Have you noticed any changes in the trees now that it is spring?  Do you know what the parts of trees are called?  Watch the Espresso video Trees to learn more https://central.espresso.co.uk/espresso/primary_uk/subject/module/video/item1236905/grade1/module1197183/index.html?source=search-all-all-all-all&source-keywords=trees (username: student29804, password: willow).

When you go outside, see if you can find any trees.  Can you spot the leaves, blossom, roots, trunk and branches?  Have a look at the bark.  You might use a magnifying glass to look closely.  You might also make a picture of the bark by holding paper on top and rubbing with the side of a wax crayon.

Try the Woodland Trust Parts of a Tree quiz by using the Woodland Trust Activity Finder http://www.treetoolsforschools.org.uk/finder/?cat=finder and searching for “Parts of a Tree”.

Last term, we learnt about mammals, birds, fish and reptiles.  Now we will learn about a new group of animals called amphibians.  What are amphibians?  Watch this BBC Bitesize video to find out https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/z6882hv/articles/zc6br82 .  Try the activity underneath the video.  Which animals are amphibians?

All frogs are amphibians.  Can you explain why?  Remember that they have gills and only live in water when they are young.  However, when they are adults, they use their lungs to breathe air and live on land too.  If you have been watching Mrs Musgrove’s videos, you will know that she has frogs in her garden.  The frogs have laid eggs called frogspawn.  Watch the new videos below to see what has happened to the frogspawn so far.  What do you think will happen next?

Last term, we were learning the names for parts of trees.  Watch this video about an oak tree https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/clips/zx3ygk7 .  Did you spot the leaves, trunk, branches and acorns?  Do you know how to tell that this is an oak tree?  When you look closely at a tree, there are many clues that can help you identify it.  These clues include the shape of its leaves, the texture of its bark and the colour of its blossom.

We would like you to identify some of the trees near where you live.  The Woodland Trust produces lovely resources for helping you identify trees.  Advice for adults can be found at https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/how-to-identify-trees/.  Resources for children can be found using The Woodland Trust Activity Finder http://www.treetoolsforschools.org.uk/finder/?cat=finder . Click on “Keyword” and then search for “ID”.  You might like to take their “Leaf Spotter Sheet” and “Blossom and Flowers Spotter Sheet” with you on your daily exercise.  Can you find any of the trees on these spotter sheets?  We would love to hear what you find.

We now know the names for common trees and for the parts of trees.  However, do we know what the parts of other plants are called?  Watch this BCC Bitesize video to find out https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zpxnyrd/articles/z3wpsbk .  When you are outside, look closely at a variety of plants.  Can you spot the leaves, flowers, petals, roots and stems?  You could choose some plants to draw and label their parts.  What is the same about your plants?  What is different?  We would love to see photos of your drawings!

Here is an extra challenge.  Did you see Mrs Musgrove's wild flower watch on Trinity TV?  We would like you to do your own flower watch.  When you are outside, try to identify some of the plants that you see.  You could use the photo identification sheet below.  Remember to ask a trusted adult before touching the plants.  Please do not touch the nettles because they can make your skin sting!

Earlier Science Learning

Did you know that most of our food comes from plants?  Watch the video called Eating Plants to learn more https://central.espresso.co.uk/espresso/primary_uk/subject/module/video/item1236915/grade1/module1197183/index.html?source=search-all-KS1-all-Videos&source-keywords=growing%20food (username: student29804, password: willow).  Have a look at the food in your kitchen.  Do you know which foods come from plants?

New Science Learning

Our broad bean plants continue to grow.  They are planted in pots of soil now.  The plants are so tall that we have tied them to bamboo canes to help them stay upright.  The plants are not ready to give us broad beans for eating yet though.