Indoor Lesson Plans for MAE'S MYSTERY FLOWER

I. Indoor Lessons Objectives:

1. Enrich a study of the prairie, relating it to language arts, social studies and outdoor education.

2. Introduce the concept of native wild flowers and grasses.

3. Introduce students to a wildflower guide.

Directions:

1. Read the story and discuss, using the questions below.

2. Choose an activity suitable for the age of your students.

Questions for Discussion:

1. In what year do you think the story is set? What in the story suggests the time period?

2. What are Mae's chores?

3. How old do you think Mae is? What in the story suggests her possible age?

4. Where has Mae gotten her information about the prairie?

5. Name some things about the prairie that Mae enjoys.

6. What was Mae's father's occupation?

7. What butterfly do you think Mae saw?

8. In the story, how did Indiangrass get its name?

9. In the story, what did the seedhead on big bluestem look like?

10. What was Mae's fear for the butterfly?

11. What surprised you in the story?

12. What flower name did you like best in the story?

13. Where do you think Mae got the idea to give the flowers special names?

Activity 1: Prairie Picture

Materials:

12x18 sheets of paper for each student

crayons or colored chalk

scissors and glue

a list on the board of Mae's flower names with common names opposite, copied from the flower sheet

several wildflower guides or posters of wildflowers

Directions:

1. On a 12x18 sheet, draw or color a prairie. Include turkey-foot and Indiangrass in your picture.

2. With colored paper, create some of Mae's flowers and glue them onto your prairie. Create them to fit Mae's names. Then, using their common names, find their pictures in the wildflower guide.

3. Add the orange and black butterfly and/or the spider to your picture.

Activity 2: Prairie Picture and Flower Names

Materials:

12x18 sheets of paper for each student

crayons or colored chalk

scissors and glue

cellophane tape

Directions:

1. Draw or color a prairie on a 12x18 sheet as above.

2. Create your own flowers and glue them on your picture.

3. Devise a name for each one and write the names on a strip of writing paper. Tape the strip at the top or bottom of your picture. Ask others if they can tell which name matches each flower.

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