This engaging pack combines our popular Nature Journal with hands-on investigations and creative activities that help Key Stage 1 learners discover the plants in their local environment. Perfect for Year 1 children, this resource encourages outdoor exploration, artistic expression, and scientific observation as children learn about plant structure, types, and diversity.
Included Resources +
This pack includes ten activity sheets with accompanying lesson plans and a Nature Journal for recording plant observations, sketches, and discoveries across a full plants unit.
• Nature Journal — interactive notebook for recording plant observations, sketches, and discoveries
• Plant A Seed — hands-on planting activity to observe germination and growth
• Create A Garden Collage — artistic exploration of garden plants and flowers
• Go On A Plant Hunt — outdoor investigation to find and identify different plants
• Deciduous And Evergreen Trees — learn the difference between tree types and seasonal changes
• Leaf Printing — create beautiful prints to explore leaf shapes and patterns
• Observe And Draw A Leaf — develop close observation skills through detailed drawing
• Bark Rubbings — discover the textures and patterns of different tree bark
• Observe And Draw Sticks — explore natural materials and develop drawing skills
• Identify The Structure Of Plants — learn about roots, stems, leaves, and flowers
Key Details +
• Year Group: Year 1 (ages 5–6)
• Key Stage: KS1
• Subject: Science
• Resource Type: Activity Sheets + Lesson Plans + Nature Journal
• Format: Instant PDF Download
• Number of Activities: 10
Curriculum Alignment +
Aligned to the Year 1 Science National Curriculum. Covers plants — identifying and naming a variety of common wild and garden plants including deciduous and evergreen trees, identifying and describing the basic structure of a variety of common flowering plants including roots, stem/trunk, leaves, and flowers. Develops scientific observation and identification skills through outdoor exploration and close observational drawing. Cross-curricular links to Art & Design (leaf printing, garden collage, observational drawing) and outdoor learning.
Teaching Tips +
Go On A Plant Hunt works best in spring or early summer when the widest variety of plants are visible — take clipboards and Nature Journals outdoors and identify plants on the school grounds. Bark Rubbings and Leaf Printing work well as a paired outdoor art and science session — collect materials on the plant hunt and use them immediately for printing back in the classroom. Deciduous And Evergreen Trees is ideal to revisit across the seasons — photograph the same trees in autumn, winter, and spring to build a compelling visual record in the Nature Journal. Plant A Seed works best sown at the start of the unit so children can observe real growth throughout the topic.
