Plants — Year 1 Science

Year 1 plants: what pupils learn

Year 1 plants is pupils’ first formal science topic on the living world: looking closely at real plants and trees, and learning the words for their parts.

By the end of Year 1, the National Curriculum expects pupils to:

• identify and name a variety of common wild and garden plants, including deciduous and evergreen trees
• identify and describe the basic structure of a variety of common flowering plants, including trees

Key vocabulary

plant, tree, root, stem, trunk, branch, leaf, flower, blossom, petal, fruit, seed, deciduous, evergreen

How it builds

Year 1 builds on the natural curiosity encouraged in Early Years. In Year 2, pupils investigate what plants need to grow and stay healthy (water, light and suitable temperature), and how seeds and bulbs grow into mature plants.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between deciduous and evergreen trees?
Deciduous trees lose all their leaves in autumn and grow new ones in spring. Evergreen trees keep their leaves (usually needles) all year round.

Why do plants have roots?
Roots hold the plant in the ground and take in water and nutrients from the soil, which travel up through the stem or trunk to the leaves and flowers.

What’s a good way to explore this topic outdoors?
A short walk to spot and name different trees and garden plants, comparing leaf shapes, brings this topic to life far more than pictures alone.

Start with our free resources, or get every Year 1 science lesson with a membership.