Areas of Learning: Knowledge and Understanding of the World and Creative Development.
Context: Exploring seasonal changes in the environment and the living things that are found there.
Learning Intentions: To observe and find out about features in the place that they live and the natural world (KUW).
To choose colours and tools for a purpose (CD).
Success Criteria: I know/can record what I can see through the microscope or magnifier.
I know/can look for similarities and differences between seeds.
I know/can use different different tools and colours to draw on the screen.
Key Vocabulary: big book, page, next, back, question mark, microscope, image, screen, mouse, click, cursor, arrow, palette, tool, tool size, colour, undo, print.

Share the big book 'In the Autumn'. Talk about how to turn the pages using the mouse or pen/finger on an interactive white board.

Make a display of Autumn books and objects that the children have collected. Compare these books with the interactive big book.

Activity one:
You will need: digital microscope, seeds.
Explore different types of seeds using a digital microscope. Encourage the children to describe and compare the seeds.

Discuss with children how using a digital microscope or magnifier is different to looking at the seeds. What else could a digital microscope be used to look at?

See case study

Additional activity: Explore the veins on fallen leaves and then print pictures using the leaves.

Activity two:
You will need: paper, seeds, glue.
Create pictures using seeds. Display with hedgehogs and leaf printing in the classroom.

Activity three:
You will need: internet access, Seed Packet Printer .

Children create their own seed packets. Think about the things that plants need to grow. Designthe seed packet, print and cut it out then glue it together.

Activity one:
You will need: simple paint program.
Explore the line and paint tool to create a hedgehog on the screen.

Activity two:
You will need: paper, paint, paint brushes, shaped scissors.
Create a hedgehog using brown hand prints and black finger prints for the eyes and nose. Use zig zag scissors to cut out around the hedgehog.

Thinking Questions: What can you see using the digital microscope?
How does the digital microscope change the seed?
What else could you look at using the digital microscope?
What colours can you see?
Which tools did you use?
How did you choose the colour?
How did you change any mistakes you made on the screen?
How did you print your work?