Outdoor Lesson Plans for MAE'S MYSTERY FLOWER

II. Outdoor Lessons (taking place on a native or restored prairie)

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.

4. Give students a hands-on experience on a prairie.

Directions:

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

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

Activity 1: Counting Wildflowers

Materials:

small sheet of paper } for each student

pencil

lap board (or magazine to write on)

Directions:

1. Walk through the prairie and count the different wildflowers you see in bloom or with seed heads. Use tally marks to keep track and write the final number on your sheet.

2. Compare your number with a friend's number.

Activity 2: Drawing Wildflowers

Materials:

9x12 sheet of paper

pencil } for each student

lapboard (or magazine to write on)

crayons -- held by teacher

Directions:

1. Find your favorite flower and draw a picture of it with your pencil.

2. Use crayons from your teacher to color it with its real color.

3. Give it a name that fits its shape, color and size.

Activity 3: Naming Wildflowers

Materials:

Sheet of notebook paper & pencil for each student

Lapboard or magazine to write on for each student

A number of wildflower guides for the class to use

Teacher Preparation:

5-10 small flags, numbered and each placed next to a different flower in a section of the prairie near a path

Directions:

1. Have students number a sheet and go in pairs, visiting each flagged flower and writing a made-up name for it on their sheets. Encourage them to consider shape, color and size as they think of names.

2. Have students use a wildflower guide to identify one or more of the flagged flowers. Ask them to write the common and scientific name next to the name they have chosen. Note: The teacher will be one of the learners during these lessons, as she/he helps students match flowers with pictures in the guide.

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