Parts of a Flower for the First Grade

Teaching the parts of a flower can be fun.

Elementary students love science. Teaching the parts of the flower can be fun and educational at the same time. Whenever teaching any new concept, you should always begin by finding out what the students already know. After determining what the first-graders know, it's time to begin fun activities that teach the main parts of the flower and their functions---the roots, stem, leaves, and petals.

Take a Field Trip

Taking the students to a greenhouse can be an effective teaching strategy. In this manner, they will be able to see different types of flowers and how each has unique petals, leaves, stems and roots. After teaching the students about the flower parts and functions, allow them to purchase a flower from the greenhouse to take home and plant in their own yard or back to the school playground to create a classroom flower garden.

Make a Craft

To create a wonderful classroom flower display, give each student a coffee filter, a cupcake holder and washable markers. Ask them to color one side of each, and once they have done so, spray them lightly with water. While they are drying, have students cut a green strip out of construction paper for the stem and two teardrop-shaped pieces for the leaves. Teachers may want to have the leaves pre-cut to save time. While everything is drying, the teacher can discuss flowers with the students, create a concept map about their prior knowledge and introduce the parts of the flower and their functions. Once the coffee filters and cupcake holders are dry, the students can glue the stem onto the back of the coffee filter, and then glue the cupcake holder onto the middle of the coffee filter. Lastly, students can glue the leaves onto the flower. At the end of the activity, ask students to share their flower with a neighbor by identifying each flower part and its function.

Incorporate Literature

Visit the school library and acquire a book about flowers. After reading the book aloud, discuss the parts of the flower and their functions. Have students draw their own flower and label the parts. Provide access to books about flowers and plants in the classroom library and allow students time to read them throughout the course of the unit.

References

• Elementary Teacher: Parts of a Flower