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The Sunflower ForestAn Educator’s Resource Guide
Lauritzen Gardens
With support from
The Peter Kiewit Foundation
December 2012
The Sunflower ForestAn Educator’s Resource Guide
Table of Contents
Section Page
WhyaSunflowerForest? 1
SunflowerForestProjectPartners 4
TheContentsofYourSunflowerForestEducator’sKit 5
CreatingaSunflowerForestReadingRoom 6
StartingSunflowerSeedlingsintheClassroom 9
SunflowerFastFacts 10
Illustrations 13 SunflowerForestLanguageArtsCurriculumActivities 18
Why a Sunflower Forest?When I was a boy I once lived near a brackish stream that wandered over the interminable salt flats south of our town. Between occasional floods the area became a giant sunflower forest, taller than
the head of a man.LorenEiseley,The Invisible Pyramid(1970)
Loren Eiseley: Acclaimed Author with Deep Nebraska Roots
LorenCoreyEiseleywasbornonSeptember3,1907,inLincoln,Nebraska.HegrewupinandaroundLincolnandin1933receivedhisbachelor’sdegreefromtheUniversityofNebraskainEnglishandgeology/anthropology.
Eiseleywentontoreceivehismaster’sanddoctoratedegreesinanthropologyfromtheUniversityofPennsylvania.HetaughtattheUniversityofKansasandatOberlinCollege,andin1947returnedtothefacultyoftheUniversityofPennsylvaniawhereheworkeduntilhisdeathin1977.
Althoughabusyuniversityprofessor,researcher,andadministrator,Eiseleyalsopursuedapassionforwritingaboutthegrandthemesofnatureandtheuniverse.Hepublishedhisfirstpopularessayin1942andhisfirstbook,acollectionofpersonalessaystitledThe Immense Journey,in1946.Hisuniquetalentsasawritergarneredhimnationalandinternationalacclaim.
Eiseleyisconsideredbothapioneerandamasteroftheliterarygenreofnaturewriting.Withtheobservationalskillsofscientistandthesensitivityandexpressivenessofapoet,hiswriting“deliveredsciencetononscientistsinthelyricallanguageofearthlymetaphor,irony,simile,andnarrative,allpacedlikeagoodmystery”(Bloomsbury Review).ManyofEiseley’smosthighlyregardedessaysarebasedonhisboyhoodexperiencesinandaroundLincolnandhisfieldworkasananthropologistinwesternNebraska.
AdditionalinformationonthelifeandworkofLorenEiseleyisavailableonthewebsiteoftheLorenEiseleySociety(http://www.eiseley.org/)andinThe Loren Eiseley Reader,acollectionofessayspublishedbytheLorenEiseleySocietyin2009(availableforpurchaseviathesociety).
The Sunflower Forest: Literary Meaning
MuchofEiseley’swritingtouchesuponthehistoryofcivilizationandourrelationshiptothenaturalworld.Hewasespeciallyconcernedabouttheoftennegativeimpactshumanshaveontheenvironment.Intheessay,“TheLastMagician,”publishedinhisbook,The Invisible Pyramid(1970),Eiseleywroteoftheneedtoreconnectwiththe“greenworld,”bothforpersonalwellbeingandtorekindleaffectionandappreciationfortheearththatsustainsus.Itisinthisessaythatheintroduces“thesunflowerforest.”
Here,andintheprologuetoThe Invisible Pyramid,Eiseleyusedthesunflowerforestofhisboyhoodasametaphorforthenaturalworld.Hecontraststhe“firstworld”ofnaturewiththe“secondworld”
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ofhumancultureandtechnologicalachievement.ToEiseley,thewelfareofthefirstworld,threatenedbyhumanexploitation,dependedupon“consciousreentryintothesunflowerforest”(p.155).Whilehedoesn’tdescribehowthis“reentry”shouldoccur,hisprovocativemessageforeshadowedbythreedecadesthecurrentinternationalmovementtoreconnectchildrenwithnature,sparkedbyRichardLouv’sbestsellingbookLast Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder (2006).
The Sunflower Forest: Ecological Setting
Ecologically,thesunflowerforestexperiencedbyEiseleywasanextensivestandofannualsunflowers(Helianthus annuus)thatoccurredalongthefloodplainofSaltCreek,astreamthatpassesthroughLincoln.Ninespeciesoftruesunflowers(genusHelianthus)occurinNebraska.Mostofoursunflowersareperennialplantsthatpersistformanyyearsinassociationwithprairievegetation.Theannualsunflowerplant,however,livesforonlyonegrowingseason—germinatingfromseedinthespring,growing,flowering,andfinallyproducingitsowncropofseedbytheendofsummerastheplantdriesupanddies.
Annualsunflowersarewelladaptedtowhatecologistscall“disturbed”habitat—placeswheresomeactionhasdisturbedthenaturalcoverofvegetation.Annualsunflowersflourishinavarietyofhuman-disturbedhabitats,includingroadsides,constructionsites,andtheedgesofagriculturalfields.ThefloodplainalongSaltCreekprovidesnaturally-disturbedhabitat.Here,seasonalfloodingdrownsoutmostvegetation,leavingexpansesofopensoilwhereannualsunflowerscanspringupandformdensestands.Individualsunflowerplantscanreachremarkableheightsduringthegrowingseason,someover9feettall(“tallerthantheheadofaman”).Astandofsuchtoweringplantswouldseemlikeaforestofsunflowers,especiallytoayoungboywithavividimagination.
A Sunflower Forest at Lauritzen Gardens
In2009,theLorenEiseleySocietypublishedacollectionofEiseley’sessaysasawaytointroducehimtoanewgenerationofreaders.ThecoveroftheLoren Eiseley ReaderfeaturesawhimsicalinterpretationofthesunflowerforestbyartistAaronFranco.Giventhisbotanicaltheme,Dr.BingChen,presidentoftheLorenEiseleySociety,approachedLauritzenGardenstoexplorepossibleeducationalcollaborationsaroundthestoryofthesunflowerforest.
LauritzenGardensisalivingmuseumofuniquefour-seasonplantdisplays,maintainedtothehigheststandardsconsistentwithenvironmentalstewardship.Itprovidesmemorableeducationalandaestheticexperiencesforall.Assuch,thegardenprovidesasettingforchildrenandadultstoexperiencethebeautyandwonderofnatureupclose.Totheleadershipofthegarden,thesunflowerforeststoryprovidedacompellingthemeforeducationalprogramming,andmemorablewaytoillustratethataconservationethicbeginswithachild-likeaweofnature.
TheSunflowerForestProjectwaslaunchedin2010asapartnershipbetweenLauritzenGardensandtheLorenEiseleySociety,withfundingprovidedbythePeterKiewitFoundationofOmaha.
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TheaimwastoraiseawarenessofLorenEiseleyasanimportantNebraskaauthor,andusehisboyhoodexperiencewithsunflowersasavehicleforexploringthemesrelatedtoliteratureandscientificinquiry,aswellasplantbiology.
ThecoreactivityoftheprojectwastheestablishmentofamassplantingofsunflowersonthegroundsofLauritzenGardens,usingthesamewildspeciesofsunflowerthatEiseleyencountered.Thisuniqueandpopulargardenfeaturewasfirstplantedin2011,thenagainin2012.Theseplantingswereestablishedwiththehands-onparticipationofnearly1,200studentsfromsixdifferentelementaryschoolsrepresentingfiveOmahametroareaschooldistricts.ThesestudentscametothegardeninMaytohelpplanttheforestandreturnedinSeptemberforatouroftheplanting.
Theimagesandillustrationsonpages13-17capturetheinvolvementofstudentsincreatingandexperiencingTheSunflowerForestatLauritzenGardens.
Taking the Sunflower Forest Statewide
ThefinalphaseoftheSunflowerForestProjectisstatewideinscope.AspecialSunflowerForestEducator’sKithasbeendevelopedtoinspireandenableeveryelementaryschoolinNebraskatoexplorethethemesoftheSunflowerForest.OnekithasbeenmailedtoeverypublicandparochialelementaryschoolinNebraska.
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Sunflower Forest Project Partners
Lauritzen Gardens(402)346-4002http://www.lauritzengardens.org/
Projectleadership;recruitedschoolsforproject;presentedclassroomactivities;siteofsunflowerforestplantings;providedguidedtoursofsunflowerforest;developedanddisseminatedoutreachkitsto755Nebraskapublicandparochialelementaryschools
The Loren Eiseley Societyhttp://www.eiseley.org/
ConsultationonthelifeandworkofLorenEiseley;specialacknowledgementtoDr.BingChen,ProfessorattheUniversityofNebraskaatOmahaandPresidentoftheLorenEiseleySocietyforinitiatingtheproject
The Peter Kiewit Foundationhttp://www.peterkiewitfoundation.org/
Fundingfornumerousprojectactivities,includingtheparticipationofnearly1,200studentsfromsixOmahametro-areaelementaryschoolsintheproject
Stock Seed Farms(402)867-3771http://www.stockseed.com/
SourceofsunflowerseedforplantingsatLauritzenGardensandoutreachkits;consultationonspeciesmixandseedingrate
Dr. Kathy Everts Danielson, ProfessorTeacherEducationDepartmentUniversityofNebraskaatOmaha
Developedpre-KthroughGrade5languageartscurriculumactivitiesforEducator’sResourceGuide
Dr. Kay Kottas, Owner and PresidentPrairieLegacy,Inc.http://prairielegacyinc.com/
Developedcontentandartworkfor“SunflowersofNebraska”compactdiskincludedinoutreachkits
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The Contents of Your Sunflower Forest Educator’s Kit
Educator’s Resource GuideThemainfeatureofthekitisateacher’sguidethatprovidessunflower-relatedlanguageartscurriculummaterialsforPre-KthroughGrade5.ThesematerialsweredevelopedbyDr.KathyEvertsDanielson,aprofessorintheTeacherEducationDepartmentoftheUniversityofNebraskaatOmahawithexpertiseinliteracy,thewritingprocess,andchildren’sliterature.Usingsunflowersasthetheme,Dr.Danielsonhasdevelopedreadingandwritingactivitiesforeachgradelevel,alltiedtoandaddressingNebraskaDepartmentofEducationStateStandardsinLanguageArts.
Othercomponentsoftheguideincludedirectionsforcreatingaschoolyardsunflower“readingroom”andstartingsunflowerseedlingsintheclassroom,plus“fastfacts”aboutsunflowers.
Sunflowers of Nebraska CD“SunflowersofNebraska:APracticalGuidetoIdentifyingSunflowers,”aninteractiveidentificationguidetothenativesunflowersofNebraskapresentedonacompactdisk.Theguideincludesinformationandillustrationsof10nativespeciesplusavideosegmentthatallowstheuserto“build”asunfloweronepartatatimetoillustratetheuniquecompositestructureofasunflowerhead.ThisidentificationguidewascreatedbyDr.KayKottas,aprofessionalbotanistandtalentedartistbasedinLincoln,Nebraskaandowner/presidentofPrairieLegacy,Inc.,abotanicalconsultingcompany.TheCDispackagedinanadhesivesleevethatcanbeaffixedtotheinsidecoveroftheEducator’sResourceGuide.
