Look at the diagram of a flower below. Most flowers form as a series of rings. The outer ring is made up of sepals. Sepals are usually green and look like leaves attached to the stem at the base of the flower. The colorful petals make up the next ring. Inside the ring of petals in the center of the flower are the reproductive parts of the plant. The stamens are the male reproductive organs. Notice that each stamen has an anther on its tip. This is where millions of tiny pollen grains are attached. The solid tube called the pistil is the female part of the flower. The pistil contains the ovary and egg/eggs.
The first step of fertilization is pollination. Pollination is the movement of pollen from the anther to the sticky top of the pistil. Birds and insects are responsible for pollinating many flowers. They knock pollen off the anther and onto the pistil. Rain and wind also aid in pollination.
A tube grows out of the pollen grain that is stuck to the pistil. Inside the pollen tube is the sperm. The tube grows down into the ovule, which is at the bottom of the pistil and fertilization occurs. The fertilized egg cell begins to divide and form a young organism called an embryo. The ovule grows into a covering that protects what has now become a seed. As this seed forms in the parent plant, the flower changes. The sepals and petals die and fall off. The ovule grows into a seed with a covering such as beans, berries, tomatoes, or the hard shells of nuts. The covering protects the seed/seeds and also helps scatter the seeds for future plants.
Activity 2
IL State Learning Standard-
1.A.1a Describe an observed event.
11.A.2a Formulate questions on a specific science topic and choose the steps needed to answer the questions.
11.A.2b Collect data for investigations using scientific process skills including observing, estimating and measuring.
Students will fill in the blanks. Identifying the flower parts by name along with the reproductive organs. Answers may be found in the previously read story.
Directions: Answer the questions about the flower.
1. are found at the base of a flower.
2. The stamens are the reproductive organs.3. Each stamen has an on its tip. This is where millions of tiny grains are attached.
4. The pistil is the part of the flower.
5. The pistil contains the and the egg/eggs.
6. Pollination is the movement of pollen from the anther to the sticky top of the .
7. Fertilization occurs when a tube grows out of the pollen grain into the , also called the ovary, and joins with an egg.
8. The fertilized egg cell begins to divide and form a young organism called an .
9. As the seed forms in the parent plant, the changes.
10. Birds and insects are responsible for many flowers.
11. The ovule grows into a with a covering such as beans, berries, tomatoes, or the hard shells of nuts..
Questions Created by : Stephanie L. Ivey
Activity 3
IL State Learning Standard-Language Arts
1.B.1c Continuously check and clarify for understanding (e.g., reread, read ahead, use visual and context clues, ask questions, retell, use meaningful substitutions).
1.C.2b Make and support inferences and form interpretations about main themes and topics.
1.C.1b Identify important themes and topics.
Students will be read the book "H is for Healthy Diet" by Keith Turner. This mini book is packed with good information and tips to eat healthy. Students will also use the pictures in the book to identify healthy foods.... i.e. Description of an apple(red, round, crunchy)etc. Students will then construct their own food pyramid with the correct servings of each food group.
Book was purchased from Amazon.com 2010