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The Sunflower ForestAn Educator’s Resource Guide

Lauritzen Gardens

With support from

The Peter Kiewit Foundation

December 2012

The Sunflower ForestAn Educator’s Resource Guide

Table of Contents

Section Page

WhyaSunflowerForest? 1

SunflowerForestProjectPartners 4

TheContentsofYourSunflowerForestEducator’sKit 5

CreatingaSunflowerForestReadingRoom 6

StartingSunflowerSeedlingsintheClassroom 9

SunflowerFastFacts 10

Illustrations 13 SunflowerForestLanguageArtsCurriculumActivities 18

Why a Sunflower Forest?When I was a boy I once lived near a brackish stream that wandered over the interminable salt flats south of our town. Between occasional floods the area became a giant sunflower forest, taller than

the head of a man.LorenEiseley,The Invisible Pyramid(1970)

Loren Eiseley: Acclaimed Author with Deep Nebraska Roots

LorenCoreyEiseleywasbornonSeptember3,1907,inLincoln,Nebraska.HegrewupinandaroundLincolnandin1933receivedhisbachelor’sdegreefromtheUniversityofNebraskainEnglishandgeology/anthropology.

Eiseleywentontoreceivehismaster’sanddoctoratedegreesinanthropologyfromtheUniversityofPennsylvania.HetaughtattheUniversityofKansasandatOberlinCollege,andin1947returnedtothefacultyoftheUniversityofPennsylvaniawhereheworkeduntilhisdeathin1977.

Althoughabusyuniversityprofessor,researcher,andadministrator,Eiseleyalsopursuedapassionforwritingaboutthegrandthemesofnatureandtheuniverse.Hepublishedhisfirstpopularessayin1942andhisfirstbook,acollectionofpersonalessaystitledThe Immense Journey,in1946.Hisuniquetalentsasawritergarneredhimnationalandinternationalacclaim.

Eiseleyisconsideredbothapioneerandamasteroftheliterarygenreofnaturewriting.Withtheobservationalskillsofscientistandthesensitivityandexpressivenessofapoet,hiswriting“deliveredsciencetononscientistsinthelyricallanguageofearthlymetaphor,irony,simile,andnarrative,allpacedlikeagoodmystery”(Bloomsbury Review).ManyofEiseley’smosthighlyregardedessaysarebasedonhisboyhoodexperiencesinandaroundLincolnandhisfieldworkasananthropologistinwesternNebraska.

AdditionalinformationonthelifeandworkofLorenEiseleyisavailableonthewebsiteoftheLorenEiseleySociety(http://www.eiseley.org/)andinThe Loren Eiseley Reader,acollectionofessayspublishedbytheLorenEiseleySocietyin2009(availableforpurchaseviathesociety).

The Sunflower Forest: Literary Meaning

MuchofEiseley’swritingtouchesuponthehistoryofcivilizationandourrelationshiptothenaturalworld.Hewasespeciallyconcernedabouttheoftennegativeimpactshumanshaveontheenvironment.Intheessay,“TheLastMagician,”publishedinhisbook,The Invisible Pyramid(1970),Eiseleywroteoftheneedtoreconnectwiththe“greenworld,”bothforpersonalwellbeingandtorekindleaffectionandappreciationfortheearththatsustainsus.Itisinthisessaythatheintroduces“thesunflowerforest.”

Here,andintheprologuetoThe Invisible Pyramid,Eiseleyusedthesunflowerforestofhisboyhoodasametaphorforthenaturalworld.Hecontraststhe“firstworld”ofnaturewiththe“secondworld”

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ofhumancultureandtechnologicalachievement.ToEiseley,thewelfareofthefirstworld,threatenedbyhumanexploitation,dependedupon“consciousreentryintothesunflowerforest”(p.155).Whilehedoesn’tdescribehowthis“reentry”shouldoccur,hisprovocativemessageforeshadowedbythreedecadesthecurrentinternationalmovementtoreconnectchildrenwithnature,sparkedbyRichardLouv’sbestsellingbookLast Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder (2006).

The Sunflower Forest: Ecological Setting

Ecologically,thesunflowerforestexperiencedbyEiseleywasanextensivestandofannualsunflowers(Helianthus annuus)thatoccurredalongthefloodplainofSaltCreek,astreamthatpassesthroughLincoln.Ninespeciesoftruesunflowers(genusHelianthus)occurinNebraska.Mostofoursunflowersareperennialplantsthatpersistformanyyearsinassociationwithprairievegetation.Theannualsunflowerplant,however,livesforonlyonegrowingseason—germinatingfromseedinthespring,growing,flowering,andfinallyproducingitsowncropofseedbytheendofsummerastheplantdriesupanddies.

Annualsunflowersarewelladaptedtowhatecologistscall“disturbed”habitat—placeswheresomeactionhasdisturbedthenaturalcoverofvegetation.Annualsunflowersflourishinavarietyofhuman-disturbedhabitats,includingroadsides,constructionsites,andtheedgesofagriculturalfields.ThefloodplainalongSaltCreekprovidesnaturally-disturbedhabitat.Here,seasonalfloodingdrownsoutmostvegetation,leavingexpansesofopensoilwhereannualsunflowerscanspringupandformdensestands.Individualsunflowerplantscanreachremarkableheightsduringthegrowingseason,someover9feettall(“tallerthantheheadofaman”).Astandofsuchtoweringplantswouldseemlikeaforestofsunflowers,especiallytoayoungboywithavividimagination.

A Sunflower Forest at Lauritzen Gardens

In2009,theLorenEiseleySocietypublishedacollectionofEiseley’sessaysasawaytointroducehimtoanewgenerationofreaders.ThecoveroftheLoren Eiseley ReaderfeaturesawhimsicalinterpretationofthesunflowerforestbyartistAaronFranco.Giventhisbotanicaltheme,Dr.BingChen,presidentoftheLorenEiseleySociety,approachedLauritzenGardenstoexplorepossibleeducationalcollaborationsaroundthestoryofthesunflowerforest.

LauritzenGardensisalivingmuseumofuniquefour-seasonplantdisplays,maintainedtothehigheststandardsconsistentwithenvironmentalstewardship.Itprovidesmemorableeducationalandaestheticexperiencesforall.Assuch,thegardenprovidesasettingforchildrenandadultstoexperiencethebeautyandwonderofnatureupclose.Totheleadershipofthegarden,thesunflowerforeststoryprovidedacompellingthemeforeducationalprogramming,andmemorablewaytoillustratethataconservationethicbeginswithachild-likeaweofnature.

TheSunflowerForestProjectwaslaunchedin2010asapartnershipbetweenLauritzenGardensandtheLorenEiseleySociety,withfundingprovidedbythePeterKiewitFoundationofOmaha.

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TheaimwastoraiseawarenessofLorenEiseleyasanimportantNebraskaauthor,andusehisboyhoodexperiencewithsunflowersasavehicleforexploringthemesrelatedtoliteratureandscientificinquiry,aswellasplantbiology.

ThecoreactivityoftheprojectwastheestablishmentofamassplantingofsunflowersonthegroundsofLauritzenGardens,usingthesamewildspeciesofsunflowerthatEiseleyencountered.Thisuniqueandpopulargardenfeaturewasfirstplantedin2011,thenagainin2012.Theseplantingswereestablishedwiththehands-onparticipationofnearly1,200studentsfromsixdifferentelementaryschoolsrepresentingfiveOmahametroareaschooldistricts.ThesestudentscametothegardeninMaytohelpplanttheforestandreturnedinSeptemberforatouroftheplanting.

Theimagesandillustrationsonpages13-17capturetheinvolvementofstudentsincreatingandexperiencingTheSunflowerForestatLauritzenGardens.

Taking the Sunflower Forest Statewide

ThefinalphaseoftheSunflowerForestProjectisstatewideinscope.AspecialSunflowerForestEducator’sKithasbeendevelopedtoinspireandenableeveryelementaryschoolinNebraskatoexplorethethemesoftheSunflowerForest.OnekithasbeenmailedtoeverypublicandparochialelementaryschoolinNebraska.