Sunflower Forest Reading RoomYourkitalsocontainsapacketofenoughseedtoplantaschoolyardversionofasunflowerforest.DevelopedinconsultationwithStockSeedFarmsofMurdock,Nebraska,theplantingwouldoccupyapproximately900squarefeet(30ft.x30ft.)andcreateasunflower-encompassedoutdoor“room”appropriateforreadingand/orwritingactivities.PlansforestablishingandmaintainingtheplantingarepresentedintheEducator’sResourceGuide.Thepacketcontainsseedofthewildannualsunflower(Helianthus annuus),whichisthespeciesLorenEiseleyencounteredinhischildhood“sunflowerforest,”mixedwithseedofMaximilian’ssunflower(Helianthus maximiliani),anativeperennialspeciesthatisespeciallyattractivetobutterflies.
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Creating a Sunflower Forest Reading Room
TheSunflowerForestplantingatLauritzenGardenswasaspectacularandpopulargardenfeaturedesignedtoprovidean“immersion”experienceforvisitorssimilartowhatLorenEiseleyenjoyedasaboyalongSaltCreeknearLincoln.
Whilemostschoolswillnotwanttoturntheirgroundsintoamassplantingofsunflowers,weencourageyoutoprovideasimilarexperienceforyourstudentsbycreatingasmallerandmoremanageablesunflowerforest“readingroom.”
Thedrawingonpage8illustratestheconcept,whichcanbeaccommodatedinaspacethatisroughly30feetby30feetindimension.Thedesignprovidesa“room”forgatheringagroupofstudentsforreadingorotheractivitiesthatissurroundedbya“wall”ofsunflowers.Acurvedpathintotheroomblocksviewsinandoutandhelpswiththesenseofimmersion.Thepathandinteriorspacecanbecoveredwithamulchofwoodchipsorstrawtohelpwithweedcontrolandtolessencontactwithdustandmud.Strawbalesorsimplebenchescanbeplacedaroundtheperimeteroftheinteriorspaceforseating.
Includedinthiskitisenoughseedtoestablishyourownsunflowerforestreadingroom.Theenclosedpacketcontainsseedofthewildannualsunflower(Helianthus annuus),whichisthespeciesEiseleyencounteredinhischildhoodsunflowerforest,mixedwithasmallerpercentageofMaximilian’ssunflower(Helianthus maximiliani),anativeperennialspeciesthatisespeciallyattractivetobutterflies.Annualsunflowersgenerallygrowtoabout6feettallbylatesummer,withsomeindividualplantsreaching9-10feettall.Maximilian’ssunflowerplantswillbeshorter,butwillflowerlaterthantheannualsunflowerandprovideanextendedseasonofbloom.
Site preparation –Yourplantingshouldbesitedinalocationthatreceivessunthroughouttheday(i.e.,noshade).Youcanestablishtheplantingmuchthewayyouwouldstartanewgardenorlawn.Ifthereisacoverofturfgrass,thisshouldberemovedandthesoilbeneathexposed.Then,preparethesoilbytillingtocreateagoodseedbedfreeofsoilclumpsgreaterthantwoinchesindiameter.Ifthesoilisverydry,itwouldbehelpfultowaterthesiteaboutaweekbeforeseedistobesown.SitepreparationworkshouldbedonebytheendofMarch,earlierifweatherconditionsallow.
When to sow seed – TheoptimaltimetosowsunflowerseedvariesacrossNebraska,andthebestguidelineistowaituntilafterthechanceoffrostispastandthesoilisbeginningtowarm.Generally,thiswouldbeaftermid-AprilineasternNebraskatoaftermid-MayinwesternNebraska.DonotbeinarushtoplantearlysinceyouwanttheplantstobeinpeakfloweringwhenyourstudentsreturntoschoolinAugustandSeptember.Sowing seed –Youhavebeenprovidedwithenoughsunflowerseedtocoverapproximately600squarefeet.Theamountofseedinthepacketmayseemrathersmall,butitwascalculatedinconsultationwithStockSeedFarmsofMurdock,Nebraska.Broadcastingseedbyhandisthesimplestmethodofsowingtheseed,similartothetechniqueusedforsowinglawngrassseed.
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Thereisnoreasontosowseedinthepartoftheplantingsitethatwillbecometheinteriorseatingarea.Markofftheboundariesofthisareawithstringandtrytoavoidbroadcastingseedintoit.
Toinsuretheseedisdispersedevenlyovertheplantingarea,itishelpfultofirstmixtheseedintoalargervolume(2to3timesmore)oflightweight,inertmaterialsuchassawdust,peatmoss,orvermiculite.Thelattermaterialscanbeobtainedatmostgardencenters.Theinertmattermaybeslightlymoistenedsothattheseedwillsticktoit.
Dividethemixtureintotwoequalamounts.Handbroadcastonehalfevenlyovertheplantingarea.Then,handbroadcastthesecondhalfoverthearea,perpendiculartothedirectionofbroadcastingthefirsthalf.
Covertheseedwithone-fourthtoone-halfinchofsoilbyrakingitintothesoilsurface.Itmaybehelpfultocovertheplantingareawithalightmulchofweedfreestrawtopreventwashingandkeepthesoilmoistduringthegerminationperiod.Watertheseededareaenoughtomoistenthesoilsurface.
Caring for seedlings –Youshouldbegintoseeemergingsunflowerseedlingsabouttwoweeksaftersowingseed.Inayearwhensoilmoistureisadequateandrainfallisaboutaverage,nosupplementalwatershouldbeneeded.Sunflowerseedlingsgrowratherquicklyandwillovertopmostweeds,butsomeweedsmayneedtobeeliminatedbyhandpullingorlighthoeinguntilthesunflowersaremoreestablished.
Growing through the summer –Nosupplementalwatershouldbeneededinasummerwheresoilmoistureisadequateandrainfallisnearaverage.Formaximumgrowth,waterasyouwouldavegetablegarden(aboutoneinchofwaterperweek).Weedtheplantingasneeded.
After the growing season – Annualsunflowerplantsliveforonlyonegrowingseason—germinatingfromseedinthespring,growing,flowering,andfinallyproducingitsowncropofseedbytheendofsummerastheplantdriesupanddies.Ifyouplantokeeptheplantingintothenextyearandbeyond,leavetheannualsunflowerplantsinplaceuntiltheseedheadsdrydownanddroptheirseed,thenpullupanddiscardthedeadplants.Muchoftheseedthatfallstothegroundwillgerminatethefollowingyearandproduceanewstandofannualsunflowersthatwillcombinewiththere-emergingperennialMaximilian’ssunflowertore-filltheplantingsite.
Alternative Plan: Adding sunflower seedlings to the plantingYoumaychoosetohavestudentsgrowsunflowerseedlingsthemselvestobeusedintheplanting(seepage9).Thisisanengaginghands-onactivity,butthesurvivalrateoftheseindoor-grownseedlingsmaynotbehighandyouwillstillwanttosowseedintotheplantingareatoinsureagoodstandofsunflowers.Ifso,theseedlingsshouldbeplantedafterthesitehasbeenpreparedbutbeforetheseedisbroadcast.
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Sunflower Forest Reading Room
Concept and Dimensions
8
Path, 4’ Wide
Reading Room12’ diameter
30’
30’
Path, 4’ wide
Starting Sunflower Seedlings in the Classroom
Sunflowerseedlingsareeasytostartandgrowinaschoolgreenhouseorsunnyclassroom.Theseedlingscouldbeusedtohelpestablishasunflowerforestplantingontheschoolgroundsorstudentscanplantthemathome.
Supplies needed–
1. Sunflowerseeds(3seedperstudent)2. Asmallpotorcontainerforeachstudent;3-inchdiametersizeisideal;smallmilk/juicecartonsareinexpensivealternative;containershouldhavedrainagehole(s)inbottom;3. Pottingsoil(notgardensoil)4. Labelsonwhichthestudent’snamecanbewritten
Apacketofsunflowerseedisincludedinthiskit.Itcontainsseedofthewildannualsunflower(Helianthus annuus),whichisthespeciesLorenEiseleyencounteredinhischildhoodsunflowerforest,mixedwithsmallerpercentageofMaximilian’ssunflower(Helianthus maximiliani),anativeperennialspecies.Theenclosedpacketcontainsapproximately5,000sunflowerseeds.Ifnomorethan100studentsgrowseedlingsintheclassroom(at3seedsperpot),therewillstillbeadequateseedinthepacketforestablishingthereadingroomplanting.AdditionalsunflowerseedcanbepurchasedfromStockSeedFarmsinMurdock,Nebraska(seepage4)
Getting started –
1. Fillthepotabout¾fullofpottingsoil2. Gentlytampthesoildowntomakealevelsurfacewithinthepot3. Place3sunflowerseedsonthesurface,spacedevenlyapartintheshapeofatriangle (thereisnoneedtopresstheseedsdownintothepottingsoil)4. Addabout½inchpottingsoiltothepottocovertheseeds5. Gentlywaterbyfillingthepottotherimandlettingthewatersoakin;repeatuntilwaterruns outthebottomofthepot
Growing the seedlings–Placetheseedlingsinagreenhouseorinthesunniestlocationpossibleintheclassroomorschoolbuilding.Asouth-orwest-facingwindowwouldbebest.Otherwise,theseedlingswillgrowspindlyandweakastheystretchtoreachlightandwillnottransplantwelloutdoors.Thesoilinthepotshouldstaymoistbutnotsoakingwet.Waterifthesoilsurfaceinthepotfeelsdrytothetouch.
Planting the seedlings outdoors–Oncetheseedlingsarelargeenoughandhaveagoodrootsystemtheycanbeplantedoutdoors.Thiswillbeabout4weeksaftertheseedwassownintheclassroom.Removetheseedlingsfromthepotbyholdingthepotupside-downinonehandandgentlytappingonthebottomofthepotwiththeotheruntilthepotseparatesfromtheroot-boundsoil.Donottrytoremovetheseedlingfromthepotbypullingontheseedling.Planttheseedlinginaholethatisthesamedepthaswasthetopofthesoilwasinthepot.
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Sunflower Fast FactsLoren Eiseley’s Sunflower
► TheparticularsunflowerspeciesofLorenEiseley’ssunflowerforestwastheannualsunflower,sometimesalsocalledthecommonsunflower.ItsscientificnameisHelianthus annuus.
► Thefirstpartofthename,Helianthus,isthegenusname,andcomesfromtheGreekwordsHelios,meaningsun,andanthos,meaningflower.
