Teacher guide · Curious Lab · Easier · about 30 min

🧪 Plant Doctor

Pupils practise curiosity through "Plant Doctor": Help a droopy plant and name its parts.

Lesson guide

1. Hook · 5 min
Show the 🧪 mission title and read the opening: "Which part takes up water from soil?". Take three quick guesses.
2. Model · 5 min
Think aloud through the first step together. Use Sniff the Beagle's line as your prompt: "Great question! Ready to dig one layer deeper? Pick your next mission below."
3. Do · 10 min
Pairs work through the 5 steps on screen or on the printed sheet. Circulate and ask "why?"
4. Discuss · 10 min
Use two or three of the discussion questions. Ask pairs to share different answers, not just correct ones.
5. Reflect · 5 min
Exit ticket: one sentence on how they used curiosity today.

What was the hardest choice in "Plant Doctor", and why?
Which part takes up water from soil — explain your reasoning to a partner.
A plant has dry soil and droopy leaves. What might help — explain your reasoning to a partner.
Which part often attracts pollinating insects — explain your reasoning to a partner.
Where could you use curiosity outside school this week?
If you did this again, what would you change?

Support: Read prompts aloud, pair with a confident partner, and accept spoken or drawn answers for writing steps.

Stretch: Ask pupils to create their own extra step for a partner and explain the correct answer.

National Curriculum: Science: working scientifically plus the year-group topic
National Curriculum: Science: working scientifically — asking questions and observing
National Curriculum: Geography/History: enquiry and using sources
PSHE: Living in the wider world: media literacy and checking information

Pupil sheet

Name: ____________________ Date: __________

1. Which part takes up water from soil?
☐ Fruit
☐ Petals
☐ Roots
2. A plant has dry soil and droopy leaves. What might help?
☐ A suitable amount of water
☐ Keeping it in a cupboard
☐ Paint
3. Which part often attracts pollinating insects?
☐ Flower
☐ Root
☐ Stone
4. Connect the clues to their meanings.
Roots → ________________
Stem → ________________
Leaves → ________________
5. Invent a plant-care plan with light and watering. Describe how you would notice it growing.