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Sunflower Forest Project Partners

Lauritzen Gardens(402)346-4002http://www.lauritzengardens.org/

Projectleadership;recruitedschoolsforproject;presentedclassroomactivities;siteofsunflowerforestplantings;providedguidedtoursofsunflowerforest;developedanddisseminatedoutreachkitsto755Nebraskapublicandparochialelementaryschools

The Loren Eiseley Societyhttp://www.eiseley.org/

ConsultationonthelifeandworkofLorenEiseley;specialacknowledgementtoDr.BingChen,ProfessorattheUniversityofNebraskaatOmahaandPresidentoftheLorenEiseleySocietyforinitiatingtheproject

The Peter Kiewit Foundationhttp://www.peterkiewitfoundation.org/

Fundingfornumerousprojectactivities,includingtheparticipationofnearly1,200studentsfromsixOmahametro-areaelementaryschoolsintheproject

Stock Seed Farms(402)867-3771http://www.stockseed.com/

SourceofsunflowerseedforplantingsatLauritzenGardensandoutreachkits;consultationonspeciesmixandseedingrate

Dr. Kathy Everts Danielson, ProfessorTeacherEducationDepartmentUniversityofNebraskaatOmaha

Developedpre-KthroughGrade5languageartscurriculumactivitiesforEducator’sResourceGuide

Dr. Kay Kottas, Owner and PresidentPrairieLegacy,Inc.http://prairielegacyinc.com/

Developedcontentandartworkfor“SunflowersofNebraska”compactdiskincludedinoutreachkits

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The Contents of Your Sunflower Forest Educator’s Kit

Educator’s Resource GuideThemainfeatureofthekitisateacher’sguidethatprovidessunflower-relatedlanguageartscurriculummaterialsforPre-KthroughGrade5.ThesematerialsweredevelopedbyDr.KathyEvertsDanielson,aprofessorintheTeacherEducationDepartmentoftheUniversityofNebraskaatOmahawithexpertiseinliteracy,thewritingprocess,andchildren’sliterature.Usingsunflowersasthetheme,Dr.Danielsonhasdevelopedreadingandwritingactivitiesforeachgradelevel,alltiedtoandaddressingNebraskaDepartmentofEducationStateStandardsinLanguageArts.

Othercomponentsoftheguideincludedirectionsforcreatingaschoolyardsunflower“readingroom”andstartingsunflowerseedlingsintheclassroom,plus“fastfacts”aboutsunflowers.

Sunflowers of Nebraska CD“SunflowersofNebraska:APracticalGuidetoIdentifyingSunflowers,”aninteractiveidentificationguidetothenativesunflowersofNebraskapresentedonacompactdisk.Theguideincludesinformationandillustrationsof10nativespeciesplusavideosegmentthatallowstheuserto“build”asunfloweronepartatatimetoillustratetheuniquecompositestructureofasunflowerhead.ThisidentificationguidewascreatedbyDr.KayKottas,aprofessionalbotanistandtalentedartistbasedinLincoln,Nebraskaandowner/presidentofPrairieLegacy,Inc.,abotanicalconsultingcompany.TheCDispackagedinanadhesivesleevethatcanbeaffixedtotheinsidecoveroftheEducator’sResourceGuide.

Sunflower Forest Reading RoomYourkitalsocontainsapacketofenoughseedtoplantaschoolyardversionofasunflowerforest.DevelopedinconsultationwithStockSeedFarmsofMurdock,Nebraska,theplantingwouldoccupyapproximately900squarefeet(30ft.x30ft.)andcreateasunflower-encompassedoutdoor“room”appropriateforreadingand/orwritingactivities.PlansforestablishingandmaintainingtheplantingarepresentedintheEducator’sResourceGuide.Thepacketcontainsseedofthewildannualsunflower(Helianthus annuus),whichisthespeciesLorenEiseleyencounteredinhischildhood“sunflowerforest,”mixedwithseedofMaximilian’ssunflower(Helianthus maximiliani),anativeperennialspeciesthatisespeciallyattractivetobutterflies.

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Creating a Sunflower Forest Reading Room

TheSunflowerForestplantingatLauritzenGardenswasaspectacularandpopulargardenfeaturedesignedtoprovidean“immersion”experienceforvisitorssimilartowhatLorenEiseleyenjoyedasaboyalongSaltCreeknearLincoln.

Whilemostschoolswillnotwanttoturntheirgroundsintoamassplantingofsunflowers,weencourageyoutoprovideasimilarexperienceforyourstudentsbycreatingasmallerandmoremanageablesunflowerforest“readingroom.”

Thedrawingonpage8illustratestheconcept,whichcanbeaccommodatedinaspacethatisroughly30feetby30feetindimension.Thedesignprovidesa“room”forgatheringagroupofstudentsforreadingorotheractivitiesthatissurroundedbya“wall”ofsunflowers.Acurvedpathintotheroomblocksviewsinandoutandhelpswiththesenseofimmersion.Thepathandinteriorspacecanbecoveredwithamulchofwoodchipsorstrawtohelpwithweedcontrolandtolessencontactwithdustandmud.Strawbalesorsimplebenchescanbeplacedaroundtheperimeteroftheinteriorspaceforseating.

Includedinthiskitisenoughseedtoestablishyourownsunflowerforestreadingroom.Theenclosedpacketcontainsseedofthewildannualsunflower(Helianthus annuus),whichisthespeciesEiseleyencounteredinhischildhoodsunflowerforest,mixedwithasmallerpercentageofMaximilian’ssunflower(Helianthus maximiliani),anativeperennialspeciesthatisespeciallyattractivetobutterflies.Annualsunflowersgenerallygrowtoabout6feettallbylatesummer,withsomeindividualplantsreaching9-10feettall.Maximilian’ssunflowerplantswillbeshorter,butwillflowerlaterthantheannualsunflowerandprovideanextendedseasonofbloom.

Site preparation –Yourplantingshouldbesitedinalocationthatreceivessunthroughouttheday(i.e.,noshade).Youcanestablishtheplantingmuchthewayyouwouldstartanewgardenorlawn.Ifthereisacoverofturfgrass,thisshouldberemovedandthesoilbeneathexposed.Then,preparethesoilbytillingtocreateagoodseedbedfreeofsoilclumpsgreaterthantwoinchesindiameter.Ifthesoilisverydry,itwouldbehelpfultowaterthesiteaboutaweekbeforeseedistobesown.SitepreparationworkshouldbedonebytheendofMarch,earlierifweatherconditionsallow.

When to sow seed – TheoptimaltimetosowsunflowerseedvariesacrossNebraska,andthebestguidelineistowaituntilafterthechanceoffrostispastandthesoilisbeginningtowarm.Generally,thiswouldbeaftermid-AprilineasternNebraskatoaftermid-MayinwesternNebraska.DonotbeinarushtoplantearlysinceyouwanttheplantstobeinpeakfloweringwhenyourstudentsreturntoschoolinAugustandSeptember.Sowing seed –Youhavebeenprovidedwithenoughsunflowerseedtocoverapproximately600squarefeet.Theamountofseedinthepacketmayseemrathersmall,butitwascalculatedinconsultationwithStockSeedFarmsofMurdock,Nebraska.Broadcastingseedbyhandisthesimplestmethodofsowingtheseed,similartothetechniqueusedforsowinglawngrassseed.

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Thereisnoreasontosowseedinthepartoftheplantingsitethatwillbecometheinteriorseatingarea.Markofftheboundariesofthisareawithstringandtrytoavoidbroadcastingseedintoit.

Toinsuretheseedisdispersedevenlyovertheplantingarea,itishelpfultofirstmixtheseedintoalargervolume(2to3timesmore)oflightweight,inertmaterialsuchassawdust,peatmoss,orvermiculite.Thelattermaterialscanbeobtainedatmostgardencenters.Theinertmattermaybeslightlymoistenedsothattheseedwillsticktoit.

Dividethemixtureintotwoequalamounts.Handbroadcastonehalfevenlyovertheplantingarea.Then,handbroadcastthesecondhalfoverthearea,perpendiculartothedirectionofbroadcastingthefirsthalf.

Covertheseedwithone-fourthtoone-halfinchofsoilbyrakingitintothesoilsurface.Itmaybehelpfultocovertheplantingareawithalightmulchofweedfreestrawtopreventwashingandkeepthesoilmoistduringthegerminationperiod.Watertheseededareaenoughtomoistenthesoilsurface.

Caring for seedlings –Youshouldbegintoseeemergingsunflowerseedlingsabouttwoweeksaftersowingseed.Inayearwhensoilmoistureisadequateandrainfallisaboutaverage,nosupplementalwatershouldbeneeded.Sunflowerseedlingsgrowratherquicklyandwillovertopmostweeds,butsomeweedsmayneedtobeeliminatedbyhandpullingorlighthoeinguntilthesunflowersaremoreestablished.

Growing through the summer –Nosupplementalwatershouldbeneededinasummerwheresoilmoistureisadequateandrainfallisnearaverage.Formaximumgrowth,waterasyouwouldavegetablegarden(aboutoneinchofwaterperweek).Weedtheplantingasneeded.

After the growing season – Annualsunflowerplantsliveforonlyonegrowingseason—germinatingfromseedinthespring,growing,flowering,andfinallyproducingitsowncropofseedbytheendofsummerastheplantdriesupanddies.Ifyouplantokeeptheplantingintothenextyearandbeyond,leavetheannualsunflowerplantsinplaceuntiltheseedheadsdrydownanddroptheirseed,thenpullupanddiscardthedeadplants.Muchoftheseedthatfallstothegroundwillgerminatethefollowingyearandproduceanewstandofannualsunflowersthatwillcombinewiththere-emergingperennialMaximilian’ssunflowertore-filltheplantingsite.