► Thesecondpartofthename,annuus,comesfromtheGreekwordforannual,andreferstothefactthatthissunflowerspecieslivesforonlyonegrowingseason—germinatingfromseed inthespring,growing,flowering,andfinallyproducingitsowncropofseedbytheendof summerastheplantdriesupanddies.
► Annualsunflowerplantsgrow3to7feettall,butinsomecasescanreachmorethan9feetinheight.Itisamazingthattheseplantscangrowsotallinonegrowingseason.
► ThefloweringseasonfortheannualsunflowerisJulytoSeptember,withpeakfloweringinAugust.
One of Many Sunflowers
► Theannualsunflowerisoneofover50differentspeciesthatscientistsclassifytogetherinthe genusHelianthus.Themembersofthisgenusaresometimescalledthe“truesunflowers.” TendifferentspeciesofHelianthus occurinNebraska.
► ThegenusHelianthusispartoftheSunflowerFamily(Asteraceae).TheSunflowerFamilyis oneofthelargestplantfamiliesonearthintermsofitsnumberofspecies(about23,000).
► TheSunflowerFamilyincludesmanyfamiliarwildflowersandgardenplants:ragweed (genusAmbrosia);sagebrush(genusArtemisia);asters(genusAster);chrysanthemum (genusChrysanthemum);goldenrod(genusSolidago);dandelion(Taraxacum officinale).
The Sunflower Flower: More than Meets the Eye► MembersoftheSunflowerFamilyarerelatedtooneanotherbytheuniquestructureof theirflowers.
► Insunflowers,whatlookslikeasinglelargeflowerisactuallya“composite”flowermadeup ofnumerous“florets”(smallflowers)crowdedtogetherontoacircular“head.”See illustrationonpage12.
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► Therearetwokindsofflorets:petal-like“rayflorets”occurontheouteredgeoftheheadand “diskflorets”inthecenter.
► Thediskfloretsproducenectarandpollenthatattractsbees.Asthebeeprobesthefloretfor fooditpicksuppollengrainsandcarriesthemtothenextfloretitvisits.Ifcross-pollination andfertilizationoccur,thefloretwillmatureintoaseed.
More than Just a Pretty Face
► EvidencesuggestsNativeAmericansweregrowingsunflowersforfoodasearlyas5,000 yearsago.
► InthelanguageoftheHidatsaIndiansofthenorthernGreatPlains,thenameforthemonthof Aprilis“sunflower-planting-moon.”
► SpanishexplorersfoundsunflowersbeinggrownbyNativeAmericans,andtookseedbackto Europeinthe1500s.
► SunflowerswerefirstgrowninEuropeasgardenflowers,butwerelatergrownfortheoilthat theseedcontains.
► Large-scalefarmingofsunflowersfirsttookplaceinRussiainthe1700sunderthe encouragementoftheRussianrulerPetertheGreat.
► FarmersintheUnitedStatesstartedgrowingsunflowersasacropintheearly1900s,and firstusedsunflowervarietiesdevelopedinRussia.
► IntheUnitedStates,sunflowersaremainlygrownintheGreatPlainsandMidwest;Colorado, Kansas,Minnesota,Nebraska,SouthDakota,andTexasaremajorproducers.
► Sunflowerkernelsareahigh-energyfoodsourceandareeatenasasnackfoodorareusedin bakingorasaningredientinotherfoods.
► SunfloweroilisusedincookingandfoodpreparationandhasmoreVitaminEthanany vegetableoil.
► Manyspeciesofbirdslovesunflowerseedsandsomepreferthemoveranyotherkindofseed. Cardinals,chickadees,goldfinches,grosbeaks,housefinches,nuthatches,titmicearebirds thatprefersunflowerseeds.
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Lauritzen Gardens staff and
volunteers helped students start
sunflower seedlings in their own
classrooms (see page 9).
Starting the Sunflower Forest
13
Planting the forest...
14
Students brought their seedlings
to Lauritzen Gardens in May to
help create the Sunflower Forest.
Sunflowers grow quickly and can
reach over six feet in height by the
end of summer. Flowering peaks in
August and September.
The forest emerges
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An Immersion Experience
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When I was a boy I once lived near a
brackish stream that wandered over
the interminable salt flats south of
our town. Between occasional floods
the area became a giant sunflower
forest, taller than the head of a man.
LorenEiseley,The Invisible Pyramid(1970)
The Sunflower ForestLanguage Arts Curriculum Activities
Pre-K Activity1 BigYellowSunflowerDescriptionandActions 19 Activity2 “YouareMySunshine”SongandFlowerMask 20
Kindergarten Activity1 SequencingtheGrowthofaSunflower 21 Activity2 “IShineliketheSunflower”PictureFrameandWriting 22 Activity3 SunflowerHouse 23
Grade 1 Activity1 WhatFlowersNeed 24 Activity2 SunflowerGrowthCumulativeStoryandSequencing 25 Activity3 SequencingofaSunflower 26 Activity4 SecretIngredientMuffins 27
Grade 2 Activity1 SunflowerListPoems 28 Activity2 CompoundWords 29 Activity3 SunflowerHaiku 30 Activity4 “I’mTalkingSunflowers”Writing 31
Grade 3 Activity1 AcrosticPoemsaboutSunflowers 32 Activity2 TheImportantThingaboutSunflowers 33 Activity3 SunflowerAlliterativeAlphabetBook 34
Grade 4 Activity1 HowtobeaSunflower 36 Activity2 SunflowerPercentPoems 37 Activity3 SunflowerVocabularyBingo 39 Activity4 “IKnowit’saSunflower”Poem 41 Activity5 SunflowerPoetryPicks 42
Grade 5 Activity1 FreeVerseSunflowerPoetry 45 Activity2 MakingConnectionstoSunflowerQuotes 47 Activity3 TakingCouragefromSunflowers 49 Activity4 WritingSongLyricsaboutSunflowers 50 Activity5 VanGogh’sSunflowers 51
Appendix SuggestedBooks 53 18
Pre-K Activity 1
Big Yellow Sunflower Descriptions and Actions
Overview: Studentswilllistentoabook,actouttheactionsofasunflowergrowing,andcreatetheirownversionsofsunflowerswithorallybrainstormeddescriptivewords.
State StandardsLA 0.1.5. Vocabulary:Studentswillbuildliterary,generalacademic,andcontentspecificgradelevelvocabulary.LA 0.3.1. Speaking Skills:Studentswilldevelopanddemonstratespeakingskillstocommunicatekeyideasinavarietyofsituations.LA 0.3.2. Listening Skills:Studentswilldevelopanddemonstrateactivelisteningskillsacrossavarietyofsituations.LA 0.3.3. Reciprocal Communication:Studentswilldemonstratereciprocalcommunicationskills.
Instructional Objectives► Studentswillactouttheactionsofabookshowingthegrowthofthesunflower.► Studentswillcreateasunflowerpictureorcoloroneandthenorallydescribesunflowers.
MaterialsBooks:Big Yellow Sunflower(Barry2008);A Handful of Sunshine(Eclare2008)Supplies:chartorwhiteboard,paper,crayons,markers,indexcardsWebresource:student-completedartworkathttp://www.kidzone.ws/geography/usa/kansas/sunflower2.htm
Sequence
1. ReadBig Yellow Sunflowertostudents.Havestudentsactouttheactionsasyoureadthebook thesecondtime(plantingtheseedsunderground,spreadingoutrootsastheygrow,etc.).
2. Havestudentsmakebig,yellowsunflowersonchartpaperusingmarkers/crayonsorusethe abovelinktocoloranalreadycompletedsunflower.Havethemsigntheirnamesontheirart.
3. Havestudentsbrainstormotherwordstodescribesunflowersbesidesbigandyellow (suchashuge,sunshine-colored,etc.)andwritethemonchartpaper.
4. Writedescriptivewordsstudentsbrainstormedonindexcardsanddisplaynexttothe sunflowersthatstudentscolored/drew.
5. Togetherreadthewordsonthechartasyoureviewwhatyoulearnedaboutsunflowers.
6. ReadA Handful of Sunshinetostudentsandaskstudentsiftheylearnedmorefacts aboutsunflowers.Addthesefacts/wordstothechart. 19
LAURITZEN GARDENS | 2012
Pre-K Activity 2
“You Are My Sunshine” Song and Flower Mask
Overview: Studentswilllistentoabook,singasong,createsunflowermasks,andsingthesongagainusingthemasks.
State StandardsLA 0.3.1. Speaking Skills: Studentswilldevelopanddemonstratespeakingskillstocommunicatekeyideasinavarietyofsituations.LA 0.3.2. Listening Skills: Studentswilldevelopanddemonstrateactivelisteningskillsacrossavarietyofsituations.
Instructional Objectives► Studentswilllistentoastoryandunderstandtheimportanceofcheeringupafriendor familymember.► Studentswillsingasongusingactions.► Studentswillconstructasunflowermask.
MaterialsBook:Toot and Puddle: You are My Sunshine(Hobbie1999)Supplies:paper,glue,tape,crayons,markers,scissors,popsiclesticksSong:“YouAreMySunshine”(wordsbelow)Webresource:flowermasktemplateathttp://www.dltk-holidays.com/spring/mflowermask.html
Sequence
1. ReadToot and Puddle: You Are My Sunshinetostudents.Talkabouttheimportanceof cheeringupsadfriendsorfamilymembers.
2. Playand/orsing“YouAreMySunshine”andteachchildrentheactions: You are my sunshine,(pointtootherperson;makesunwithhandsincircleaboveyourhead) My only sunshine,(pointtoself;makesunwithhandsincircleaboveyourhead) You make me happy when skies are gray,(bigsmile;fingersflutterlikeraincomingdown) You’ll never know dear,(pointtohead–thinking) How much I love you,(pointtoself;handstoheart;pointtootherperson) Please don’t take my sunshine away! (shakeheadno;makesunwithhandsincircleabove yourhead;pushhandsaway)
3. Havestudentsmakeaflowermask(seewebresource)usingthepatternlistedabove.
4. Havestudentsholdthemasksinfrontoftheirfaceswhiletheysingthesong.
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LAURITZEN GARDENS | 2012
Kindergarten Activity 1
Sequencing the Growth of a Sunflower
Overview: StudentswillputpicturecardsinthecorrectsequenceafterlisteningtothebookSunflower.Theywillalsoactoutthestoryandcreateasunflowercraft.
State StandardsLA 0.1.6. Comprehension: Studentswillextractandconstructmeaningusingpriorknowledge,applyingtextinformation,andmonitoringcomprehensionwhilereadinggradeleveltext.LA 0.3.1. Speaking Skills: Studentswilldevelopanddemonstratespeakingskillstocommunicatekeyideasinavarietyofsituations.LA 0.3.2. Listening Skills: Studentswilldevelopanddemonstrateactivelisteningskillsacrossavarietyofsituations.
