LESSON PLANS: SUNFLOWERS From seed to plant in 10 weeks, the sunflower is a relatively easy plant to grow. With its visual impact and edible seeds, it provides many points of departure for creativity in the classroom. Note: sunflower seeds, even hulled, may be inappropriate for young children to eat because of potential choking hazards.
PRESENT THE INFORMATION Explain what a sunflower is—a plant that grows from a seed and bears large yellow flowers. The sunflower has edible seeds. It gets its name because its flower bud will follow the position of the sun throughout the day. Use photographs, books, PowerPoint slides or videos to show students what a sunflower looks like. Tell students about the steps for planting a sunflower as well as its basic parts.
REMEMBERING (knowledge) Coach students to recall information that was presented. Repeat facts, and ask students to repeat them back. Students can list information, sequence it, describe it and identify its parts. Verbs: listen, identify, draw, locate, label, choose, list, recite, memorize, name, repeat Activities: Students can assemble a sunflower and label its parts using cut-out shapes. “Plant” paper sunflowers.
UNDERSTANDING (comprehension) Pose very pointed questions to build on information presented. Ask specific questions about the material and how different pieces of information relate to one another. Verbs: explain, relate, describe, paraphrase, summarize, interpret, predict, infer, match Activities: Allow students to plant a sunflower seed in a small cup. Ask children to rehearse the process and show their understanding of how to prepare a pot, make a hole and sow a seed.
APPLYING Students will use their fund of information in a more substantial and conceptually global way. Verbs: represent, demonstrate, use, construct, solve, classify, interpret Activities: Create sunflower masks and use them to pantomime the sunflower’s growing process. Ask students to draw various stages in a sunflower’s growing process. Play a game where students follow the trajectory of the sun (use a flashlight to direct their movement).
ANALYZING Ask students to compare information to new information or to their existing fund of knowledge. Verbs: sort, categorize, distinguish, select, compare, contrast, examine, debate, choose Activities: Go on a photo safari in an outdoor learning environment, taking pictures of plants that are similar. Measure and chart the growth of your sunflowers, and keep a photo diary. Compare sunflowers to other yellow flowers.
EVALUATING Coach students to use information to reach conclusions. Verbs: explain, relate, describe, paraphrase, summarize, interpret, predict, infer, match Activities: Play what if: What if the plants got no sun? What if the plants got no water? What if a bird picked up some seeds and dropped them in a field?
CREATING Using the information they learned, ask students to make or invent something new. Verbs: combine, compose, design, make, invent, hypothesize, create Activities: Cook using sunflower seeds or sunflower oil. Draw what a moonflower or starflower might look like. ©Jill Colella Bloomfield | www.teachkidstocook.com