DIY Homeschooler

This selection is taken from a Cornell Nature Study Leaflet of 1904. These publications contained ideas for studying nature:

It is a fundamental educational process, because it begins with the concrete and simple, develops the power of observation, relates the child to its environment, develops sympathy for the common and the near-at-hand.

In this supplement, the topic of observation was the dandelion.

The first warmth of spring brought the dandelions out of the banks and knolls. They were the first proofs that winter was really going, and we began to listen for the blackbirds and swallows. We loved the bright flowers, for they were so many reflections of the warming sun. They soon became more familiar, and invaded the yards. Then they overran the lawns, and we began to despise them. We hated them because we had made up our minds not to have them, not because they were unlovable. In spite of every effort, we could not get rid of them. Then if we must have them, we decided to love them. Where once were weeds are now golden coins scattered in the sun, and bees revelling in color; and we are happy!

L. H. Bailey

Suggestions

Have your students do one or more of the following:

• Go outside for ten minutes to observe dandelions.
• Write down in your notebook answers to the following questions (writing in complete thoughts and sentences as though no questions were asked):
  • What time of day is it?
  • Is the sun shining or is it cloudy?
  • Do dandelions act the same no matter what hour it is?
  • Does the weather affect how the dandelion acts?
  • How many do you see as you stand in one place? Count them as best you can.
  • Where do they prefer to grow? Hillsides, roadsides, marshes, or the garden?
• Blow a dandelion “balloon.”
• Gather a basket of blossoming dandelions, roots and all, for investigation:
  • Describe the plant. Is it tall or short?
  • How many leaves are there?
  • How many blossoms does it have?
  • How many distinct colors do you find? Are there any tints or shades of these colors?
  • How many parts does the blossom have?
  • Describe the yellow head in a great deal of detail.
• Choose a dandelion plant outside to mark. Watch it every day. Keep a record of all that happens to it.
• You can use Drawing and Writing paper to illustrate the life cycle of the dandelion.
• Younger students can copy the first stanza of “To the Dandelion” by James Russell Lowell below into their copybook or nature journal.
• Older students can enjoy the poetry study:

Dandelion

Dear common flower, that grow’st beside the way,
Fringing the dusty road with harmless gold,
First pledge of blithesome May,
Which children pluck, and, full of pride uphold,
High-hearted buccaneers, o’erjoyed that they
An Eldorado in the grass have found,
Which not the earth’s ample round
May match in wealth, thou art more dear to me
Than all the prouder summer-blooms may be.

Read the entire poem.

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Further Investigation

Weed Identification
Of course, we more frequently think of dandelions as weeds! Here is more information from the University of Wisconsin extension.