Instructional Objectives► Studentswillretellthesequenceofgrowingasunflowerinthecorrectchronologicalorder.
MaterialsBook:Sunflower(Ford1995)Supplies:chartorwhiteboard,sunflowerseeds,crayons,markersWebresource:YolandaYellowColorsBuddysheetathttp://www.dltk-teach.com/colors/myellow.htm
Sequence
1. ReadSunflowertostudents.Givestudentseachasunflowerseedafterthefirstreading.Act outthestorywiththesecondreading,helpingstudentstothinkofactionstoputtothestory.
2. Havestudentshelpretellthebookinthecorrectorderwiththepicture/wordcardsthatthe studentscreate.Thecorrectorderfromthebookis:
a. CarefullyIplacetheseedintheground. b. EverydayIwaterit. c. Then,littlegreenleaves; d. Uptomyknees; e. Uptomynose; f. Overmyhead; g. Bigyellowpetalsfacethesun.
3. Havestudentscolorandconstructthesunflower(seewebresource).Displaytheirsunflowers onabulletinboardalongwiththepicture/wordcardsinthecorrectorderfromstep#2.
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Kindergarten Activity 2
“I Shine like the Sunflower” Picture Frame and Writing
Overview: Studentswilllistentoabookandthentalkabouthowtheyshinelikethesunflower.
State StandardsLA 0.1.6. Comprehension: Studentswillextractandconstructmeaningusingpriorknowledge,applyingtextinformation,andmonitoringcomprehensionwhilereadinggradeleveltext.LA 0.2.1. Writing Process: Studentswillusewritingtocommunicate.LA 0.2.2. Writing Genres: Studentwillwriteforavarietyofpurposesandaudiencesinmultiplegenres.
Instructional Objectives► Studentswilllistentoastoryandthinkabouthowtheyshinelikethesun.► Studentswillprepareapictureframeandwritetheirownsentenceabouthowtheyshine likethesun.
MaterialsBook:To Be Like the Sun(Swanson2008)Supplies:scissors,tape,glue,photosofchildren,smallmagnets(ifusingmagneticsurface)Webresource:sunflowerpictureframeat http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/SunflowerNameRecognition.htm
Sequence
1. ReadTo Be Like the Suntostudents.Discusshowweallshineinourownways(weallhave positiveattributes).
2. Usingthesunflowerpictureframepattern(seewebresource),havestudentscolorthe sunflowerandthenglue/tapetheirphotographtothecenteroftheflower.(Oryoucouldglue amagnetinthebackoftheflowertodisplayonaclassroom/homemagneticsurface.)
3. Havestudentsdictatetheirresponsetothisprompt:IshinewhenI...(encourageresponses suchas:smile,dance,playsoccer,etc.).Thenwritethewordsorhavechildrenwritethese wordsonapieceofpapertapedtothebottomofthepictureframeandsigntheirnameson thestem.Displaywithcaption:IShine...
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Kindergarten Activity 3
Sunflower House
Overview: StudentswilllistentothebookSunflower House,createabooklet,andthenwriteaboutwhattheywoulddoinsideasunflowerhouse.
State StandardsLA 0.1.6. Comprehension: Studentswillextractandconstructmeaningusingpriorknowledge,applyingtextinformation,andmonitoringcomprehensionwhilereadinggradeleveltext.LA 0.2.1. Writing Process: Studentswillusewritingtocommunicate.LA0.2.2. Writing Genres: Studentwillwriteforavarietyofpurposesandaudiencesinmultiplegenres.
Instructional Objectives► Studentswilllistentothestoryandthenmaketheirownsunflowerhousebooklet.► Studentswillwriteaboutwhattheywoulddoinsidetheirsunflowerhouse.
MaterialsBook:Sunflower House (Bunting1996)Supplies:paper,crayons,scissors,stapler,pencilsWebresource:SunflowerHousebooklet http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/SunflowerHouseEmergentReader.htm
Sequence
1. ReadSunflower Housetostudents.
2. Havestudentscutoutandconstructthesunflowerhousebooklet(seewebresource)inthe correctorder.
3. Discussandthenhavestudentswriteanddraw“WhatIWouldDoInsideMyOwnSunflower House.”
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First Grade Activity 1
What Flowers Need
Overview: StudentswilllistentothebookFran’s Floweranddiscusswhatflowersneed.TheywillmakeabookletoftheDo’sandDon’tsofgrowingflowers.
State StandardsLA 1.2.1. Writing Process: Studentswillapplythewritingprocesstoplan,draft,revise,editandpublishwritingusingcorrectspelling,grammar,punctuation,andotherstandardconventionsappropriateforgradelevel.LA 1.2.2. Writing Genres: Studentswillwriteforavarietyofpurposesandaudiencesinmultiplegenres.
Instructional Objectives► Studentswilllistentoastoryandwritetheirownobservationsofthedo’sanddon’tsof growingflowers.
MaterialsBooks:Fran’s Flower(Bruce1999);Do’s and Don’ts(Parr2004)Supplies:paper,crayons,pencils
Sequence
1. ReadFran’s Flowertostudents.DiscusswhatFrandidtofeedherflowerandwhetherornot thatworked.Discusswhatdidworktohelpherflowergrow.
2. ReadDo’s and Don’tstostudents.Talkaboutthedo’sanddon’tsofgrowingaflower,suchas: Dowateryourflower.Don’tpourlemonadeonit.
3. Havestudentswritetheirownbookaboutthedo’sanddon’tsofgrowingaflower.Makesure theyincludethingslikeplanting,watering,givingitsunshine,etc.Itmayhelptohavestudents writeideasforpromptssuchas: Aflowerneeds___________and_____________togrow.
Aflowerdoesnotneed____________and____________togrow.
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First Grade Activity 2
Sunflower Growth Cumulative Story and Sequencing
Overview: Studentswilllistentothebook This Is the Sunflowerandretellthestoryinthecorrectorder.
State StandardsLA 1.1.6. Comprehension: Studentswillextractandconstructmeaningusingpriorknowledge,applyingtextinformation,andmonitoringcomprehensionwhilereadinggradeleveltext.LA 1.2.2. Writing Genres: Studentswillwriteforavarietyofpurposesandaudiencesinmultiplegenres.
Instructional Objectives► Studentswillretellthestoryinthecorrectorderwithprops,followingalongwiththetext. Theywillalsowriteabouttheirsunflower.
MaterialsBook:This is the Sunflower (Schaefer2000)Supplies:paper,crayons,pencils,paperplates,glue,sunflowerseeds(withshellson),scissorsWebresource:http://www.dltk-holidays.com/fall/mpsunflower.htm
Sequence
1. ReadThis is the Sunflowertostudents.2. Havestudentsmakeoneofthefollowingpictures:SUNFLOWER,MOON,BLOSSOM, SEEDS,BEAKS,MUSICALNOTE,SPROUTS3. Havestudentsactoutthestoryinthecorrectorderwiththeabovepicturesasyoureaditaloud. Thisisthesunflower,tallandbright,SUNFLOWER Thatstandsinmygardendayandnight.MOON Thisistheblossom,yellowandround,BLOSSOM Thatcrownsthesunflower,tallandbright,SUNFLOWER Thatstandsinmygardendayandnight.MOON Thesearetheseeds,blackandbrown,SEEDS Foundintheblossom,yellowandround,BLOSSOM Thatcrownsthesunflower,tallandbright,SUNFLOWER Thatstandsinmygardendayandnight.MOON Thesearethebeaks,sharpandstrong,thatcracktheseed…BEAKS Thesearethebirds,fullofsong…MUSICALNOTE Nowthesunwarmsthemoistground…SUN Thesearethesprouts…SPROUTS
4. Havestudentsmakethesunflowerpaperplatecraft(seewebresource)andthenwrite asentenceaboutwhytheylikesunflowers.Ilikesunflowersbecause… 25
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First Grade Activity 3
Sequencing of a SunflowerOverview: Afterlisteningtoanonfictionbookaboutsunflowers,studentswillwriteaboutasunflower’sgrowthinthecorrectsequentialorder.
State StandardsLA 1.1.6. Comprehension: Studentswillextractandconstructmeaningusingpriorknowledge,applyingtextinformation,andmonitoringcomprehensionwhilereadinggradeleveltext.LA 1.2.2. Writing Genres: Studentswillwriteforavarietyofpurposesandaudiencesinmultiplegenres.
Instructional Objectives► Studentswillcorrectlysequencetheorderofthegrowthofasunflowerintheir illustratedwriting.
MaterialsBook:Sunflowers(Saunders-Smith1998)Supplies:paper,pencils,crayons
Sequence
1. ReadSunflowerstostudents.Takeillustratednotesonachartwhilereadingaloudtoshow studentsthesequenceofthegrowthofasunflower.
2. Afterreadingthebook,gooverthesequencewithstudents.
3. Havestudentswriteanddrawtheirownsequentialorderofthegrowthofasunflowerusing thefollowingpattern:OnceIwas__________;nowIama__________.Theircompleted writing/illustrationsshouldinclude:
OnceIwasasunflowerseed, NowIamasunflowersprout.
OnceIwasasunflowersprout, NowIamasunflowerstalk.
OnceIwasasunflowerstalk, NowIamasunflowerbud.
OnceIwasasunflowerbud, NowIamasunflower.
OnceIwasasunflower, NowIamasunflowerseed.
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First Grade Activity 4
Secret Ingredient MuffinsOverview: StudentswilllistentothereadingofthebookLittle Red Riding Hood: A Newfangled Fairy Taleandpredictthesecretingredient(sunflowerseeds!).
State StandardsLA 1.1.6. Comprehension: Studentswillextractandconstructmeaningusingpriorknowledge,applyingtextinformation,andmonitoringcomprehensionwhilereadinggradeleveltext.LA 1.2.2. Writing Genres: Studentswillwriteforavarietyofpurposesandaudiencesinmultiplegenres.
Instructional Objectives► Studentswillmakeapredictionandjustificationfortheirpredictionrelatedtothemuffin’s secretingredientafterlisteningtothebook.Studentswillalsowritetheirownrecipe usingsunflowers.
MaterialsBook:Little Red Riding Hood: A Newfangled Fairy Tale(Ernst1998)Supplies:paper,pencilsOther:muffinsmadefromrecipeinbooktoshareattheendofthelesson:
Grandma’s Wheat Berry Muffins:2eggs,½cupmeltedbutterormargarine,1cupsugar,½tsp.almondextract,1cupwheatflour,1cupwhiteflour,1tsp.bakingpowder,½tsp.salt,2cupsblueberries,¼cupsunflowerseeds(Grandma’ssecretingredient!)First turn on the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together the eggs, butter, sugar, and almond extract. In another bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add that to the egg mixture and stir just until combined. Gently stir in the blueberries and the secret ingredient after making sure there are not wolves lurking about. Fill oiled muffin tins ¾ full, and bake for about 20 to 25 minutes.