Alternative Plan: Adding sunflower seedlings to the plantingYoumaychoosetohavestudentsgrowsunflowerseedlingsthemselvestobeusedintheplanting(seepage9).Thisisanengaginghands-onactivity,butthesurvivalrateoftheseindoor-grownseedlingsmaynotbehighandyouwillstillwanttosowseedintotheplantingareatoinsureagoodstandofsunflowers.Ifso,theseedlingsshouldbeplantedafterthesitehasbeenpreparedbutbeforetheseedisbroadcast.

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Sunflower Forest Reading Room

Concept and Dimensions

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Path, 4’ Wide

Reading Room12’ diameter

30’

30’

Path, 4’ wide

Starting Sunflower Seedlings in the Classroom

Sunflowerseedlingsareeasytostartandgrowinaschoolgreenhouseorsunnyclassroom.Theseedlingscouldbeusedtohelpestablishasunflowerforestplantingontheschoolgroundsorstudentscanplantthemathome.

Supplies needed–

1. Sunflowerseeds(3seedperstudent)2. Asmallpotorcontainerforeachstudent;3-inchdiametersizeisideal;smallmilk/juicecartonsareinexpensivealternative;containershouldhavedrainagehole(s)inbottom;3. Pottingsoil(notgardensoil)4. Labelsonwhichthestudent’snamecanbewritten

Apacketofsunflowerseedisincludedinthiskit.Itcontainsseedofthewildannualsunflower(Helianthus annuus),whichisthespeciesLorenEiseleyencounteredinhischildhoodsunflowerforest,mixedwithsmallerpercentageofMaximilian’ssunflower(Helianthus maximiliani),anativeperennialspecies.Theenclosedpacketcontainsapproximately5,000sunflowerseeds.Ifnomorethan100studentsgrowseedlingsintheclassroom(at3seedsperpot),therewillstillbeadequateseedinthepacketforestablishingthereadingroomplanting.AdditionalsunflowerseedcanbepurchasedfromStockSeedFarmsinMurdock,Nebraska(seepage4)

Getting started –

1. Fillthepotabout¾fullofpottingsoil2. Gentlytampthesoildowntomakealevelsurfacewithinthepot3. Place3sunflowerseedsonthesurface,spacedevenlyapartintheshapeofatriangle (thereisnoneedtopresstheseedsdownintothepottingsoil)4. Addabout½inchpottingsoiltothepottocovertheseeds5. Gentlywaterbyfillingthepottotherimandlettingthewatersoakin;repeatuntilwaterruns outthebottomofthepot

Growing the seedlings–Placetheseedlingsinagreenhouseorinthesunniestlocationpossibleintheclassroomorschoolbuilding.Asouth-orwest-facingwindowwouldbebest.Otherwise,theseedlingswillgrowspindlyandweakastheystretchtoreachlightandwillnottransplantwelloutdoors.Thesoilinthepotshouldstaymoistbutnotsoakingwet.Waterifthesoilsurfaceinthepotfeelsdrytothetouch.

Planting the seedlings outdoors–Oncetheseedlingsarelargeenoughandhaveagoodrootsystemtheycanbeplantedoutdoors.Thiswillbeabout4weeksaftertheseedwassownintheclassroom.Removetheseedlingsfromthepotbyholdingthepotupside-downinonehandandgentlytappingonthebottomofthepotwiththeotheruntilthepotseparatesfromtheroot-boundsoil.Donottrytoremovetheseedlingfromthepotbypullingontheseedling.Planttheseedlinginaholethatisthesamedepthaswasthetopofthesoilwasinthepot.

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Sunflower Fast FactsLoren Eiseley’s Sunflower

► TheparticularsunflowerspeciesofLorenEiseley’ssunflowerforestwastheannualsunflower,sometimesalsocalledthecommonsunflower.ItsscientificnameisHelianthus annuus.

► Thefirstpartofthename,Helianthus,isthegenusname,andcomesfromtheGreekwordsHelios,meaningsun,andanthos,meaningflower.

► Thesecondpartofthename,annuus,comesfromtheGreekwordforannual,andreferstothefactthatthissunflowerspecieslivesforonlyonegrowingseason—germinatingfromseed inthespring,growing,flowering,andfinallyproducingitsowncropofseedbytheendof summerastheplantdriesupanddies.

► Annualsunflowerplantsgrow3to7feettall,butinsomecasescanreachmorethan9feetinheight.Itisamazingthattheseplantscangrowsotallinonegrowingseason.

► ThefloweringseasonfortheannualsunflowerisJulytoSeptember,withpeakfloweringinAugust.

One of Many Sunflowers

► Theannualsunflowerisoneofover50differentspeciesthatscientistsclassifytogetherinthe genusHelianthus.Themembersofthisgenusaresometimescalledthe“truesunflowers.” TendifferentspeciesofHelianthus occurinNebraska.

► ThegenusHelianthusispartoftheSunflowerFamily(Asteraceae).TheSunflowerFamilyis oneofthelargestplantfamiliesonearthintermsofitsnumberofspecies(about23,000).

► TheSunflowerFamilyincludesmanyfamiliarwildflowersandgardenplants:ragweed (genusAmbrosia);sagebrush(genusArtemisia);asters(genusAster);chrysanthemum (genusChrysanthemum);goldenrod(genusSolidago);dandelion(Taraxacum officinale).

The Sunflower Flower: More than Meets the Eye► MembersoftheSunflowerFamilyarerelatedtooneanotherbytheuniquestructureof theirflowers.

► Insunflowers,whatlookslikeasinglelargeflowerisactuallya“composite”flowermadeup ofnumerous“florets”(smallflowers)crowdedtogetherontoacircular“head.”See illustrationonpage12.

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► Therearetwokindsofflorets:petal-like“rayflorets”occurontheouteredgeoftheheadand “diskflorets”inthecenter.

► Thediskfloretsproducenectarandpollenthatattractsbees.Asthebeeprobesthefloretfor fooditpicksuppollengrainsandcarriesthemtothenextfloretitvisits.Ifcross-pollination andfertilizationoccur,thefloretwillmatureintoaseed.

More than Just a Pretty Face

► EvidencesuggestsNativeAmericansweregrowingsunflowersforfoodasearlyas5,000 yearsago.

► InthelanguageoftheHidatsaIndiansofthenorthernGreatPlains,thenameforthemonthof Aprilis“sunflower-planting-moon.”

► SpanishexplorersfoundsunflowersbeinggrownbyNativeAmericans,andtookseedbackto Europeinthe1500s.

► SunflowerswerefirstgrowninEuropeasgardenflowers,butwerelatergrownfortheoilthat theseedcontains.

► Large-scalefarmingofsunflowersfirsttookplaceinRussiainthe1700sunderthe encouragementoftheRussianrulerPetertheGreat.

► FarmersintheUnitedStatesstartedgrowingsunflowersasacropintheearly1900s,and firstusedsunflowervarietiesdevelopedinRussia.

► IntheUnitedStates,sunflowersaremainlygrownintheGreatPlainsandMidwest;Colorado, Kansas,Minnesota,Nebraska,SouthDakota,andTexasaremajorproducers.

► Sunflowerkernelsareahigh-energyfoodsourceandareeatenasasnackfoodorareusedin bakingorasaningredientinotherfoods.

► SunfloweroilisusedincookingandfoodpreparationandhasmoreVitaminEthanany vegetableoil.

► Manyspeciesofbirdslovesunflowerseedsandsomepreferthemoveranyotherkindofseed. Cardinals,chickadees,goldfinches,grosbeaks,housefinches,nuthatches,titmicearebirds thatprefersunflowerseeds.

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The Structure of a Sunflower

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Ray floret

Ray floret

Head

Disk floret

Disk floret Ray floret

Lauritzen Gardens staff and

volunteers helped students start

sunflower seedlings in their own

classrooms (see page 9).

Starting the Sunflower Forest

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Planting the forest...

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Students brought their seedlings

to Lauritzen Gardens in May to

help create the Sunflower Forest.

Sunflowers grow quickly and can

reach over six feet in height by the

end of summer. Flowering peaks in

August and September.

The forest emerges

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An Immersion Experience

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When I was a boy I once lived near a

brackish stream that wandered over

the interminable salt flats south of

our town. Between occasional floods

the area became a giant sunflower

forest, taller than the head of a man.

LorenEiseley,The Invisible Pyramid(1970)

In the students’ words...

