grow? The seed germinates in the soil (dark place).
What does germinate mean? It is when a seed starts to grow by putting roots in the soil.
What goes growth mean? It is the process by which something develops to its true size.
Activity 2
Introduction
This multimedia activity encourages your child to consider a variety of conditions that might
effect germination and growth. Also, to learn how to alter one factor at a time, in order to
carry out a fair test.
What to do
Next ask your child to select the Activity tab at the bottom of the page.
Ask them ‘What do you think a plant needs to grow?
Encourage them to click on one of the variables listed below to find out how the plant is
affected.
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Light – dark, dim, bright
Temperature – cold, warm , hot
Fertiliser – 0 drops, 1 drop, 2 drops, 3 drops, 4 drops
Pollutant – 0 drops, 1 drop, 2 drops, 3 drops, 4 drops
Questions you could ask
What effect does temperature have on plant growth?
What effect does the amount of light have on plant growth?
What effect does the amount of fertiliser have on plant growth?
What effect does the amount of pollutant have on plant growth?
What sort of things cause pollution?
What is fertiliser? It is a substance that helps plants to grow.
What does pollutant mean? It is a substance which can kill plants and animals.
Then ask your child to click on the graph button
plotted as a column chart.
to see the results of the above,
Extension Activity
Introduction
This activity consolidates the child’s learning through a series of interactive tasks and
questions.
What to do
Select the Extension tab at the bottom of the page.
Ask your child ‘Can you make a plant grow to 30cms in two weeks?’
Adjust the amount of light, temperature, fertiliser and pollutant then click ‘start’.
Inform your child that they have five attempts.
Questions you could ask
What effect does temperature have on plant growth?
What effect does the amount of light have on plant growth?
What effect does the amount of fertiliser have on plant growth?
What effect does the amount of pollutant have on plant growth?
What sort of things cause pollution?
Then ask your child to click on the graph button
experiment, plotted as a column chart.
to see the results of the above