Sequence
1. ReadLittle Red Riding Hood: A Newfangled Fairy Taletostudents.
2. Havestudentswritearesponsetothequestion:“IthinktheGrandma’ssecretingredientis ___________because______________.”
3. Discussstudents’predictionsandjustificationsforthesecretingredient(sunflowerseeds).
4. Sharemuffinsmadewiththerecipeattheendofthebook.
5. Makealistofotherpossiblefoodsthatcouldbemadewithsunflowerseeds.
6. Havestudentsdescribetherecipe(e.g.,saladwithsunflowerseedssprinkledontop) andillustratetheingredients(e.g.,lettuce,tomatoes,carrotsticks,sunflowerseeds).
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Second Grade Activity 1
Sunflower List PoemsOverview: Studentswillreadaboutsunflowersandlistpoems,thenwritetheirownlistpoemsaboutsunflowers.
State StandardsLA 2.1.6. Comprehension: Studentswillextractandconstructmeaningusingpriorknowledge,applyingtextinformation,andmonitoringcomprehensionwhilereadinggradeleveltext.LA 2.2.1. Writing Process: Studentswillapplythewritingprocesstoplan,draft,revise,editandpublishwritingusingcorrectspelling,grammar,punctuation,andotherstandardconventionsappropriateforgradelevel.LA 2.2.2. Writing Genres: Studentswillwriteforavarietyofpurposesandaudiencesinmultiplegenres.
Instructional Objectives► Studentswillwritelistpoemstoshowwhattheyhavelearnedaboutsunflowers.
MaterialsNonfictionbooksaboutsunflowers:A Handful of Sunshine(Eclare2000);From Seed to Sunflower (Legg1988);Sunflowers(McDonald1997);How a Seed Grows into a Sunflower (Steward2008); The Life Cycle of a Sunflower (Tagliaferro2007)Poetry:Falling Down the Page(Heard2011);“WhatILoveaboutWinter”inWinter Eyes (Florian2000)Supplies:paper,pencils
Sequence
1. Havestudentssearchnonfictionbooksforinformationaboutsunflowers.
2. ReadsomeofthelistpoemsinFalling Down the Pageand“WhatILoveAboutWinter” inWinter Eyes.
3. Havestudentswritetheirownlistpoemaboutasunflower.Forexample:
SeedsplantedRainaddedSunshining
SeedssproutingPlantgrowingBudsappearingFloweropeningSunflower.
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Second Grade Activity 2
Compound WordsOverview: Studentswillmakecompoundwordsandwritesentencesaboutsunflowerswiththem.
State StandardsLA 2.1.5. Vocabulary: Studentswillbuildliterary,generalacademic,andcontentspecificgradelevelvocabulary
Instructional Objectives► Studentswillbuildcompoundwordsandwritesentencesusingthesecompoundwords
MaterialsBook:Once there was a Bull…(Frog)(Walton2011)Supplies:paper,pencils,indexcards,markers.
Sequence
1. ReadOnce there was a Bull…(Frog).Havestudentssupplytheendofthecompoundword whilereadingit.
2. DisplaythewordSUNFLOWER.Discusshowitisacompoundword–SunandFlower addedtogether.
3. Dividetheclassintotwogroups.
4. Giveeachstudentinthefirstgroupanindexcardwithoneofthefollowingwordsonit: butter;grand;in;break;day;sun;home;thunder;black.
5. Giveeachstudentinthesecondgroupanindexcardwithoneofthefollowingwordsonit: fly;mother;side;fast;light;glasses;made;storm;bird.
6. Havethefirstgroupcomeuptothefrontoftheroom.Thesecondgroupshouldlookfora cardinthatgroupthatwhenaddedtotheircardwouldhaveacompoundword.(Forinstance, someoneinthefirstgrouphasSUNandsomeoneinthesecondgrouphasFLOWER,toform thecompoundwordSUNFLOWER.).Studentsshouldbeabletocreate:butterfly;grandmother; inside;breakfast;daylight;sunglasses;homemade;thunderstorm;blackbird.
7. Havestudentsgettogetherwiththeotherhalfoftheircompoundwordandthentogetherwith theirpartnerwriteasentencewiththeircompoundwordinitthatsomehowrelatesto sunflowers.Forinstance,ifthewordissunshine:Sunshineisneededforsunflowers.
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Second Grade Activity 3
Sunflower HaikuOverview: Studentswillwritehaikupoemsaboutsunflowers.
State StandardsLA 2.2.2. Writing Genres: Studentswillwriteforavarietyofpurposesandaudiencesinmultiplegenres.
Instructional Objectives► Studentswillwriteahaikupoemaboutsunflowersusinggoodwordchoice.
MaterialsNonfictionbooksaboutsunflowers:A Handful of Sunshine(Eclare2000);From Seed to Sunflower (Legg1988);Sunflowers(McDonald1997);How a Seed Grows into a Sunflower (Steward2008); The Life Cycle of a Sunflower(Tagliaferro2007)Haikubooks:Dogku(Clements2007);If Not for the Cat(Prelutsky2004);Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys(Raczka2010);The Cuckoo’s Haiku and other Birding Poems(Rosen2009)Supplies:paper,pencils,haikubooksforexamplesofhaiku:
Sequence
1. Havestudentssearchnonfictionbooksforinformationaboutsunflowers.
2. Readsomehaikubooksandreviewtheformatofahaikupoem:
Line1:5syllablesLine2:7syllablesLine3:5syllables
3. Havestudentswriteatleasttwodifferenthaikuaboutsunflowers;forexample:
SunflowerpetalsSurroundacircleofseedsSearchingforthesun
4. IllustratepoemsandcollectinaclassbookwiththenameSunflower-ku.
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Second Grade Activity 4
“I’m Talking Sunflowers” WritingOverview: Studentswillsummarizewhattheyhavelearnedaboutsunflowerswithan“I’mTalking”poem.
State StandardsLA 2.2.2. Writing Genres: Studentswillwriteforavarietyofpurposesandaudiencesinmultiplegenres.
Instructional Objectives► Studentswillshowwhattheyhavelearnedaboutsunflowersintheir“I’mTalking”poem.
MaterialsNonfictionbooksaboutsunflowers:A Handful of Sunshine(Eclare2000);From Seed to Sunflower (Legg1988);Sunflowers(McDonald1997);How a Seed Grows into a Sunflower (Steward2008); The Life Cycle of a Sunflower(Tagliaferro2007)Poetry:“I’mTalkingBig”inMaking Friends with Frankenstein(McNaughton1996)Supplies:paper,pencils,crayons
Sequence
1. Havestudentssearchnonfictionbooksforinformationaboutsunflowers.
2. Sharethepoem“I’mTalkingBig”byColinMcNaughtonwithstudents.
I’mtalkingbig!I’mtalkinghuge!
I’mtalkingenormous,immense,tremendous!I’mtalkinghulking,towering,titanic,mountainous!
I’mtalkingmaximum,massive,stupendous,gigantic,monumental!I’mtalkingfantastic,fabulous,incredible,unbelievable,mammoth,vast!
I’mtalkingastronomical,mighty,monstrous,universal,colossal,magnificent,galactical!I’mtalkingBIG!
3. Havestudentswritean“I’mTalkingSunflowers”poemaboutwhattheyhavelearned; forexample:
I’mtalkingsunflower.I’mtalkingyellow,golden,amber.I’mtalkinghuge,gigantic,immense.I’mtalkingseeds,kernels,source.
I’mtalkingsunseeking,sundrenched,sunsoaking.I’mtalkingsunflower.
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Third Grade Activity 1
Acrostic Poem about SunflowersOverview: Studentswillwriteacrosticpoemsaboutsunflowers.
State StandardsLA 3.2.2. Writing Genres: Studentswillwriteforavarietyofpurposesandaudiencesinmultiplegenres.
Instructional Objectives► Studentswillwriteacrosticpoemsaboutsunflowers.
MaterialsNonfictionbooksaboutsunflowers:A Handful of Sunshine(Eclare2000);From Seed to Sunflower (Legg1988);Sunflowers(McDonald1997);How a Seed Grows into a Sunflower (Steward2008); The Life Cycle of a Sunflower(Tagliaferro2007)Samplesofacrosticpoems:African Acrostics(Harley2009);Silver Seeds: A Book of Nature Poems (PaolilliandBrewer2001);Summer: An Alphabet Acrostic(Schnur2001)Supplies:paper,pencils,markers,crayons
Sequence
1. Havestudentssearchnonfictionbooksforinformationaboutsunflowers.
2. Readacrosticpoetryexamples.
3. Havestudentswritetheirownacrosticpoemsaboutsunflowersandillustratethepoems (examplebelow)
S eedareplanted U nderthegroundandare N uturedbythesunandrainallowing F ortheseedstosproutand L usciousplantstogrowas O peningbudsappearand W idenoutasan E normousflowerfilledwiththeseedstoeventually R eplantassunflowers.
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Third Grade Activity 2
The Important Thing about SunflowersOverview: Studentswillreviewwhattheyhavelearnedaboutsunflowersandwrite“TheImportantThingaboutSunflowers”
State StandardsLA 3.2.2. Writing Genres: Studentswillwriteforavarietyofpurposesandaudiencesinmultiplegenres.
Instructional Objectives► Studentswillwriteaboutfourfactsrelatedtosunflowers.
MaterialsNonfictionbooksaboutsunflowers:A Handful of Sunshine(Eclare2000);From Seed to Sunflower (Legg1988);Sunflowers(McDonald1997);How a Seed Grows into a Sunflower (Steward2008); The Life Cycle of a Sunflower(Tagliaferro2007)Book:The Important Book(Brown1990)Supplies:paper,pencils,markers,crayons,chartorwhiteboard
Sequence
1. Havestudentssearchnonfictionbooksforinformationaboutsunflowers.
2. Discussfactslearnedaboutsunflowersandrecordonchartorwhiteboard.
3. ReadThe Important Booktostudents.
4. HavestudentsusethepatternofthebooktowriteandillustratetheirownImportantBook ofSunflowers(formatandexamplebelow).
5. Collectallstudents’writingandcompileinaclassbook.
Theimportantthingaboutasunfloweris______________.Itis_________________________,Itis_________________________,Anditis_______________________.
Buttheimportantthingaboutasunfloweris_____________.(Firstandlastlinearethesame.)
Theimportantthingaboutasunfloweristhatitalwaysseeksoutthesun.Itsseedisabouthalfofaninchlong.
Itsplantcangrowtobeupto12feethigh.Anditsflowercangrowtoabout16inchesacross.
Buttheimportantthingaboutasunfloweristhatitalwaysseeksoutthesun. 33
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Third Grade Activity 3
Sunflower Alliterative Alphabet BookOverview: Studentswillmakeaclassalliterativealphabetbookaboutsunflowers.