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The Sunflower ForestLanguage Arts Curriculum Activities

Pre-K Activity1 BigYellowSunflowerDescriptionandActions 19 Activity2 “YouareMySunshine”SongandFlowerMask 20

Kindergarten Activity1 SequencingtheGrowthofaSunflower 21 Activity2 “IShineliketheSunflower”PictureFrameandWriting 22 Activity3 SunflowerHouse 23

Grade 1 Activity1 WhatFlowersNeed 24 Activity2 SunflowerGrowthCumulativeStoryandSequencing 25 Activity3 SequencingofaSunflower 26 Activity4 SecretIngredientMuffins 27

Grade 2 Activity1 SunflowerListPoems 28 Activity2 CompoundWords 29 Activity3 SunflowerHaiku 30 Activity4 “I’mTalkingSunflowers”Writing 31

Grade 3 Activity1 AcrosticPoemsaboutSunflowers 32 Activity2 TheImportantThingaboutSunflowers 33 Activity3 SunflowerAlliterativeAlphabetBook 34

Grade 4 Activity1 HowtobeaSunflower 36 Activity2 SunflowerPercentPoems 37 Activity3 SunflowerVocabularyBingo 39 Activity4 “IKnowit’saSunflower”Poem 41 Activity5 SunflowerPoetryPicks 42

Grade 5 Activity1 FreeVerseSunflowerPoetry 45 Activity2 MakingConnectionstoSunflowerQuotes 47 Activity3 TakingCouragefromSunflowers 49 Activity4 WritingSongLyricsaboutSunflowers 50 Activity5 VanGogh’sSunflowers 51

Appendix SuggestedBooks 53 18

Pre-K Activity 1

Big Yellow Sunflower Descriptions and Actions

Overview: Studentswilllistentoabook,actouttheactionsofasunflowergrowing,andcreatetheirownversionsofsunflowerswithorallybrainstormeddescriptivewords.

State StandardsLA 0.1.5. Vocabulary:Studentswillbuildliterary,generalacademic,andcontentspecificgradelevelvocabulary.LA 0.3.1. Speaking Skills:Studentswilldevelopanddemonstratespeakingskillstocommunicatekeyideasinavarietyofsituations.LA 0.3.2. Listening Skills:Studentswilldevelopanddemonstrateactivelisteningskillsacrossavarietyofsituations.LA 0.3.3. Reciprocal Communication:Studentswilldemonstratereciprocalcommunicationskills.

Instructional Objectives► Studentswillactouttheactionsofabookshowingthegrowthofthesunflower.► Studentswillcreateasunflowerpictureorcoloroneandthenorallydescribesunflowers.

MaterialsBooks:Big Yellow Sunflower(Barry2008);A Handful of Sunshine(Eclare2008)Supplies:chartorwhiteboard,paper,crayons,markers,indexcardsWebresource:student-completedartworkathttp://www.kidzone.ws/geography/usa/kansas/sunflower2.htm

Sequence

1. ReadBig Yellow Sunflowertostudents.Havestudentsactouttheactionsasyoureadthebook thesecondtime(plantingtheseedsunderground,spreadingoutrootsastheygrow,etc.).

2. Havestudentsmakebig,yellowsunflowersonchartpaperusingmarkers/crayonsorusethe abovelinktocoloranalreadycompletedsunflower.Havethemsigntheirnamesontheirart.

3. Havestudentsbrainstormotherwordstodescribesunflowersbesidesbigandyellow (suchashuge,sunshine-colored,etc.)andwritethemonchartpaper.

4. Writedescriptivewordsstudentsbrainstormedonindexcardsanddisplaynexttothe sunflowersthatstudentscolored/drew.

5. Togetherreadthewordsonthechartasyoureviewwhatyoulearnedaboutsunflowers.

6. ReadA Handful of Sunshinetostudentsandaskstudentsiftheylearnedmorefacts aboutsunflowers.Addthesefacts/wordstothechart. 19

LAURITZEN GARDENS | 2012

Pre-K Activity 2

“You Are My Sunshine” Song and Flower Mask

Overview: Studentswilllistentoabook,singasong,createsunflowermasks,andsingthesongagainusingthemasks.

State StandardsLA 0.3.1. Speaking Skills: Studentswilldevelopanddemonstratespeakingskillstocommunicatekeyideasinavarietyofsituations.LA 0.3.2. Listening Skills: Studentswilldevelopanddemonstrateactivelisteningskillsacrossavarietyofsituations.

Instructional Objectives► Studentswilllistentoastoryandunderstandtheimportanceofcheeringupafriendor familymember.► Studentswillsingasongusingactions.► Studentswillconstructasunflowermask.

MaterialsBook:Toot and Puddle: You are My Sunshine(Hobbie1999)Supplies:paper,glue,tape,crayons,markers,scissors,popsiclesticksSong:“YouAreMySunshine”(wordsbelow)Webresource:flowermasktemplateathttp://www.dltk-holidays.com/spring/mflowermask.html

Sequence

1. ReadToot and Puddle: You Are My Sunshinetostudents.Talkabouttheimportanceof cheeringupsadfriendsorfamilymembers.

2. Playand/orsing“YouAreMySunshine”andteachchildrentheactions: You are my sunshine,(pointtootherperson;makesunwithhandsincircleaboveyourhead) My only sunshine,(pointtoself;makesunwithhandsincircleaboveyourhead) You make me happy when skies are gray,(bigsmile;fingersflutterlikeraincomingdown) You’ll never know dear,(pointtohead–thinking) How much I love you,(pointtoself;handstoheart;pointtootherperson) Please don’t take my sunshine away! (shakeheadno;makesunwithhandsincircleabove yourhead;pushhandsaway)

3. Havestudentsmakeaflowermask(seewebresource)usingthepatternlistedabove.

4. Havestudentsholdthemasksinfrontoftheirfaceswhiletheysingthesong.

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Kindergarten Activity 1

Sequencing the Growth of a Sunflower

Overview: StudentswillputpicturecardsinthecorrectsequenceafterlisteningtothebookSunflower.Theywillalsoactoutthestoryandcreateasunflowercraft.

State StandardsLA 0.1.6. Comprehension: Studentswillextractandconstructmeaningusingpriorknowledge,applyingtextinformation,andmonitoringcomprehensionwhilereadinggradeleveltext.LA 0.3.1. Speaking Skills: Studentswilldevelopanddemonstratespeakingskillstocommunicatekeyideasinavarietyofsituations.LA 0.3.2. Listening Skills: Studentswilldevelopanddemonstrateactivelisteningskillsacrossavarietyofsituations.

Instructional Objectives► Studentswillretellthesequenceofgrowingasunflowerinthecorrectchronologicalorder.

MaterialsBook:Sunflower(Ford1995)Supplies:chartorwhiteboard,sunflowerseeds,crayons,markersWebresource:YolandaYellowColorsBuddysheetathttp://www.dltk-teach.com/colors/myellow.htm

Sequence

1. ReadSunflowertostudents.Givestudentseachasunflowerseedafterthefirstreading.Act outthestorywiththesecondreading,helpingstudentstothinkofactionstoputtothestory.

2. Havestudentshelpretellthebookinthecorrectorderwiththepicture/wordcardsthatthe studentscreate.Thecorrectorderfromthebookis:

a. CarefullyIplacetheseedintheground. b. EverydayIwaterit. c. Then,littlegreenleaves; d. Uptomyknees; e. Uptomynose; f. Overmyhead; g. Bigyellowpetalsfacethesun.

3. Havestudentscolorandconstructthesunflower(seewebresource).Displaytheirsunflowers onabulletinboardalongwiththepicture/wordcardsinthecorrectorderfromstep#2.

21



“I Shine like the Sunflower” Picture Frame and Writing

Overview: Studentswilllistentoabookandthentalkabouthowtheyshinelikethesunflower.

State StandardsLA 0.1.6. Comprehension: Studentswillextractandconstructmeaningusingpriorknowledge,applyingtextinformation,andmonitoringcomprehensionwhilereadinggradeleveltext.LA 0.2.1. Writing Process: Studentswillusewritingtocommunicate.LA 0.2.2. Writing Genres: Studentwillwriteforavarietyofpurposesandaudiencesinmultiplegenres.

Instructional Objectives► Studentswilllistentoastoryandthinkabouthowtheyshinelikethesun.► Studentswillprepareapictureframeandwritetheirownsentenceabouthowtheyshine likethesun.

MaterialsBook:To Be Like the Sun(Swanson2008)Supplies:scissors,tape,glue,photosofchildren,smallmagnets(ifusingmagneticsurface)Webresource:sunflowerpictureframeat http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/SunflowerNameRecognition.htm

Sequence

1. ReadTo Be Like the Suntostudents.Discusshowweallshineinourownways(weallhave positiveattributes).

2. Usingthesunflowerpictureframepattern(seewebresource),havestudentscolorthe sunflowerandthenglue/tapetheirphotographtothecenteroftheflower.(Oryoucouldglue amagnetinthebackoftheflowertodisplayonaclassroom/homemagneticsurface.)

