Fabulous Fantastic Flowers! (A Unit)

Author: Ellen Vento
Lesson Plan:

Title:
Fabulous Fantastic Flowers! (A Unit)
Estimated Time:
45
Type:
UserGenerated
Desc:
A Thematic Cross-Curricular Unit that spans across the concentrations of Science, Mathematics, and Language Arts. It also includes a fun and flower creative art project that ties the concentrations together. Note: As this unit is self explanitory in the procedures section for the lessons, the activity page will include the overall goals for the unit.
Strand:
  • Listening / Speaking
    • Audiences
    • Culture
    • Listening
    • Speaking
  • Mathematics
    • Data Analysis and Probability
    • Numbers and Operations
  • Reading
    • Awareness of Print
    • Comprehension
    • Culture
    • Phonemic Awareness
    • Vocabulary Development
    • Word Identification
  • Science
    • Life Science
Objectives
On completion of this unit, students will be able to: Identify the major parts of the plant: Flower, stem, leaf, root
Specify the proper order of the life cycle of the flowering plant
Learn social interaction skills and person to person critical thinking
Practice public speaking skills
Identify the names of various flowers
Create a tissue paper flower
Practice cutting and gluing skills
Record flower parts petal, stem, and leaf on a graph

Lesson Plan

Fabulous Fantastic Flowers! A Thematic Cross-Curricular Unit
Introduction
There have been many science lesson plans created for a primary teacher on flowers and plants. I created this unit by gathering materials from many sources while addressing these four inter-disciplinary subjects. Children love flowers and plants. They love the marvelous scents they discharge and the wonderous colors they display. Flowers and plants are wonderful, amazing, and popular. Here are some ideas that I put together in order to create this unit.
All children have different learning styles. It is very important for an educator to incorporate all learning styles such as auditory, verbal, tactile, and visual. It is necessary for the teacher to become familiar with each student so that the opportunity for learning is existent. The goals presented for the following lessons are for the students to gain knowledge in the areas of Language Arts, Science, Mathematics, and Art. Using the learning styles, I am confident that my students will understand and master the exercises. The targeted audience of this unit is the first grade. However, the lessons can be adapted to suit kindergarten and second grade.
Warm-up
Introduce the students to the lesson by showing them various kinds of flowers. Explain that flowers are a creation that come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. Ask questions such as "Do you have a garden or plants and flowers at home?" Take time for answers displaying enthusiasm and apreciation for them and continue.
Procedures
Procedure: for lesson #1
1. Introduce the students to the lesson by showing them various kinds of flowers. Explain that flowers come in many shapes, sizes, and colors.
Ask the question, "Do you have flowers or plants at home?" Show appreciation for students answers and continue.
2. Present the children to theater and play production in the classroom by distributing the skit "Flowers in January".
3. Assign characters to the students and have them read the parts.
4. After reading the skit the children will separate into groups.
5. Tell the students that they are going to make tissue paper flowers.
6. Demonstrate how to make tissue paper flowers by taking 4-5 pieces of tissue paper and laying them one on top of the other in a pile and fold like and accordion. Tie the center of the folded paper with a green pipe cleaner. Gently pull each piece of paper towards the top center of the flower, separating each sheet of paper from the others (forming the petals of the flower).
7. Pass out supplies necessary to complete this part of the lesson, and have each student make artificial flowers using this method. It is more interesting if the students use several different shades of tissue paper. (It may take a second art period to complete this.)
Procedures: for lesson #2
1. Introduce the mathematics flower parts graph. Demonstrate from my flower how the students will count the petals on the flower they made in lesson #1 and color one rectangle on the graph for each petal, stem, and leaf consecutively.
2. Distribute the graph sheet and have children complete this part of the lesson.
3. Once the graphs are done, the students are allowed to compare their graphs to those completed by classmates in order to see how the graphs differ.
4. If time allows the students will do a math activity sheet and add the numbers in each flower.
Procedure: for lesson # 3
1. Introduce the flowering plant life cycle sequencing cards. Explain that there is an order in the life cycle of a plant. What comes first, second, next, and last.
2. Demonstrate how to cut out the cards from page one and past them in the correct sequencing order on page two of the proper order sheet.
3. Distribute card sheets and supplies to the students and have them complete the life cycle of the flowering plant.
Procedure: for lesson #4
1. Show the students the drawing of a sunflower. Ask if anyone knows the name of this flower. Acknowledge students answers and continue.
2. Explain that the students will label the parts of the sunflower using the words from the word box.

3. If time allows the students will choose a partner to work with and collaborate on a flowers word search.

Materials
  • Pencils
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Pre-cut 8x10" colored tissue paper
  • Pipe cleaners
  • Pre-cut leaves
  • Skit "Flowers in January" by Judy Freed
  • Flowers word search activity sheet
  • Flowering plant life cycle sequencing cards
  • Flower parts graph sheet
  • Label the parts of the plant illustration sheet
  • Mathematics-addition work sheet
Suggested Evaluation
  • Informal questioning
  • Teacher observation
  • Completed tissue paper flowers
  • Completed sheets
  • Ability to work in groups
Adaptations
If anyone should need assistance the teacher will assist as needed during the activity. Children may be paired up with a partner or one on one with the teacher. A variety of devices and/or software may be used to support these lessons in the classroom. Using assistive devices with students who have disabilities is critical if they are to be actively involved in the learning. Organization is essential in order to keep the lessons flowing.

Overall Goals for the Fabulous Fantastic Flowers Lesson Plans
A Thematic Cross-Curricular Unit
All children have different leaning styles. It is very important for an educator to incorporate all learning styles such as auditory, verbal, tactile and visual. It is necessary for the teacher to become familiar with each student so that the opportunity for learning is existent.
The goals presented for the following lessons are for the students to gain knowledge in the areas of language arts, science, mathematics, and art. Using the learning styles, I am confident that my students will understand and master the exercises. The targeted audience of this unit is the first grade.
Flowers in January
Goal
Students will use the skit "Flowers in January" by Judy Freed to learn social interaction and public speaking skills and person to person critical thinking.
New York State Standard
ELA-Standard 4: Language is for Social Interaction.
Student will read, write, listen, and speak for social interaction.
Graphs

Goal

Students will gain an understanding of graphs using the parts of a flower.

New York State Standard
Mathematics-Content Strand: Statistics and Probability
Students will display data in bar graphs using concrete objects with intervals of one.
The Life Cycle of the Flowering Plant
Goal
Students will gain an understanding of the life cycle of the flowering plant from seed to root to stem to leaf to flower.
New York State Standard
Science-Standard: The Living Environment
Organisms inherit genetic information in a variety of ways that result in continuity of structure and function between parents and offspring. The continuity of life is sustained through reproduction and development.
Tissue Paper Flower
Goal
Students will learn how to use tissue paper, piper cleaner, and paper leaves to represent a flower.
New York State Standard
Art-Standard 1: Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes.