Long Term Observing over time templates - whole school

A resource to help teachers achieve one of the five types of scientific inquiry: observing over time.
These are templates for Year 1 to Year 6 where the children can make a long term observation throughout the whole academic year. Great for developing scientific reflection skills and for creating questions. The observations are tied (loosely) to one knowledge area of the national curriculum. The observations are as follows:

Year 1 - Looking at seasonal changes around the school: tree and garden area (Seasonal changes)
Year 2 - reflecting on plant growth throughout the year (Plants)
Year 3 - Observing a compost heap throughout the year
Year 4 - Observing how temperature affects growth of salt crystals ( states of matter)
Year 5 - Measuring height throughout the year (animals including humans)
Year 6 - Seasonal changes with a focus on a tree and garden area.

In my current school we use these once every half term in addition to a science lesson and the children stick in the back of their science books. Feel free to edit as needed (it’s saved onto Powerpoint to make it easier to edit).

Here is also a list of resources you will need to complete each template:

Year 1 - A tree (preferably one that changes throughout the seasons) and thermometers
Year 2 - bulbs or seeds, soil and planting pots
Year 3 - A large compost box, foliage to use in compost box and thermometer
Year 4 - jam jars, a range of salts (sea, table etc), string and lollipop sticks
Year 5 - A wall height measure (£5.99 on amazon)
Year 6 - thermometer, tape measure, camera, string and folded paper (for measuring tree height)