3. Havestudentsdictatetheirresponsetothisprompt:IshinewhenI...(encourageresponses suchas:smile,dance,playsoccer,etc.).Thenwritethewordsorhavechildrenwritethese wordsonapieceofpapertapedtothebottomofthepictureframeandsigntheirnameson thestem.Displaywithcaption:IShine...

22



Sunflower House

Overview: StudentswilllistentothebookSunflower House,createabooklet,andthenwriteaboutwhattheywoulddoinsideasunflowerhouse.

State StandardsLA 0.1.6. Comprehension: Studentswillextractandconstructmeaningusingpriorknowledge,applyingtextinformation,andmonitoringcomprehensionwhilereadinggradeleveltext.LA 0.2.1. Writing Process: Studentswillusewritingtocommunicate.LA0.2.2. Writing Genres: Studentwillwriteforavarietyofpurposesandaudiencesinmultiplegenres.

Instructional Objectives► Studentswilllistentothestoryandthenmaketheirownsunflowerhousebooklet.► Studentswillwriteaboutwhattheywoulddoinsidetheirsunflowerhouse.

MaterialsBook:Sunflower House (Bunting1996)Supplies:paper,crayons,scissors,stapler,pencilsWebresource:SunflowerHousebooklet http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/SunflowerHouseEmergentReader.htm

Sequence

1. ReadSunflower Housetostudents.

2. Havestudentscutoutandconstructthesunflowerhousebooklet(seewebresource)inthe correctorder.

3. Discussandthenhavestudentswriteanddraw“WhatIWouldDoInsideMyOwnSunflower House.”

23


First Grade Activity 1

What Flowers Need

Overview: StudentswilllistentothebookFran’s Floweranddiscusswhatflowersneed.TheywillmakeabookletoftheDo’sandDon’tsofgrowingflowers.

State StandardsLA 1.2.1. Writing Process: Studentswillapplythewritingprocesstoplan,draft,revise,editandpublishwritingusingcorrectspelling,grammar,punctuation,andotherstandardconventionsappropriateforgradelevel.LA 1.2.2. Writing Genres: Studentswillwriteforavarietyofpurposesandaudiencesinmultiplegenres.

Instructional Objectives► Studentswilllistentoastoryandwritetheirownobservationsofthedo’sanddon’tsof growingflowers.

MaterialsBooks:Fran’s Flower(Bruce1999);Do’s and Don’ts(Parr2004)Supplies:paper,crayons,pencils

Sequence

1. ReadFran’s Flowertostudents.DiscusswhatFrandidtofeedherflowerandwhetherornot thatworked.Discusswhatdidworktohelpherflowergrow.

2. ReadDo’s and Don’tstostudents.Talkaboutthedo’sanddon’tsofgrowingaflower,suchas: Dowateryourflower.Don’tpourlemonadeonit.

3. Havestudentswritetheirownbookaboutthedo’sanddon’tsofgrowingaflower.Makesure theyincludethingslikeplanting,watering,givingitsunshine,etc.Itmayhelptohavestudents writeideasforpromptssuchas: Aflowerneeds___________and_____________togrow.

Aflowerdoesnotneed____________and____________togrow.

24



Sunflower Growth Cumulative Story and Sequencing

Overview: Studentswilllistentothebook This Is the Sunflowerandretellthestoryinthecorrectorder.

State StandardsLA 1.1.6. Comprehension: Studentswillextractandconstructmeaningusingpriorknowledge,applyingtextinformation,andmonitoringcomprehensionwhilereadinggradeleveltext.LA 1.2.2. Writing Genres: Studentswillwriteforavarietyofpurposesandaudiencesinmultiplegenres.

Instructional Objectives► Studentswillretellthestoryinthecorrectorderwithprops,followingalongwiththetext. Theywillalsowriteabouttheirsunflower.

MaterialsBook:This is the Sunflower (Schaefer2000)Supplies:paper,crayons,pencils,paperplates,glue,sunflowerseeds(withshellson),scissorsWebresource:http://www.dltk-holidays.com/fall/mpsunflower.htm

Sequence

1. ReadThis is the Sunflowertostudents.2. Havestudentsmakeoneofthefollowingpictures:SUNFLOWER,MOON,BLOSSOM, SEEDS,BEAKS,MUSICALNOTE,SPROUTS3. Havestudentsactoutthestoryinthecorrectorderwiththeabovepicturesasyoureaditaloud. Thisisthesunflower,tallandbright,SUNFLOWER Thatstandsinmygardendayandnight.MOON Thisistheblossom,yellowandround,BLOSSOM Thatcrownsthesunflower,tallandbright,SUNFLOWER Thatstandsinmygardendayandnight.MOON Thesearetheseeds,blackandbrown,SEEDS Foundintheblossom,yellowandround,BLOSSOM Thatcrownsthesunflower,tallandbright,SUNFLOWER Thatstandsinmygardendayandnight.MOON Thesearethebeaks,sharpandstrong,thatcracktheseed…BEAKS Thesearethebirds,fullofsong…MUSICALNOTE Nowthesunwarmsthemoistground…SUN Thesearethesprouts…SPROUTS

4. Havestudentsmakethesunflowerpaperplatecraft(seewebresource)andthenwrite asentenceaboutwhytheylikesunflowers.Ilikesunflowersbecause… 25



Sequencing of a SunflowerOverview: Afterlisteningtoanonfictionbookaboutsunflowers,studentswillwriteaboutasunflower’sgrowthinthecorrectsequentialorder.


Instructional Objectives► Studentswillcorrectlysequencetheorderofthegrowthofasunflowerintheir illustratedwriting.

MaterialsBook:Sunflowers(Saunders-Smith1998)Supplies:paper,pencils,crayons

Sequence

1. ReadSunflowerstostudents.Takeillustratednotesonachartwhilereadingaloudtoshow studentsthesequenceofthegrowthofasunflower.

2. Afterreadingthebook,gooverthesequencewithstudents.

3. Havestudentswriteanddrawtheirownsequentialorderofthegrowthofasunflowerusing thefollowingpattern:OnceIwas__________;nowIama__________.Theircompleted writing/illustrationsshouldinclude:

OnceIwasasunflowerseed, NowIamasunflowersprout.

OnceIwasasunflowersprout, NowIamasunflowerstalk.

OnceIwasasunflowerstalk, NowIamasunflowerbud.

OnceIwasasunflowerbud, NowIamasunflower.

OnceIwasasunflower, NowIamasunflowerseed.

26



Secret Ingredient MuffinsOverview: StudentswilllistentothereadingofthebookLittle Red Riding Hood: A Newfangled Fairy Taleandpredictthesecretingredient(sunflowerseeds!).


Instructional Objectives► Studentswillmakeapredictionandjustificationfortheirpredictionrelatedtothemuffin’s secretingredientafterlisteningtothebook.Studentswillalsowritetheirownrecipe usingsunflowers.

MaterialsBook:Little Red Riding Hood: A Newfangled Fairy Tale(Ernst1998)Supplies:paper,pencilsOther:muffinsmadefromrecipeinbooktoshareattheendofthelesson:

Grandma’s Wheat Berry Muffins:2eggs,½cupmeltedbutterormargarine,1cupsugar,½tsp.almondextract,1cupwheatflour,1cupwhiteflour,1tsp.bakingpowder,½tsp.salt,2cupsblueberries,¼cupsunflowerseeds(Grandma’ssecretingredient!)First turn on the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together the eggs, butter, sugar, and almond extract. In another bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add that to the egg mixture and stir just until combined. Gently stir in the blueberries and the secret ingredient after making sure there are not wolves lurking about. Fill oiled muffin tins ¾ full, and bake for about 20 to 25 minutes.

Sequence

1. ReadLittle Red Riding Hood: A Newfangled Fairy Taletostudents.

2. Havestudentswritearesponsetothequestion:“IthinktheGrandma’ssecretingredientis ___________because______________.”

3. Discussstudents’predictionsandjustificationsforthesecretingredient(sunflowerseeds).

4. Sharemuffinsmadewiththerecipeattheendofthebook.

5. Makealistofotherpossiblefoodsthatcouldbemadewithsunflowerseeds.

6. Havestudentsdescribetherecipe(e.g.,saladwithsunflowerseedssprinkledontop) andillustratetheingredients(e.g.,lettuce,tomatoes,carrotsticks,sunflowerseeds).

27


Second Grade Activity 1

Sunflower List PoemsOverview: Studentswillreadaboutsunflowersandlistpoems,thenwritetheirownlistpoemsaboutsunflowers.

