Parts of a Sunflower
LESSON 1
Children explore the different parts of a sunflower in a hands-on activity dissecting sunflowers.
A few small bowls
Sunflowers
Materials
Gather materials
Plan a nature walk to find and collect sunflowers or a visit to the grocery store.
Preparations
Facilitate a nature walk or grocery store visit.
Provide guidance and supervision during the dissection activity.
Encourage open-ended questioning during the observation and dissection.
Facilitate a post-dissection discussion, helping children identify and learn the names of different sunflower parts.
Objectives for Teachers
Children participate in a nature walk or visit to the grocery store to observe and collect sunflowers.
Children engage their senses by observing the sunflowers' appearance, texture, and fragrance.
Children explore the different parts of a sunflower through dissection activity.
Children enhance their vocabulary and understanding by identifying and naming the various parts of a sunflower.
Objectives for Children
Collect and Connect
Sunflower
Sunflower, sunflower turn toward the sky
Grow like a beanstalk, 10 feet high
Large golden petals, center full of seeds
Give hungry birds, the food they need
Activity Flow
To begin this lesson, you can take a nature walk to look for sunflowers, or you can visit the grocery store to purchase some. Take a pair of scissors with you during your nature walk to forage for a few sunflowers. Remember to be mindful of where you forage and make sure it's okay to cut flowers before doing so. If you happen to have sunflowers growing in your garden and yard this year, that's great too!
If you opt for a nature walk, encourage your child to closely observe the sunflowers. Take the opportunity to explore together: Are any insects visiting the sunflowers? Do they notice any variations among the sunflowers? Encourage them to touch and feel the sunflowers, and if possible, take in their fragrance. Encourage them to use their senses and curiosity during this nature exploration.
After collecting sunflowers, prepare a space for the dissection activity. Arrange a few bowls to facilitate sorting, allowing your child to separate the different parts of the sunflowers with ease.
Once your space is ready, invite your child to carefully dissect the sunflower by gently pulling off the petals and leaves. Support them in sorting the different parts into separate bowls. Encourage them to explore further by splitting the sunflower head into two pieces to discover its inner structure. Here's what we found after our exciting dissection activity:
Leaves
Petals
Stem
Seeds (still attached to a mini flower)
Buds
4. After completing the dissection and sorting, engage your child by asking them to identify the items in each bowl. If they are unsure, take this opportunity to introduce and explain the different parts of a sunflower. Encourage their curiosity and provide additional information to deepen their understanding of sunflower anatomy.