State StandardsLA 3.1.5 Vocabulary: Studentswillbuildliterary,generalacademic,andcontentspecificgradelevelvocabulary. LA 3.2.2. Writing Genres: Studentswillwriteforavarietyofpurposesandaudiencesinmultiplegenres.
Instructional Objectives► Studentswillwriteapageforanalphabetbookaboutsunflowersusingalliteration.
MaterialsNonfictionbooksaboutsunflowers:A Handful of Sunshine(Eclare2000);From Seed to Sunflower (Legg1988);Sunflowers(McDonald1997);How a Seed Grows into a Sunflower (Steward2008); The Life Cycle of a Sunflower(Tagliaferro2007)Alliterativealphabetbooks:Aster Aardvark’s Alphabet Adventures(Kellogg1992);SuperHero ABC (McLeod2006);Alphabet Poem(Rosen2004);Walter was Worried(Seeger2005)Supplies:paper,pencils,markers,crayons
Sequence
1. Havestudentssearchnonfictionbooksforinformationaboutsunflowers.
2. Readsomealliterativealphabetbooks,suchasthoselistedabove.
3. Brainstormwordsforeachletterofthealphabetthatrelatetosunflowers–usecharton nextpage:
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Third Grade Activity 3 (continued)
A B C D
E F G H
I J K L
M N O P
Q R S T
U V W
Y
X
Z
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Fourth Grade Activity 1
How to be a SunflowerOverview: Studentswillwrite“HowtoBe”poemsaboutsunflowers.
State StandardsLA 4.2.1 Writing Process:Studentswillapplythewritingprocesstoplan,draft,revise,editandpublishwritingusingcorrectspelling,grammar,punctuation,andotherstandardconventionsappropriateforgradelevel.LA 4.2.2 Writing Genres: Studentswillwriteforavarietyofpurposesandaudiencesinmultiplegenres.
Instructional Objectives► Studentswillwritea“HowtoBe”freeversepoemincludingfactslearnedaboutsunflowers.
MaterialsNonfictionbooksaboutsunflowers:From Seed to Sunflower (Legg1988);Growing Flowers(Mauerer2001);Sunflowers(McDonald1997);Sunflower Farmer (Gunderson2008);To Be Like the Sun(Swanson2008);Sunflower! (Welch1980)Supplies:paper,pencils
Sequence
1. Havestudentssearchnonfictionbooksforinformationaboutsunflowers.
2. Modelthewritingofa“HowTo”freeversepoemand/orsharethefollowingpoem:
How to be a Sunflower
Growupto12feettallBea“sun-seeker”(alwaysfollowingthesun)
BethenationalflowerofRussia.BethestateflowerofKansas.
Allowyourseedstobeusedasanimalfeed.
3. Havestudentswritetheirownversionsof“HowtobeaSunflower”withfactstheylearn andpublishpoemsinaclassbook.
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Fourth Grade Activity 2
Sunflower Percent PoemsOverview: Studentswillwritepercentpoemstoshowwhattheylearnedaboutsunflowers
State StandardsLA 4.2.1 Writing Process:Studentswillapplythewritingprocesstoplan,draft,revise,editandpublishwritingusingcorrectspelling,grammar,punctuation,andotherstandardconventionsappropriateforgradelevel.LA 4.2.2 Writing Genres: Studentswillwriteforavarietyofpurposesandaudiencesinmultiplegenres.
Instructional Objectives► Studentswillwritepercentpoemstodemonstrateinformationlearnedaboutsunflowers.
MaterialsPercentpoemexample(below)Book:Practical Poetry: A Nonstandard Approach to Meeting Content-Area Standards (Holbrook2005)Nonfictionbooksaboutsunflowers:From Seed to Sunflower (Legg1988);Growing Flowers(Mauerer2001);Sunflowers(McDonald1997);Sunflower Farmer (Gunderson2008);To Be Like the Sun(Swanson2008);Sunflower! (Welch1980)Supplies:paper,pencils
Sequence
1. SharetheautobiographicalpercentpoembelowfromPractical Poetry: A Nonstandard Approach to Meeting Content-Area Standards (Holbrook2005)
100% Ryan
Iam30%plump3%brownhair
10%Mr.PeanutWorship20%football10%red2%braces
5%marshmallowsAndI’m20%jollyIfyouadditallup
Itisequivalenttome.
--Ryan,Grade6
2. Havestudentssearchnonfictionbooksforinformationaboutsunflowers.37
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Fourth Grade Activity 2 (continued)
3. Havestudentswriteapercentpoemaboutsunflowers(examplebelow).
10%hopefulseeds10%richdirt
25%goldensunshine10%refreshingrain10%fuzzystalks10%fragilebuds25%perfectpetals
Equals100%spectacularsunflowers
4. Encouragestudentstoworkinpairstomakesurethepercentstotalupto100.
5. Shareanddisplaypercentpoems.
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Fourth Grade Activity 3
Sunflower Vocabulary BingoOverview: StudentswillplayBingousingsunflowerterminology.
State StandardsLA 4.1.5 Vocabulary: Studentswillbuildliterary,generalacademic,andcontentspecificgradelevelvocabulary.
Instructional Objectives► StudentswillplayBingowithvocabularywordstoreviewvocabularylearnedaboutsunflowers.
MaterialsNonfictionbooksaboutsunflowers:From Seed to Sunflower (Legg1988);Growing Flowers(Mauerer2001);Sunflowers(McDonald1997);Sunflower Farmer (Gunderson2008);To Be Like the Sun(Swanson2008);Sunflower! (Welch1980)Supplies:Bingocards(nextpage),sunflowerseedsusedformarkers,definitioncards
Sequence
1. Reviewvocabularylearnedfromreadingtheabovenonfictionbooks.2. GiveeachstudentapileofsunflowerseedstouseasBingocardmarkers.3. PlayBingo(traditionaldiagonal,horizontalrow,orverticalcolumn,orblackout[whereall squaresneedtobecovered])byreadingthesecondpart(thedefinition)andhavestudents findthecorrecttermontheirBingocard. Bloom–tohaveflowers Bracts–leavesgrowingfromtheflowerofaplant Bud–aflowerthathasn’topenedyet Flower-thepartoftheplantthatmakesseeds Heliotropism–anaturalmovementthatfollowssunlight Leaf-flat,greenpartofaplantthatgrowsfromthestem Petal–oneofthecoloredouterpartsoftheflower Roots–partofplanthatgrowsdownintothegroundandtakesinwaterandfoodtofeedtheplant Seed-thepartofafloweringplantfromwhichanewplantwillgrow Sprout-aneworyoungplantgrowth Stem–themainpartofaplantthatsupportstheleavesandflowers Sunflower–alargeflowerwithyellowpetalsandadarkcenter. Kansas–thesunflowerisitsstateflower. Russia–thesunflowerisitsnationalflower. Botanists–peoplewhostudyplants Helianthus(hee-lee-AN-thus)–nameofsunflowersgivenbybotanists: Helios(HEE-lee-ose)whichmeanssun Anthos(AN-thoce)whichmeansflower Tournesol(TURN-i-so)whichmeans”turnwiththesun”inFrench Diskflowers–thecenterofasunflowerismadeofhundredsoftheseverysmallflowers. Grouse–Oneoftheanimalswhoeatsunflowerseeds Groundhogs–Oneoftheanimalswhoeattherootsofasunflower. Oilseeds-smallerblackseeds Confectionseeds-gray-stripedseeds Cookingoil-Oneoftheproductsmadefromsunflowerseeds. 39
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Fourth Grade Activity 3 (continued)
B I N G O
Botanists Helianthus Helios Anthos Tournesol
Disk flowers Bloom Bracts Bud Flower
Heliotropism Leaf Petal Roots Seed
Sprout Stem Sunflower Kansas Russia
Grouse Groundhog Oilseeds Confection seeds Cooking oil
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Fourth Grade Activity 4
“I Know it’s a Sunflower” PoemOverview: Studentswillwrite“IKnowIt’saSunflower”poems.
State StandardsLA 4.2.1 Writing Process:Studentswillapplythewritingprocesstoplan,draft,revise,editandpublishwritingusingcorrectspelling,grammar,punctuation,andotherstandardconventionsappropriateforgradelevel.LA 4.2.2 Writing Genres: Studentswillwriteforavarietyofpurposesandaudiencesinmultiplegenres.
Instructional Objectives► Studentswillwriteapoemaboutsunflowerusingfactslearnedaboutthem.
MaterialsBooks:I Know It’s Fall(Spinelli2005);The Scholastic Rhyming Dictionary(Young1994)Supplies:paper,pencils
Sequence
1. ReadI Know It’s Falltostudents.
2. Discusstheformatofthebook(everypagestartswiththeline“Iknowit’sfall…”)andhas arhymingcouplet(twolinesthatrhymewitheachother).
3. Reviewfactslearnedaboutsunflowersfrompreviouslessons.
4. Modelthewritingofpoemonthetheme“IKnowIt’sASunflower”orsharethisone:
Iknowit’sasunflowerwhentheflowersstarttogrowAndfollowthesun’swarminglightglow.Iknowit’sasunflowerwhenit’s12feettall
Andbloomingflowerssignalthatsoonitwillbefall.
5. Havestudentswritetheirownpoemonthetheme“IKnowIt’saSunflower.”
6. Publishstudentpoemsinagroupbookofpoetry.
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Fourth Grade Activity 5
Sunflower Poetry PicksOverview: Studentswillchooseatypeofpoetrytowriteaboutsunflowers.
State StandardsLA 4.2.1 Writing Process:Studentswillapplythewritingprocesstoplan,draft,revise,editandpublishwritingusingcorrectspelling,grammar,punctuation,andotherstandardconventionsappropriateforgradelevel.LA 4.2.2 Writing Genres: Studentswillwriteforavarietyofpurposesandaudiencesinmultiplegenres.
Instructional Objectives► Studentswillchooseatypeofpoetrytowriteaboutsunflowers.
MaterialsNonfictionbooksaboutsunflowers:From Seed to Sunflower(Legg1988);Growing Flowers(Mauerer2001);Sunflowers(McDonald1997);Sunflower Farmer(Gunderson2008);To Be Like the Sun (Swanson2008);Sunflower! (Welch1980)Examplesofpoetrytypes(providedbelowifneeded)Supplies:paper,pencils
Sequence
1. Havestudentspreviewfivedifferenttypesofpoetry:alphabetpyramid,cinquainpoem, definitionpoem,diamantepoem,andpatternedpoem(formatandexamplesbelow).
