Planting relay

Lesson plan

Links to National Curriculum

Physical education

KS1: to extend agility, balance and coordination, individually and with others
KS2: to improve in different physical activities and learn to evaluate success

  • Estimated time: 30 minutes
  • Location: Outdoors & Indoors
  • School term: All year round
  • Key stage(s): KS1, KS2
  • Subject(s):

Learning objectives

  • To promote physical activity and teamwork through a planting relay race

Key vocabulary

  • relay
  • baton
  • germinate
  • sow
  • teamwork
  • evaluate

Introduction

  • Set up the course using cones to mark five ‘stations’ along each team’s relay track. Place the following resources at each station: 1. small pots, 2. compost, 3. seeds, 4. water and 5. plant labels.  
  • Recap the rules of a normal relay race. 
  • Ask pupils: what do seeds need to germinate? Each member of the team will be responsible for collecting an item needed to successfully sow some large seeds.  
  • Organise pupils into teams of 5 and then ask pupil volunteers to demonstrate the planting relay, using the pot as a baton.

Main activity

  • In groups of 5, pupils put themselves in order according to which stage of the relay they will complete:  
  1. Collect the pot 
  2. Fill the pot with compost  
  3. Collect and sow the seeds  
  4. Collect the water  
  5. Collect a plant label  
  • Teams compete to complete each step accurately and in the right order, timing their race using a stopwatch. 
  • Evaluate the qualities that made their team successful and then ask each team to evaluate their first attempt.
  • Repeat the relay so that pupils have the chance to develop their skills as a result of their evaluation.

Plenary

Explain the appropriate aftercare for the seeds, including how much water and light they require for healthy growth and when they will need potting on. Pupils can care for their plants over the following weeks and observe their growth. Care instructions will vary according to the chosen seed species. (See additional notes for suggested seeds for different times of the year.)

Resources

  • Cones or markers
  • Small pots (one per child)
  • Peat-free compost
  • Large seeds (e.g. dried marrow fat peas)
  • Plant labels
  • Water
  • Stopwatch for each team

Additional information

There are a number of potential benefits to incorporating garden activities into PE lessons. Gardening offers: a pleasurable form of exercise with a tangible purpose; the capacity to reduce stress and boost overall mental health; mild exercise that contributes to strength, flexibility and fine motor skills; and direct links to healthy eating habits.  

Large seeds to sow at different times of year:  

  • Autumn: broad beans or sweet peas  
  • Spring: peas or sunflowers  
  • Summer: nasturtiums or runner beans

Assessment questions

  • In what ways were we successful?
  • How effective was our teamwork?
  • How could our teamwork be improved?