Planting relay
Learn about seed sowing, teamwork and the plant growth cycle in a fun, interactive relay.
Learning objectives:
- Learn the correct sequence for sowing seeds
- Develop agility, balance, and teamwork
- Use stopwatches to time and compare performances
Curriculum links:
- Physical Education: Extend agility, balance and coordination, individually and with others
Jump to
Key vocabulary
Equipment
- 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
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
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In groups of five, pupils put themselves in order according to which stage of the relay they will complete:
- Collect the pot
- Fill the pot with compost
- Collect and sow the seeds
- Collect the water
- 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 and assessment questions
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.
Assessement questions
- In what ways were we successful?
- How effective was our teamwork?
- How could our teamwork be improved?
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