2. Letstudentschooseatypeofpoetryandusethatformattoshowwhattheyhavelearned aboutsunflowers.
Alphabet Pyramid
Line1:theletter;Line2:anoun
Line3:addanadjectiveLine4:addaverb
Line5:addanadverb
SSunflower
SunnySunflowerSunnySunflowerShines
SunnySunflowerShinesSilently
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Fourth Grade Activity 5 (continued)
Cinquain Poem
Line1:SubjectLine2:foursyllablesdescribingsubjectLine3:sixsyllablesshowingaction
Line4:eightsyllablesexpressingfeelingorobservationaboutsubjectLine5:twosyllablesrenamingsubject
SunflowerSunworshipping
Budding,sprouting,growingAlwayssearchingforthehotsun
Sunseeker
Definition Poem
Line1:NameitLine2:Describeit,renameit
Line3:TellwhereitwouldbefoundLine4:Tellmoreaboutit
Line5:UseemotionwordstotellhowyoufeelaboutitLine6:Explainwhyyouusedtheemotionwordsinline5
SunflowerSunworshipper
FoundinsplendidfieldsinlatesummerAlwayscheerful,alwayssearchingConstantcompanionofthesun
Diamante Poem
Line1:NounLine2:2adjectivesdescribingnounLine3:3-ingwordsdescribingnoun
Line4:2nounsaboutnounabove,2nounsaboutnounbelowLine5:3-ingwordsdescribingnounbelowLine6:2adjectivesdescribingnounbelow
Line7:Noun
sunflowersunnyGolden
sproutingbuddingbloomingpetalsseedsKernelsHusks
ShuckingBoilingButteringSweetCrunchy
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Fourth Grade Activity 5 (continued)
Patterned Poem
“ILike”
Ilikenoun!Ilikenoun!
AdjectivenounAdjectivenounAdjectivenounAdjectivenoun
Anykindofnoun!Ilikenoun!
Nounprepositionalphrase…Nounprepositionalphrase…Nounprepositionalphrase…Nounprepositionalphrase…
Ilikenoun!
Ilikesunflowers!Ilikesunflowers!GoldensunflowersButterysunflowersAmbersunflowersSunnysunflowers
Anykindofsunflower!Ilikesunflowers!
SunflowersheapedwithseedsSunflowersblowinginthebreezeSunflowersplantedinspring
SunflowersbloominginsummerIlikesunflowers!
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Fifth Grade Activity 1
Free Verse Sunflower PoetryOverview: Studentswillwriteafreeversepoemaboutsunflowers.
State StandardsLA 5.2.1 Writing Process:Studentswillapplythewritingprocesstoplan,draft,revise,editandpublishwritingusingcorrectspelling,grammar,punctuation,andotherstandardconventionsappropriateforgradelevel.LA 5.2.2 Writing Genres: Studentswillwriteforavarietyofpurposesandaudiencesinmultiplegenres.
Instructional Objectives► Studentswillwritefreeversepoetryaboutsunflowers.
MaterialsNonfictionbooksaboutsunflowers:From Seed to Sunflower(Legg1988);Growing Flowers(Mauerer2001);Sunflowers(McDonald1997);Sunflower Farmer(Gunderson2008); To Be Like the Sun (Swanson2008);Sunflower!(Welch1980)Examplesoffreeversepoetry(providedbelowifneeded)Supplies:paper,pencilspaper
Sequence
1. Havestudentswriteversepoemstoshowwhattheyhavelearnedaboutsunflowers.See examplesbelow.Encouragestudentstoreviseandeditthepoemstotakethemtofinaldrafts.
Example 1:Havestudentswritealetteraddressedtothesunflower,completewithquestions andcompliments:
Sunflower,Youshinesobrightlyinfieldsofgold.Youaresplendidsunworshippers.
Whatdoyoutalkaboutwithyourfriendsinthefields?Whatsunscreendoyouuse?
Example 2:Endeachlinewiththephrase“tobelikethesun,”asinthebookTo be Like the Sun (Swanson2008)
Sunflowersaredisksofgoldenpetals…tobelikethesun.Sunflowersarefilledwithsunnyseeds…tobelikethesun.
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Fifth Grade Activity 1 (continued)
Example 3:Writeafreeversepoemofquestions,assuggestedbythispoemfromthebook Blue Iris (Oliver2004)
The Sunflowers
ComewithmeIntothefieldofsunflowers.
Theirfacesareburnisheddisks,Theirdryspines
Creaklikeshipmasts,Theirgreenleaves,Soheavyandmany,
FillalldaywiththestickySugarsofthesun.Comewithme
Tovisitthesunflowers,Theyareshy
Butwanttobefriends;TheyhavewonderfulstoriesOfwhentheywereyoung–Theimportantweather,Thewanderingcrows,
Don’tbeafraidToaskthemquestions!!!
Example 4:Comparesunflowerstoatypeofmusic,asinthispoemfromthebookPumpkin Butterfly: Poems from the Other Side of Nature(Mordhorst2009)
Botanical Jazz
Quietdown,flower—Notsoloud!
AllthisstretchingyourneckAndspreadingyourarms
Bellowingyourbrassyyellowsass—
You’rebreakingoureyedrumsTrumpetingallthatcolorandsunBlowingthatblazingyellowjazz…
Beltitout,flower—We’lljoinin!
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Fifth Grade Activity 2
Making Connections to Sunflower QuotesOverview: Studentswillwriteabouttheirconnectionstosunflowerquotes.
State StandardsLA 5.1.6 Comprehension: Studentswillextractandconstructmeaningusingpriorknowledge,applyingtextinformation,andmonitoringcomprehensionwhilereadinggradeleveltext.LA 5.1.6.m: Buildandactivatepriorknowledgeinordertoidentifytexttoself,texttotext,andtexttoworldconnectionsbefore,during,andafterreading.LA 5.2.1 Writing Process: Studentswillapplythewritingprocesstoplan,draft,revise,editandpublishwritingusingcorrectspelling,grammar,punctuation,andotherstandardconventionsappropriateforgradelevel.LA 5.2.2 Writing Genres: Studentswillwriteforavarietyofpurposesandaudiencesinmultiplegenres.
Instructional Objectives► Studentswillwriteaboutconnectionstheyhavetosunflowerquotes.
MaterialsSunflowerquotes(providedbelow)Supplies:paper,pencils
Sequence
1. Displaythefollowingquotesaboutsunflowersanddiscusstheirpossiblemeanings.
■ “Beliketheflower,turnyourfacetothesun.”(KahlilGibran)■ “Thesunflowerisafavoriteemblemofconstancy.”(ThomasBulfinch)■ “Flowershaveanexpressionofcountenanceasmuchasmenoranimals.Someseemto smile;…othersareplain,honestandupright,likethebroad-facedsunflower…” (HenryWardBeecher)■ “Iwouldratherhavebeenatallsunflower;Livinginacountrygarden;Liftinga golden-brownfacetothesummer.”(CarlSandburg)■ “Turnyourfacetothesunandtheshadowsfallbehindyou.”(MaoriProverb)■ “Keepyourfacetothesunshineandyoucannotseetheshadow.It’swhatsunflowersdo.” (HelenKeller)■ “Ishouldliketochangeintoasunflowermostofall.They’resotallandsimple.” (ColinHiggins)
2. Havestudentschoosetheirfavoritequoteandwriteabouttheirconnectiontothequote (text-lifeconnections)ortheirideasonwhatthequotesmeanintheworld (text-worldconnections).Modelthewritingoftheconnectionordoonetogetheror usetheexampleprovidedbelow.
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Fifth Grade Activity 2 (continued)
Example:“Keepyourfacetothesunshineandyoucannotseetheshadow.It’swhat sunflowersdo.”--HelenKeller.Ithinkthisquotemeansthatyoushouldalwayslookforthe goodorthepositive,evenwhensomethingbadhappens.Forinstance,afterbeingcaughtinadownpourwhenyoudon’thaveanumbrella,youmaybedrenchedandwet,butlookupandyou’llseeabeautifulrainbowinthesky.Orenjoythedownpourandcelebratetherain,especiallyinayearinwhichwehadverylittlerain.Clotheswilldry,butcropsandflowersreallyneedtheraintogrowandprosper.
3. Displaystudents’workanddiscussdifferences/similaritiesinstudents’connectionsor explanationsofsimilarquotes.
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Fifth Grade Activity 3
Taking Courage from SunflowersOverview: StudentswillwritejournalentriesasiftheywereacharacterinaJapaneseinternmentcampgrowingsunflowers.
State StandardsLA 5.1.6 Comprehension: Studentswillextractandconstructmeaningusingpriorknowledge,applyingtextinformation,andmonitoringcomprehensionwhilereadinggradeleveltext.LA 5.2.1 Writing Process: Studentswillapplythewritingprocesstoplan,draft,revise,editandpublishwritingusingcorrectspelling,grammar,punctuation,andotherstandardconventionsappropriateforgradelevel.LA 5.2.2 Writing Genres: Studentswillwriteforavarietyofpurposesandaudiencesinmultiplegenres.
Instructional Objectives► StudentswillwritejournalentriesasiftheywereacharacterinaJapaneseinternmentcamp growingsunflowers,describingtheimportanceofapositivefocusinadismalsituation.
MaterialsBook:A Place Where Sunflowers Grow(Lee-Tai2006)Supplies:paper,pencils
Sequence
1. ReadA Place Where Sunflowers Growtostudents.Thisbookisbasedonatruestoryfromthe author’smotherandgrandmother’sexperienceattheTopazRelocationCenter.Mariandher familyareinternedatTopazRelocationCenter(aJapaneseinternmentcamp)inUtahduring WorldWarII.Topassthetimesheplantssunflowerseedsandgoestoartclasses.The sunflowersgivethemhopeandremindthemoftheirbackyardinCalifornia.Theylivedthere for3½years.EventhoughtheUtahgroundwasdry,thesunflowerseventuallygrewand gavethemhope.
2. Afterreadingthebook,discussJapaneseinternmentcamps(suggestedresourcebooksare listedbelow).
3. HavestudentswritesimulatedjournalentriesasiftheywereMariinthebook,longingforthe sunflowerstoblossom.Havethemfocustheirentriesonflowersandthepromiseofflowersas abrightspotinadismalcamp.
Historicalfiction:So Far from the Sea(Bunting1998);Flowers from Mariko(Jenks2001);The Bracelet(Uchida1993)Nonfiction:Remembering Manzanar: Life in a Japanese Relocation Camp(Cooper2002);Dear Miss Breed: True Stories of the Japanese American Incarceration during World War II and the Librarian Who Made a Difference(Oppenheim2006);Japanese American Internment Camps(Sakural2007);Life in a Japanese American Internment Camp(Yancey1998) 49
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Fifth Grade Activity 4
Writing Song Lyrics about SunflowersOverview: Studentswillwritelyricsaboutsunflowers.
State StandardsLA 5.1.6 Comprehension: Studentswillextractandconstructmeaningusingpriorknowledge,applyingtextinformation,andmonitoringcomprehensionwhilereadinggradeleveltext.LA 5.2.1 Writing Process: Studentswillapplythewritingprocesstoplan,draft,revise,editandpublishwritingusingcorrectspelling,grammar,punctuation,andotherstandardconventionsappropriateforgradelevel.LA 5.2.2 Writing Genres: Studentswillwriteforavarietyofpurposesandaudiencesinmultiplegenres.