State StandardsLA 2.1.6. Comprehension: Studentswillextractandconstructmeaningusingpriorknowledge,applyingtextinformation,andmonitoringcomprehensionwhilereadinggradeleveltext.LA 2.2.1. Writing Process: Studentswillapplythewritingprocesstoplan,draft,revise,editandpublishwritingusingcorrectspelling,grammar,punctuation,andotherstandardconventionsappropriateforgradelevel.LA 2.2.2. Writing Genres: Studentswillwriteforavarietyofpurposesandaudiencesinmultiplegenres.

Instructional Objectives► Studentswillwritelistpoemstoshowwhattheyhavelearnedaboutsunflowers.

MaterialsNonfictionbooksaboutsunflowers:A Handful of Sunshine(Eclare2000);From Seed to Sunflower (Legg1988);Sunflowers(McDonald1997);How a Seed Grows into a Sunflower (Steward2008); The Life Cycle of a Sunflower (Tagliaferro2007)Poetry:Falling Down the Page(Heard2011);“WhatILoveaboutWinter”inWinter Eyes (Florian2000)Supplies:paper,pencils

Sequence

1. Havestudentssearchnonfictionbooksforinformationaboutsunflowers.

2. ReadsomeofthelistpoemsinFalling Down the Pageand“WhatILoveAboutWinter” inWinter Eyes.

3. Havestudentswritetheirownlistpoemaboutasunflower.Forexample:

SeedsplantedRainaddedSunshining

SeedssproutingPlantgrowingBudsappearingFloweropeningSunflower.

28



Compound WordsOverview: Studentswillmakecompoundwordsandwritesentencesaboutsunflowerswiththem.

State StandardsLA 2.1.5. Vocabulary: Studentswillbuildliterary,generalacademic,andcontentspecificgradelevelvocabulary

Instructional Objectives► Studentswillbuildcompoundwordsandwritesentencesusingthesecompoundwords

MaterialsBook:Once there was a Bull…(Frog)(Walton2011)Supplies:paper,pencils,indexcards,markers.

Sequence

1. ReadOnce there was a Bull…(Frog).Havestudentssupplytheendofthecompoundword whilereadingit.

2. DisplaythewordSUNFLOWER.Discusshowitisacompoundword–SunandFlower addedtogether.

3. Dividetheclassintotwogroups.

4. Giveeachstudentinthefirstgroupanindexcardwithoneofthefollowingwordsonit: butter;grand;in;break;day;sun;home;thunder;black.

5. Giveeachstudentinthesecondgroupanindexcardwithoneofthefollowingwordsonit: fly;mother;side;fast;light;glasses;made;storm;bird.

6. Havethefirstgroupcomeuptothefrontoftheroom.Thesecondgroupshouldlookfora cardinthatgroupthatwhenaddedtotheircardwouldhaveacompoundword.(Forinstance, someoneinthefirstgrouphasSUNandsomeoneinthesecondgrouphasFLOWER,toform thecompoundwordSUNFLOWER.).Studentsshouldbeabletocreate:butterfly;grandmother; inside;breakfast;daylight;sunglasses;homemade;thunderstorm;blackbird.

7. Havestudentsgettogetherwiththeotherhalfoftheircompoundwordandthentogetherwith theirpartnerwriteasentencewiththeircompoundwordinitthatsomehowrelatesto sunflowers.Forinstance,ifthewordissunshine:Sunshineisneededforsunflowers.

29



Sunflower HaikuOverview: Studentswillwritehaikupoemsaboutsunflowers.

State StandardsLA 2.2.2. Writing Genres: Studentswillwriteforavarietyofpurposesandaudiencesinmultiplegenres.

Instructional Objectives► Studentswillwriteahaikupoemaboutsunflowersusinggoodwordchoice.

MaterialsNonfictionbooksaboutsunflowers:A Handful of Sunshine(Eclare2000);From Seed to Sunflower (Legg1988);Sunflowers(McDonald1997);How a Seed Grows into a Sunflower (Steward2008); The Life Cycle of a Sunflower(Tagliaferro2007)Haikubooks:Dogku(Clements2007);If Not for the Cat(Prelutsky2004);Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys(Raczka2010);The Cuckoo’s Haiku and other Birding Poems(Rosen2009)Supplies:paper,pencils,haikubooksforexamplesofhaiku:

Sequence


2. Readsomehaikubooksandreviewtheformatofahaikupoem:

Line1:5syllablesLine2:7syllablesLine3:5syllables

3. Havestudentswriteatleasttwodifferenthaikuaboutsunflowers;forexample:

SunflowerpetalsSurroundacircleofseedsSearchingforthesun

4. IllustratepoemsandcollectinaclassbookwiththenameSunflower-ku.

30



“I’m Talking Sunflowers” WritingOverview: Studentswillsummarizewhattheyhavelearnedaboutsunflowerswithan“I’mTalking”poem.


Instructional Objectives► Studentswillshowwhattheyhavelearnedaboutsunflowersintheir“I’mTalking”poem.

MaterialsNonfictionbooksaboutsunflowers:A Handful of Sunshine(Eclare2000);From Seed to Sunflower (Legg1988);Sunflowers(McDonald1997);How a Seed Grows into a Sunflower (Steward2008); The Life Cycle of a Sunflower(Tagliaferro2007)Poetry:“I’mTalkingBig”inMaking Friends with Frankenstein(McNaughton1996)Supplies:paper,pencils,crayons

Sequence


2. Sharethepoem“I’mTalkingBig”byColinMcNaughtonwithstudents.

I’mtalkingbig!I’mtalkinghuge!

I’mtalkingenormous,immense,tremendous!I’mtalkinghulking,towering,titanic,mountainous!

I’mtalkingmaximum,massive,stupendous,gigantic,monumental!I’mtalkingfantastic,fabulous,incredible,unbelievable,mammoth,vast!

I’mtalkingastronomical,mighty,monstrous,universal,colossal,magnificent,galactical!I’mtalkingBIG!

3. Havestudentswritean“I’mTalkingSunflowers”poemaboutwhattheyhavelearned; forexample:

I’mtalkingsunflower.I’mtalkingyellow,golden,amber.I’mtalkinghuge,gigantic,immense.I’mtalkingseeds,kernels,source.

I’mtalkingsunseeking,sundrenched,sunsoaking.I’mtalkingsunflower.

31


Third Grade Activity 1

Acrostic Poem about SunflowersOverview: Studentswillwriteacrosticpoemsaboutsunflowers.


Instructional Objectives► Studentswillwriteacrosticpoemsaboutsunflowers.

MaterialsNonfictionbooksaboutsunflowers:A Handful of Sunshine(Eclare2000);From Seed to Sunflower (Legg1988);Sunflowers(McDonald1997);How a Seed Grows into a Sunflower (Steward2008); The Life Cycle of a Sunflower(Tagliaferro2007)Samplesofacrosticpoems:African Acrostics(Harley2009);Silver Seeds: A Book of Nature Poems (PaolilliandBrewer2001);Summer: An Alphabet Acrostic(Schnur2001)Supplies:paper,pencils,markers,crayons

Sequence


2. Readacrosticpoetryexamples.

3. Havestudentswritetheirownacrosticpoemsaboutsunflowersandillustratethepoems (examplebelow)

S eedareplanted U nderthegroundandare N uturedbythesunandrainallowing F ortheseedstosproutand L usciousplantstogrowas O peningbudsappearand W idenoutasan E normousflowerfilledwiththeseedstoeventually R eplantassunflowers.

32



The Important Thing about SunflowersOverview: Studentswillreviewwhattheyhavelearnedaboutsunflowersandwrite“TheImportantThingaboutSunflowers”


Instructional Objectives► Studentswillwriteaboutfourfactsrelatedtosunflowers.

MaterialsNonfictionbooksaboutsunflowers:A Handful of Sunshine(Eclare2000);From Seed to Sunflower (Legg1988);Sunflowers(McDonald1997);How a Seed Grows into a Sunflower (Steward2008); The Life Cycle of a Sunflower(Tagliaferro2007)Book:The Important Book(Brown1990)Supplies:paper,pencils,markers,crayons,chartorwhiteboard

Sequence


2. Discussfactslearnedaboutsunflowersandrecordonchartorwhiteboard.

3. ReadThe Important Booktostudents.

4. HavestudentsusethepatternofthebooktowriteandillustratetheirownImportantBook ofSunflowers(formatandexamplebelow).

5. Collectallstudents’writingandcompileinaclassbook.

Theimportantthingaboutasunfloweris______________.Itis_________________________,Itis_________________________,Anditis_______________________.

Buttheimportantthingaboutasunfloweris_____________.(Firstandlastlinearethesame.)

Theimportantthingaboutasunfloweristhatitalwaysseeksoutthesun.Itsseedisabouthalfofaninchlong.

Itsplantcangrowtobeupto12feethigh.Anditsflowercangrowtoabout16inchesacross.

