As parents and educators we teach children how to appreciate all things beautiful, especially our natural surroundings. As our infants become toddlers it's the norm for them to become more curios and explore the great outdoors. It is at this stage that you are likely to be handed a flower picked by your toddler or preschooler which is given to you with love.

Take advantage of the curiosity of little minds and introduce them to a world of science and discovery. This simple science exploration can be done at home as a bonding activity with the kids or teachers can gather their troops and do it as a group activity. 

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Flower Dissection: Science For Preschoolers

 

I love this activity because the materials required are minimal and set up is pretty much nonexistent, but it takes up a good amount of time and keeps little minds curious and intrigued. 

Here's what you will need:

• A variety of lowers
• Tweezers
• Magnifying glass

Instructions:

1. Take a walk around the yard with the kids and pick a variety of flowers, say 3-5 different species.
2. Lay them on a tray or table with your magnifying glass and tweezers.
3. Discuss the flowers. Mention their names to your little students and then name the different parts. Since you are teaching younger kids, stick to the simpler or more basic parts of the plant. Point to and name the: stems, leaves, petals and pollen. 
4. Compare how each part looks different on each flower, but still looks similar too.
5. Allow the preschoolers to gently pull the flowers apart using their fingers or tweezers. Again, naming each part as you do so.
6. Use the magnifying glass to get a close look at the pollen and veins found on the leaves and stems.
7. If your flowers are different colours, learn the colours too.
8. Stimulate senses by smelling the flowers and discussing the different scents.

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I love activities like this because the learning opportunities are actually endless, you can practice hand-eye coordination when pick the flowers and observing them, stimulate senses through touch and smell, discover the magic of science and appreciate nature.

You can adapt this lesson to suit older kids too. Include a diagram into the activity and gt them to write down the different parts of the flowers and go into detail about the inside parts of a flower and how photosynthesis takes place. Enjoy!

Source Link: http://www.schoolingamonkey.com/flower-dissection-science/

Much love @sweetpea

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