Blow Seeds! Go, Seeds! Lesson Plan

What We Are Learning

Science Focus:

plant life cycle

Theme Vocabulary:

dandelion, seed, puffball, parachute

Skills We’re Practicing:

group discussion, critical thinking, vocabulary, fine-motor skills/measuring

The Dandelion Seed by Joseph P. Anthony takes readers on a journey through seasonal changes and beautiful landscapes. It follows a dandelion seed as it blows through the wind, finds a place to land, grows roots, and begins the cycle all over again. As you read, ask children to predict what will happen next.

Materials: Pattern Block Spring Flowers skill sheet, pattern blocks, crayons

Use pattern blocks to make spring flowers and practice math skills!
Print a few copies of the Pattern Block Spring Flowers skill sheet. Put pages on a table, along with a bin of pattern blocks.
Using the skill sheet as a mat, have children place the pattern blocks in the designated places to make the flower.
Once children have completed their flower, guide them as they count the number of pattern blocks they used and trace the number.
Finally, children can remove the pattern blocks and color their flower.
For an added challenge, have children substitute blocks to create the same shape on the flower. spatial reasoning/shapes/counting

Materials: blue construction paper, forks, cotton swabs, paintbrushes, tempera paint (green, yellow, and white), small bowls

Explore two forms of a dandelion in a creative way!
Give each child a piece of paper, and guide them as they fold it in half. Put out bowls of green, yellow, and white paint.
Have children use green paint and a paintbrush to make two stems, one in the center of each half of the paper. Remind them to leave room at the top of each stem for the tops of the dandelions.
Next, make the yellow dandelion. Have children dip a fork into the bowl of yellow paint and apply the paint to the top of the dandelion stem on the left, placing the fork down and pulling it up to create straight yellow marks. Have them continue until the dandelion head is complete.
Then have children create the white dandelion head by dipping a cotton swab in white paint and making small dots at the top of the green stem. They can keep the dots in a tight circle or all around the page to show the seeds blowing in the wind!
When everyone’s work is dry, have children gather in the meeting area to talk about their work. fine-motor skills/art