Buttheimportantthingaboutasunfloweristhatitalwaysseeksoutthesun. 33



Sunflower Alliterative Alphabet BookOverview: Studentswillmakeaclassalliterativealphabetbookaboutsunflowers.

State StandardsLA 3.1.5 Vocabulary: Studentswillbuildliterary,generalacademic,andcontentspecificgradelevelvocabulary. LA 3.2.2. Writing Genres: Studentswillwriteforavarietyofpurposesandaudiencesinmultiplegenres.

Instructional Objectives► Studentswillwriteapageforanalphabetbookaboutsunflowersusingalliteration.

MaterialsNonfictionbooksaboutsunflowers:A Handful of Sunshine(Eclare2000);From Seed to Sunflower (Legg1988);Sunflowers(McDonald1997);How a Seed Grows into a Sunflower (Steward2008); The Life Cycle of a Sunflower(Tagliaferro2007)Alliterativealphabetbooks:Aster Aardvark’s Alphabet Adventures(Kellogg1992);SuperHero ABC (McLeod2006);Alphabet Poem(Rosen2004);Walter was Worried(Seeger2005)Supplies:paper,pencils,markers,crayons

Sequence


2. Readsomealliterativealphabetbooks,suchasthoselistedabove.

3. Brainstormwordsforeachletterofthealphabetthatrelatetosunflowers–usecharton nextpage:

34


Third Grade Activity 3 (continued)

A B C D

E F G H

I J K L

M N O P

Q R S T

U V W

Y

X

Z

35


Fourth Grade Activity 1

How to be a SunflowerOverview: Studentswillwrite“HowtoBe”poemsaboutsunflowers.

State StandardsLA 4.2.1 Writing Process:Studentswillapplythewritingprocesstoplan,draft,revise,editandpublishwritingusingcorrectspelling,grammar,punctuation,andotherstandardconventionsappropriateforgradelevel.LA 4.2.2 Writing Genres: Studentswillwriteforavarietyofpurposesandaudiencesinmultiplegenres.

Instructional Objectives► Studentswillwritea“HowtoBe”freeversepoemincludingfactslearnedaboutsunflowers.

MaterialsNonfictionbooksaboutsunflowers:From Seed to Sunflower (Legg1988);Growing Flowers(Mauerer2001);Sunflowers(McDonald1997);Sunflower Farmer (Gunderson2008);To Be Like the Sun(Swanson2008);Sunflower! (Welch1980)Supplies:paper,pencils

Sequence


2. Modelthewritingofa“HowTo”freeversepoemand/orsharethefollowingpoem:

How to be a Sunflower

Growupto12feettallBea“sun-seeker”(alwaysfollowingthesun)

BethenationalflowerofRussia.BethestateflowerofKansas.

Allowyourseedstobeusedasanimalfeed.

3. Havestudentswritetheirownversionsof“HowtobeaSunflower”withfactstheylearn andpublishpoemsinaclassbook.

36



Sunflower Percent PoemsOverview: Studentswillwritepercentpoemstoshowwhattheylearnedaboutsunflowers


Instructional Objectives► Studentswillwritepercentpoemstodemonstrateinformationlearnedaboutsunflowers.

MaterialsPercentpoemexample(below)Book:Practical Poetry: A Nonstandard Approach to Meeting Content-Area Standards (Holbrook2005)Nonfictionbooksaboutsunflowers:From Seed to Sunflower (Legg1988);Growing Flowers(Mauerer2001);Sunflowers(McDonald1997);Sunflower Farmer (Gunderson2008);To Be Like the Sun(Swanson2008);Sunflower! (Welch1980)Supplies:paper,pencils

Sequence

1. SharetheautobiographicalpercentpoembelowfromPractical Poetry: A Nonstandard Approach to Meeting Content-Area Standards (Holbrook2005)

100% Ryan

Iam30%plump3%brownhair

10%Mr.PeanutWorship20%football10%red2%braces

5%marshmallowsAndI’m20%jollyIfyouadditallup

Itisequivalenttome.

--Ryan,Grade6

2. Havestudentssearchnonfictionbooksforinformationaboutsunflowers.37


Fourth Grade Activity 2 (continued)

3. Havestudentswriteapercentpoemaboutsunflowers(examplebelow).

10%hopefulseeds10%richdirt

25%goldensunshine10%refreshingrain10%fuzzystalks10%fragilebuds25%perfectpetals

Equals100%spectacularsunflowers

4. Encouragestudentstoworkinpairstomakesurethepercentstotalupto100.

5. Shareanddisplaypercentpoems.

38



Sunflower Vocabulary BingoOverview: StudentswillplayBingousingsunflowerterminology.

State StandardsLA 4.1.5 Vocabulary: Studentswillbuildliterary,generalacademic,andcontentspecificgradelevelvocabulary.

Instructional Objectives► StudentswillplayBingowithvocabularywordstoreviewvocabularylearnedaboutsunflowers.

MaterialsNonfictionbooksaboutsunflowers:From Seed to Sunflower (Legg1988);Growing Flowers(Mauerer2001);Sunflowers(McDonald1997);Sunflower Farmer (Gunderson2008);To Be Like the Sun(Swanson2008);Sunflower! (Welch1980)Supplies:Bingocards(nextpage),sunflowerseedsusedformarkers,definitioncards

Sequence

1. Reviewvocabularylearnedfromreadingtheabovenonfictionbooks.2. GiveeachstudentapileofsunflowerseedstouseasBingocardmarkers.3. PlayBingo(traditionaldiagonal,horizontalrow,orverticalcolumn,orblackout[whereall squaresneedtobecovered])byreadingthesecondpart(thedefinition)andhavestudents findthecorrecttermontheirBingocard. Bloom–tohaveflowers Bracts–leavesgrowingfromtheflowerofaplant Bud–aflowerthathasn’topenedyet Flower-thepartoftheplantthatmakesseeds Heliotropism–anaturalmovementthatfollowssunlight Leaf-flat,greenpartofaplantthatgrowsfromthestem Petal–oneofthecoloredouterpartsoftheflower Roots–partofplanthatgrowsdownintothegroundandtakesinwaterandfoodtofeedtheplant Seed-thepartofafloweringplantfromwhichanewplantwillgrow Sprout-aneworyoungplantgrowth Stem–themainpartofaplantthatsupportstheleavesandflowers Sunflower–alargeflowerwithyellowpetalsandadarkcenter. Kansas–thesunflowerisitsstateflower. Russia–thesunflowerisitsnationalflower. Botanists–peoplewhostudyplants Helianthus(hee-lee-AN-thus)–nameofsunflowersgivenbybotanists: Helios(HEE-lee-ose)whichmeanssun Anthos(AN-thoce)whichmeansflower Tournesol(TURN-i-so)whichmeans”turnwiththesun”inFrench Diskflowers–thecenterofasunflowerismadeofhundredsoftheseverysmallflowers. Grouse–Oneoftheanimalswhoeatsunflowerseeds Groundhogs–Oneoftheanimalswhoeattherootsofasunflower. Oilseeds-smallerblackseeds Confectionseeds-gray-stripedseeds Cookingoil-Oneoftheproductsmadefromsunflowerseeds. 39



B I N G O

Botanists Helianthus Helios Anthos Tournesol

Disk flowers Bloom Bracts Bud Flower

Heliotropism Leaf Petal Roots Seed

Sprout Stem Sunflower Kansas Russia

Grouse Groundhog Oilseeds Confection seeds Cooking oil

40



“I Know it’s a Sunflower” PoemOverview: Studentswillwrite“IKnowIt’saSunflower”poems.


Instructional Objectives► Studentswillwriteapoemaboutsunflowerusingfactslearnedaboutthem.

MaterialsBooks:I Know It’s Fall(Spinelli2005);The Scholastic Rhyming Dictionary(Young1994)Supplies:paper,pencils

Sequence

1. ReadI Know It’s Falltostudents.

2. Discusstheformatofthebook(everypagestartswiththeline“Iknowit’sfall…”)andhas arhymingcouplet(twolinesthatrhymewitheachother).

3. Reviewfactslearnedaboutsunflowersfrompreviouslessons.

4. Modelthewritingofpoemonthetheme“IKnowIt’sASunflower”orsharethisone:

Iknowit’sasunflowerwhentheflowersstarttogrowAndfollowthesun’swarminglightglow.Iknowit’sasunflowerwhenit’s12feettall

Andbloomingflowerssignalthatsoonitwillbefall.

5. Havestudentswritetheirownpoemonthetheme“IKnowIt’saSunflower.”

6. Publishstudentpoemsinagroupbookofpoetry.

41



Sunflower Poetry PicksOverview: Studentswillchooseatypeofpoetrytowriteaboutsunflowers.


