All lessons › Living things and life cycles › Lesson 4
Australian primary science · Year 3 · Lesson 4 of 4
Plants and animals compared
Inquiry question: How is a bean plant’s life cycle different from a chicken’s?
Check practical materials
Comparing
What students learn
Plants and animals both have life cycles, but plants start from seeds and make flowers and seeds, while animals hatch or are born and make young.
Success criteria
- I can name the stages of a plant life cycle.
- I can name one way plant and animal life cycles are the same.
- I can name one way they are different.
Preparation and materials
Before this lesson: Students have observed seeds (lesson 2) and sequenced animal life cycles (lesson 3).
- Bean seed bags from lesson 2 — 13
- Plant life cycle cards: seed, seedling, plant, flower, pod with seeds — 13 sets
Teacher setup
- Bring the seed bags to the tables.
Safety and adaptations
- Wash hands after handling plants.
Review your school policies and curriculum requirements before teaching.
How to investigate
The lesson sequence should leave pupils with evidence to interpret, not only an activity to finish.
- Look at your seedlings and name their stage.
- Order the plant cards.
- Fill in the table: plant stage beside the matching chicken stage.
- Write one ‘same’ and one ‘different’.
Teacher modelling prompt
Model a comparison sentence: “The same: both start small and grow into adults. Different: a bean starts as a seed, a chicken starts as an egg.”
Record and explain evidence
Recording question: How are plant and animal life cycles the same and different?
| Stage | Bean plant | Chicken |
|---|---|---|
| ________________ | ________________ | ________________ |
Example recording headings; record actual observations, including inconclusive results.
Discussion prompt
Whose claim fits our table better?
Check understanding
What should pupils know? Write the stages of a bean plant’s life cycle in order.
Explain with evidence: Give one piece of evidence from our seed bags that a seed is living.
Apply the idea: An apple has seeds inside. Where does the apple fit in an apple tree’s life cycle?
Teacher answer guidance and saved classroom work are available through the main lesson experience where supported.