Key Stage 2

Science KS 2 Unit 6A Interdependence and adaptation

In this unit children extend their knowledge of the way in which plants and animals in different habitats depend upon each other and are suited to their environment. They relate feeding relationships to knowledge of plant nutrition. Experimental and investigative work focuses on:

• making careful observations and measurements.
• using results to draw conclusions and suggesting explanations for these using scientific knowledge and understanding.

Work in this unit also offers children opportunities to explain feeding relationships in a habitat in terms of scientific knowledge and understanding and to consider ways in which the living things and the environment need protection.

This unit takes approximately 12 hours.

OTHER RESOURCES

• plant kept in the dark for one to two weeks
• secondary sources eg video, CD-ROM showing plant growing in time-lapse
• labels from house and garden plants
• packaging from fertilisers and 'plant food'
• information card about animals in local habitat
• soil samples
• hand lenses/microscopes
• examples of plants with different types of root or pictures showing plant roots
• secondary sources eg reference books, video showing a different, possibly non-local habitat