Dissect a Flower

Materials:

Nature Journal, drawing utensils of choice, a razor blade, cutting board, and a flower (preferably one like a lily where the anatomy is pronounced and large)

Activity:

Take a flower like a lily (where the anatomy is pronounced and larger) and cut it in half using a razor blade. Have the children draw the cross-section of the flower in their nature journals and write down any observations or questions they have. Point out the parts of the flower as they ask.

Younger: 

Have the younger children draw the flower whole or in cross-section, however they choose.

Older:

Have older children label the parts of the flower in their nature journals after making their own observations.

Take it Further:

Do a mini-lesson on the anatomy of a flower and germination. There are some beautiful resources for this mini-lesson below. “A seed is sleepy” by Sylvia Long is one of my favorite Nature Study books both for its beautiful illustrations and for its rich content that helps the kids peek into the world of seed germination and in seed dispersal.

Get this beautiful diagram and Montessori 3 part cards by clicking the image above or going to Mam’a Happy Hive on Teachers Pay Teachers