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?
• For an extended activity, use the petals of your flower to make creative petal mandalas! Follow
  the link for helpful instructions: Petal Mandalas Activity.