Free Nature Studies: A Plant & Its Flower

Flowers protect the seeds that are necessary for the reproduction of the plant.

Read the current chapter online: “A Plant and Its Flower”

Suggestions

Listen to Edward MacDowell’s “To a Wild Rose.”
Copy Luke 12:27 into your notebook.
Add a page in your notebook for each of the flowers mentioned:
- Peony.
- Water lily.
- Cherry blossom.
- Buttercup.
- Lily.
- Tulip.
You can view the parts of the flower as they are discussed by referencing this Flower Anatomy diagram at EnchantedLearning.com. For more information see resources below.
For a closeup of pollen, see a variety of pollen grains under an electron microscope.
Dissect a flower to see the inside of a pistil. You’ll find resources below.
View an animated illustration of fertilization taking place inside a flower at the University of Western Cape.
Something to do #1 & 2: You’ll find resources below to help you label the parts of a flower.
Something to do #3: Create a flower notebook to include the ten common flowers of your neighborhood. You’ll find helps below.
Something to do #4: You’ll find help for planning and planting a flower garden below.
Something to do #5: Keep a journal to record your flower observations. Include dates, illustrations, and other comments.
Memorize Luke 12:27.
Read, memorize and/or copy “Discontent,” by Sarah Orne Jewett.
Add the following words along with an illustration/definition to your notebook:
- Bracts.
- Calyx.
- Sepals.
- Corolla.
- Petal.
- Stamen.
- Pollen.
- Flowering leaves.
More about flowers from the Book of Knowledge:

Flowers are important to plants because flowers are necessary for the production of seeds, and seeds bring about the reproduction of the plant. Most of the plants we know best — the rose, the daisy, the lily and so on — produce flowers. Most trees have flowers, and so do all of the vegetables we eat, the grass on the lawn and all weeds (except a couple of ferns and the horsetail, which act as weeds in some places)….

A typical flower includes the following parts:

1. The sepals, usually green and somewhat leaf-like. They protect the inner parts of the flower when it is a bud. Taken together the sepals form the calyx.

2. The petals. These are the part of the flower we notice most, because they are often large and brightly colored. They attract the insects, or birds in some cases, which carry pollen from one flower to another. Taken together the petals form the corolla.

3. The stamens. These consist of a stalk (sometimes thread-like) called the filament; and the anther, which grows at the tip of the filament. The anther is the important part, because it produces the precious pollen. Most flowers have a number of stamens.

4. In the center of the flower is the pistil, or several pistils. Most flowers, such as the cherry, the orchid and the violet, have only one pistil. Some have more, and the strawberry and buttercup flowers may have a hundred or more. Botanists use the word carpel for each pistil when there are several separate ones. The pistil consists of three parts: at the top, the stigma, which is either sticky or feathery and which catches the pollen grains; the style, which connects the stigma and the ovary; and the ovary at the base. The ovary is the most important part of the pistil. It contains one or more ovules. The ovules later become seeds.
“The Structure of Seed Plants,” The Book of Knowledge

Plants
Ready to go outdoors? The Handbook of Nature Study covers plants beginning on page 453, and continuing through page 731. The beginning pages cover how to begin the study of plants and their flowers, and then follow guidelines for investigating specific wildflowers, weeds, garden flowers, cultivated crop plants, trees, and flowerless plants.

Further Investigation

Flowers
The parts of the flower and diagram for older students at the University of Western Cape.

Flower Parts
An interactive learning tool, part of The Great Plant Escape, from the University of Illinois. The labeling activity begins here.

Plant Structures: Flowers
The function, structure, and arrangement of flowers from the Colorado State University Extension Center for older students.

Wildflowers
A directory of wildflower sites at GardeningLaunchPad.com to help you locate flowers common to your area.

Activities

Flower Dissection Instructions
Instructions at Education World.

Interactive Virtual Flower Dissection
See the flower up close.

Label a Flower
Worksheet at EnchantedLearning.com.

My First Garden
Interactive at the University of Illinois Extension with lots of tools for helping young people start their first garden.

Flower Cups
A Crayola craft activity.

Books

The First Book of Plants {Free eBook}
Free public domain title that makes an excellent introduction to plants and can be used as a helpful plant study reference.

Wild Flowers Worth Knowing by Neltje Blanchan
Beautiful public domain work with color illustrations.

The World of Plants by Dinah Zike
Dinah Zike was known for her foldables before lapbooks became popular. In this book she incorporates that learning tool with learning about plants. Includes 24 complete lessons including templates, activities, the scientific method and suggestions for further activities and research. You’ll find an example lesson at the publisher’s website. Lessons on roots, stems and leaves are included.