Instructional Objectives► Studentswillwritesonglyricsaboutsunflowerstoshowwhattheyhavelearned.
MaterialsSupplies:paper,pencils
Sequence
1. Readthewordsofthesongbelowtostudents.Thewordsarefromthechorusof“TheBig Sunflower”(wordsandmusicbyBobbyNewcomb,1868).Thischeerfultunewas“Pa’s troublesong”fromtheLauraIngallsWilderbooks,Little House on the Prairie.“Pa,”the fatherofthefamily,sangthesongduringblizzardstoremindhimselfofsunnytimes.
AndIfeeljustashappyasabigsunflowerThatnodsandbendsinthebreezes
AndmyheartisaslightasthewindthatblowsTheleavesfromoffthetrees---es.
2. Encouragestudentstowritesomelyricsorversestothesong,perhapshighlightingsome factstheyhavelearnedaboutsunflowers(examplebelow).
SunflowersblossomandwaveStrong,sturdy,andbraveAlwaysfacingforthesunUntilthedayisdone.
3. Performtheversesandaddtherefrainfromtherealsong(foundin:Best Loved Songs of the American People(Agay1975,p.141)orThe Laura Ingalls Wilder Songbook (Garson1968,pp.114-116).
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Fifth Grade Activity 5
Van Gogh’s SunflowersOverview: StudentswillwriteaboutVincentVanGoghandtheimpactsunflowershadonhislife.
State StandardsLA 5.1.6 Comprehension: Studentswillextractandconstructmeaningusingpriorknowledge,applyingtextinformation,andmonitoringcomprehensionwhilereadinggradeleveltext.LA 5.2.1 Writing Process: Studentswillapplythewritingprocesstoplan,draft,revise,editandpublishwritingusingcorrectspelling,grammar,punctuation,andotherstandardconventionsappropriateforgradelevel.LA 5.2.2 Writing Genres: Studentswillwriteforavarietyofpurposesandaudiencesinmultiplegenres.
Instructional Objectives► StudentswillwriteaboutVincentVanGoghandhisconnectiontosunflowers.
MaterialsSupplies:paper,pencilsBooksaboutVincentVanGogh:Camille and the Sunflowers: A Story about Vincent Van Gogh(Anholt1994);Van Gogh(Bernard1999);Van Gogh(Crispinoetal.2008);Vincent Van Gogh(Eileen1997);Vincent Van Gogh(Green2002);Vincent Van Gogh: Portrait of an Artist(GreenandJordan2001);Vincent Van Gogh(Lucas1997);Katie and the Sunflowers(Mayhew2001)
Sequence1. HavestudentsreadVincentVanGoghbiographiesandhavestudentskeepnotesonimportant elementsofhislife.
2. HavestudentsviewwebsitesthatfeatureVanGogh’spaintingsofsunflowers,suchas:
http://www.vggallery.com/misc/sunflowers.htm http://www.vangoghgallery.com/painting/sunflowerartists.html
3. HavestudentsoptionswritebiographiesofVincentVanGogh,chosingeitheraclerihewpoem orabiopoemformat(formatsandexamplesbelow).
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Fifth Grade Activity 5 (continued)
Clerihew Poem
NameRhyme(withname)
Rhyme(withbelowline)Rhyme(withaboveline)
VincentVanGoghUsedhispaintingstoshow
ThevibrantflowersofthesunBeforehislifewasdone.
Bio Poem
Line1:FirstnameonlyLine2:Fouradjectivesdescribingtheperson
Line3:Familyinformation(Son/daughterof…orSiblingof…Significantotherof…)Line4:Wholoves…(3thingsorideas)Line5:Whofeels…(3thingsorideas)Line6:Whofears…(3thingsorideas)
Line7:Whowouldliketosee(3thingsorideas)Line8:Residentof…Line9:Lastnameonly
VincentArtistic,creative,complicated,observant
BrotherofTheoWholovedhisbrother,sunflowers,impressionism.
WhofeltcreativeatArles,France;energeticwhenpainting;peacewhenpaintingoutside.Whofearedpoverty,darkness,notbeingabletoexpresshimselfinpaintings
Whowantedtoseemoresunshine,morecolors,morestarsResidentofmanyartmuseums
VanGogh
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Appendix
Suggested BooksThefollowingbooksarelistedinthecurriculumactivities,withappropriategradelevelindicatedinparentheses.
Agay,D.1975.Best Loved Songs of the American People(R.Lonette,illustrator).GardenCity,NY: Doubleday&Co.(G5)Anholt,L.1994.Camille and the Sunflowers: A Story about Vincent Van Gogh.Hauppauge,NY: Barrons(G5)Barry,F.2008.Big Yellow Sunflower.Cambridge,MA:CandlewickPress(PK)Bernard,B.1999.Van Gogh.NewYork:DorlingKindersley(G5)Brown,M.1990.The Important Book. NewYork:HarperCollins(G3)Bruce,L.1999.Fran’s Flower(R.Beardshaw,illustrator).NewYork:HarperCollins(G1)Bunting,E.1996.Sunflower House(K.Hewitt,illustrator).SanDiego:HarcourtBrace(K)Bunting,E.1998.So Far from the Sea.NewYork:Clarion(G5)Clements,A.2007.Dogku(T.Bowers,illustrator).NewYork:Simon&Shuster(G2)Cooper,M.2002.Remembering Manzanar: Life in a Japanese Relocation Camp.NewYork: Clarion(G5)Crispino,E.,B.Simone,andS.Ashley.2008.Van Gogh.Minneapolis:OliverPress(G5)Eclare,M.2008.A Handful of Sunshine.Brooklyn,NY:RaggedBears(PK,G2,G3)Eileen,L.1997.Vincent Van Gogh.Minneapolis:Carolrhoda(G5)Ernst,L.1998.Little Red Riding Hood: A Newfangled Fairy Tale.NewYork:Simon&Schuster(G1)Florian,D.2000.Winter Eyes.NewYork:Scholastic(G2)Ford,M.1995.Sunflower (S.Noll,illustrator).NewYork:Greenwillow(K)Garson,E.1968. The Laura Ingalls Wilder Songbook(G.Williams,illustrator).NewYork: Harper&Row(G5)Green,J.2002.Vincent Van Gogh.NewYork:Watts(G5)Greenberg,andS.Jordan.2001.Vincent Van Gogh: Portrait of an Artist.NewYork:Delacorte(G5)Gunderson,J.2008.Sunflower Farmer (R.Haugen,illustrator).Minneapolis,MN:PictureWindow Books(G4,G5)Harley,A.2009.African Acrostics(D.Noyes,illustrator).Cambridge,MA:CandlewickPress(G3)Heard,G.2011.Falling Down the Page.NewYork:RoaringBrookPress(G2)Hobbie,H.1999. Toot and Puddle: You are My SunshinebyH.Hobbie(1999)Boston:Little, Brown(PK)Holbrook,S.2005.Practical Poetry: A Nonstandard Approach to Meeting Content-Area Standards. Portsmouth,NH:Heinemann(G4)Jenks,D.2001.Flowers from Mariko.NewYork:Lee&Low(G5)Kellogg,S.1992.Aster Aardvark’s Alphabet Adventures.NewYork:HarperCollins(G3)Lee-Tai,A.2006.A Place Where Sunflowers Grow(F.Hoshino,illustrator).SanFrancisco: Children’sBookPress(G5)
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Suggested Books (continued)
Legg,G.1988.From Seed to Sunflower(C.Scrace,illustrator).NewYork:FranklinWatts (G2,G3,G4,G5)Lucas,E.1997.Vincent Van Gogh.Minneapolis:Carolrhoda(G5)Mauerer,T.2001.Growing Flowers.VeroBeach,FL:TheRourkeBookCo.(G4,G5)Mayhew,J.2001.Katie and the Sunflowers.NewYork:Orchard(G5)McDonald,M.1997.Sunflowers.NewYork:TheChild’sWorld(G3,G4,G5)McLeod,B.2006.SuperHero ABC.NewYork:HarperCollins(G3)McNaughton,C.1996.Making Friends with Frankenstein.Cambridge,MA:CandlewickPress(G2)Mordhorst,H.2009.Pumpkin Butterfly: Poems from the Other Side of Nature (J.Reynish,illustrator). Honesdale,PA:Wordsong(G5)Oliver,M.2004.Blue Iris: Poems and Essays.Boston:BeaconPress(G5)Oppenheim,J.2006.Dear Miss Breed: True Stories of the Japanese American Incarceration during World War II and the Librarian Who Made a Difference.NewYork:Scholastic(G5)Paolilli,P.andD.Brewer.2001.Silver Seeds: A Book of Nature Poems(S.Johnson,illustrator). NewYork:Viking(G3)Parr,T.2004.Do’s and Don’ts.Boston:Little,Brown(G1)Prelutsky,J.2004.If Not for the Cat(T.Rand,illustrator).NewYork:Greenwillow(G2)Raczka,B.2010.Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys(P.Reynolds,illustrator).Boston:Houghton Mifflin(G2)Rosen,M.2004.Alphabet Poem.NewYork:MiletPublishing(G3)Rosen,M.2009.The Cuckoo’s Haiku and other Birding Poems(S.Fellows,illustrator). Cambridge,MA:CandlewickPress(G2)Sakural,G.2007.Japanese American Internment Camps.NewYork:Children’sPress(G5)Saunders-Smith,G.1998.Sunflowers.Mankato,MN:PebbleBooks(G1)Schaefer,L.2000.This is the Sunflower (D.Crews,illustrator).NewYork:HarperCollins(G1)Schnur,S.2001.Summer: An Alphabet Acrostic.NewYork:Clarion(G3)Seeger,L.2005.Walter was Worried.NewYork:RoaringBrookPress(G3)Spinelli,E.2005.I Know it’s Fall(N.Hayashi,illustrator).NewYork:Scholastic(G4)Steward,D.2008. How a Seed Grows into a Sunflower(C.Franklin,illustrator).NewYork: Scholastic(G3)Swanson,S.2008.To Be Like the Sun(M.Chodos-Irvine,illustrator).Orlando,FL:Harcourt (K;G4,G5)Tagliaferro,L.2007.The Life Cycle of a Sunflower.Mankato,MN:CapstonePress(G2,G3)Uchida,Y.1993.The Bracelet.NewYork:Philomel(G5)Walton,R.2011.Once there was a Bull…(Frog)(G.Hally,illustrator).NewYork:GibbsSmith(G2)Welch,M.1980.Sunflower!NewYork:Morrow(G4,G5)Yancey,D.1998.Life in a Japanese American Internment Camp.SanDiego:Lucent(G5)Young,S.1994.The Scholastic Rhyming Dictionary.NewYork:Scholastic(G4)
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