Magical 3-D Gardens

1. Conduct a read aloud of a children's book focused on plants and gardening such as Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert. Discuss the similarities and differences in flowers and plants, and how insects and other animals need plants to continue their life cycle. Observe and analyze variety of flowers and parts of plants (patterns, colors, shapes). How are they alike? Different?
2. Once the discuss is exhausted, distribute a variety of Crayola Dry Erase Crayons to students and one foam bowl to each child. Instruct them to color the inside and outside of a foam bowl using the Dry Erase Crayons.
3. When coloring of foam bowls is complete, instruct students to use Crayola Blunt Tip, or Crayola Pointed Tip Scissors to cut petal shapes, creating a 3-dimensional flower. Demonstrate the technique for this cutting if needed.
4. Next, students use Crayola Construction Paper Crayons, scissors and colored construction paper to create simple leaf shapes to attach to the flowers.
5. Chenille stems may be used to attach the flower and leaves, as well as to create an interesting center. Note: toothpicks are helpful for creating the small hole though which the chenille stem will go through the bowl, plate and paper leaf. If creating a larger flower, start with leaf, plate, then bowl on top.
6. Display completed flowers as one large class garden. Invite students to share how their flowers create visual beauty.

LA: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade level topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

SCI: Develop a simple model that mimics the function of an animal in dispersing seeds or pollinating plants.

SCI: Make observations of plants and animals to compare the diversity of life in different habitats.

VA: Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.

VA: Make art or design with various materials and tools to explore personal interests, questions, and curiosity.

VA: Experiment with various materials and tools to explore personal interests in a work of art or design.

Use varying sizes of paper plates and stack them to create a more 3-dimensional flower. (waterlilies, connecting the artwork to Claude Monet’s garden.)

Use flowers to make a 3-dimensional garden. Create insects and other animals that depend on plants.

Write/tell their plant’s own story from an insect’s perspective.