Flower Dissection
Ever wondered what’s inside a flower? Investigate the different parts of a flower by using the powers of scientific observation to discover the hidden wonders of plants.
Learning Goals
- Be Curious
- Communicate Thinking
- Build STEM Knowledge
Materials Needed
- Different types of flowers
- Writing utensil
- Paper
- Scissors or tweezers (optional)
Instructions
- Choose one or more flowers to dissect. Dissect means to take something apart.
- Encourage children to observe the flower before they start dissecting and ask them about what they notice.
- Take apart each piece of the flower and start to identify its name, and if possible, function.
- Observe, dissect, and repeat!
Tips for Adults
- Narrate what you notice children are doing or paying special attention to. This could also be an
opportunity to introduce new vocabulary. Try saying things like:- "You just tore apart the petal."
- "Dissect. Have you heard that word before? What do you think it means?"
- With younger children, count together: “I wonder how many leaves we can count on
this flower.”
- Try asking extended questions like:
- How do the different parts of the flower compare with each other? How are they
different? - If dissecting more than one flower: What similarities between these flowers did you notice? What do they have in common? What differences did you notice?
- How do the different parts of the flower compare with each other? How are they
- For an extended activity, use the petals of your flower to make creative petal mandalas! Follow
the link for helpful instructions: Petal Mandalas Activity.