Instructional Objectives► Studentswillchooseatypeofpoetrytowriteaboutsunflowers.

MaterialsNonfictionbooksaboutsunflowers:From Seed to Sunflower(Legg1988);Growing Flowers(Mauerer2001);Sunflowers(McDonald1997);Sunflower Farmer(Gunderson2008);To Be Like the Sun (Swanson2008);Sunflower! (Welch1980)Examplesofpoetrytypes(providedbelowifneeded)Supplies:paper,pencils

Sequence

1. Havestudentspreviewfivedifferenttypesofpoetry:alphabetpyramid,cinquainpoem, definitionpoem,diamantepoem,andpatternedpoem(formatandexamplesbelow).

2. Letstudentschooseatypeofpoetryandusethatformattoshowwhattheyhavelearned aboutsunflowers.

Alphabet Pyramid

Line1:theletter;Line2:anoun

Line3:addanadjectiveLine4:addaverb

Line5:addanadverb

SSunflower

SunnySunflowerSunnySunflowerShines

SunnySunflowerShinesSilently

42



Cinquain Poem

Line1:SubjectLine2:foursyllablesdescribingsubjectLine3:sixsyllablesshowingaction

Line4:eightsyllablesexpressingfeelingorobservationaboutsubjectLine5:twosyllablesrenamingsubject

SunflowerSunworshipping

Budding,sprouting,growingAlwayssearchingforthehotsun

Sunseeker

Definition Poem

Line1:NameitLine2:Describeit,renameit

Line3:TellwhereitwouldbefoundLine4:Tellmoreaboutit

Line5:UseemotionwordstotellhowyoufeelaboutitLine6:Explainwhyyouusedtheemotionwordsinline5

SunflowerSunworshipper

FoundinsplendidfieldsinlatesummerAlwayscheerful,alwayssearchingConstantcompanionofthesun

Diamante Poem

Line1:NounLine2:2adjectivesdescribingnounLine3:3-ingwordsdescribingnoun

Line4:2nounsaboutnounabove,2nounsaboutnounbelowLine5:3-ingwordsdescribingnounbelowLine6:2adjectivesdescribingnounbelow

Line7:Noun

sunflowersunnyGolden

sproutingbuddingbloomingpetalsseedsKernelsHusks

ShuckingBoilingButteringSweetCrunchy

Corn 43



Patterned Poem

“ILike”

Ilikenoun!Ilikenoun!

AdjectivenounAdjectivenounAdjectivenounAdjectivenoun

Anykindofnoun!Ilikenoun!

Nounprepositionalphrase…Nounprepositionalphrase…Nounprepositionalphrase…Nounprepositionalphrase…

Ilikenoun!

Ilikesunflowers!Ilikesunflowers!GoldensunflowersButterysunflowersAmbersunflowersSunnysunflowers

Anykindofsunflower!Ilikesunflowers!

SunflowersheapedwithseedsSunflowersblowinginthebreezeSunflowersplantedinspring

SunflowersbloominginsummerIlikesunflowers!

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Fifth Grade Activity 1

Free Verse Sunflower PoetryOverview: Studentswillwriteafreeversepoemaboutsunflowers.


Instructional Objectives► Studentswillwritefreeversepoetryaboutsunflowers.

MaterialsNonfictionbooksaboutsunflowers:From Seed to Sunflower(Legg1988);Growing Flowers(Mauerer2001);Sunflowers(McDonald1997);Sunflower Farmer(Gunderson2008); To Be Like the Sun (Swanson2008);Sunflower!(Welch1980)Examplesoffreeversepoetry(providedbelowifneeded)Supplies:paper,pencilspaper

Sequence

1. Havestudentswriteversepoemstoshowwhattheyhavelearnedaboutsunflowers.See examplesbelow.Encouragestudentstoreviseandeditthepoemstotakethemtofinaldrafts.

Example 1:Havestudentswritealetteraddressedtothesunflower,completewithquestions andcompliments:

Sunflower,Youshinesobrightlyinfieldsofgold.Youaresplendidsunworshippers.

Whatdoyoutalkaboutwithyourfriendsinthefields?Whatsunscreendoyouuse?

Example 2:Endeachlinewiththephrase“tobelikethesun,”asinthebookTo be Like the Sun (Swanson2008)

Sunflowersaredisksofgoldenpetals…tobelikethesun.Sunflowersarefilledwithsunnyseeds…tobelikethesun.

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Fifth Grade Activity 1 (continued)

Example 3:Writeafreeversepoemofquestions,assuggestedbythispoemfromthebook Blue Iris (Oliver2004)

The Sunflowers

ComewithmeIntothefieldofsunflowers.

Theirfacesareburnisheddisks,Theirdryspines

Creaklikeshipmasts,Theirgreenleaves,Soheavyandmany,

FillalldaywiththestickySugarsofthesun.Comewithme

Tovisitthesunflowers,Theyareshy

Butwanttobefriends;TheyhavewonderfulstoriesOfwhentheywereyoung–Theimportantweather,Thewanderingcrows,

Don’tbeafraidToaskthemquestions!!!

Example 4:Comparesunflowerstoatypeofmusic,asinthispoemfromthebookPumpkin Butterfly: Poems from the Other Side of Nature(Mordhorst2009)

Botanical Jazz

Quietdown,flower—Notsoloud!

AllthisstretchingyourneckAndspreadingyourarms

Bellowingyourbrassyyellowsass—

You’rebreakingoureyedrumsTrumpetingallthatcolorandsunBlowingthatblazingyellowjazz…

Beltitout,flower—We’lljoinin!

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Making Connections to Sunflower QuotesOverview: Studentswillwriteabouttheirconnectionstosunflowerquotes.

State StandardsLA 5.1.6 Comprehension: Studentswillextractandconstructmeaningusingpriorknowledge,applyingtextinformation,andmonitoringcomprehensionwhilereadinggradeleveltext.LA 5.1.6.m: Buildandactivatepriorknowledgeinordertoidentifytexttoself,texttotext,andtexttoworldconnectionsbefore,during,andafterreading.LA 5.2.1 Writing Process: Studentswillapplythewritingprocesstoplan,draft,revise,editandpublishwritingusingcorrectspelling,grammar,punctuation,andotherstandardconventionsappropriateforgradelevel.LA 5.2.2 Writing Genres: Studentswillwriteforavarietyofpurposesandaudiencesinmultiplegenres.

Instructional Objectives► Studentswillwriteaboutconnectionstheyhavetosunflowerquotes.

MaterialsSunflowerquotes(providedbelow)Supplies:paper,pencils

Sequence

1. Displaythefollowingquotesaboutsunflowersanddiscusstheirpossiblemeanings.

■ “Beliketheflower,turnyourfacetothesun.”(KahlilGibran)■ “Thesunflowerisafavoriteemblemofconstancy.”(ThomasBulfinch)■ “Flowershaveanexpressionofcountenanceasmuchasmenoranimals.Someseemto smile;…othersareplain,honestandupright,likethebroad-facedsunflower…” (HenryWardBeecher)■ “Iwouldratherhavebeenatallsunflower;Livinginacountrygarden;Liftinga golden-brownfacetothesummer.”(CarlSandburg)■ “Turnyourfacetothesunandtheshadowsfallbehindyou.”(MaoriProverb)■ “Keepyourfacetothesunshineandyoucannotseetheshadow.It’swhatsunflowersdo.” (HelenKeller)■ “Ishouldliketochangeintoasunflowermostofall.They’resotallandsimple.” (ColinHiggins)

2. Havestudentschoosetheirfavoritequoteandwriteabouttheirconnectiontothequote (text-lifeconnections)ortheirideasonwhatthequotesmeanintheworld (text-worldconnections).Modelthewritingoftheconnectionordoonetogetheror usetheexampleprovidedbelow.

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Example:“Keepyourfacetothesunshineandyoucannotseetheshadow.It’swhat sunflowersdo.”--HelenKeller.Ithinkthisquotemeansthatyoushouldalwayslookforthe goodorthepositive,evenwhensomethingbadhappens.Forinstance,afterbeingcaughtinadownpourwhenyoudon’thaveanumbrella,youmaybedrenchedandwet,butlookupandyou’llseeabeautifulrainbowinthesky.Orenjoythedownpourandcelebratetherain,especiallyinayearinwhichwehadverylittlerain.Clotheswilldry,butcropsandflowersreallyneedtheraintogrowandprosper.

3. Displaystudents’workanddiscussdifferences/similaritiesinstudents’connectionsor explanationsofsimilarquotes.

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Taking Courage from SunflowersOverview: StudentswillwritejournalentriesasiftheywereacharacterinaJapaneseinternmentcampgrowingsunflowers.

State StandardsLA 5.1.6 Comprehension: Studentswillextractandconstructmeaningusingpriorknowledge,applyingtextinformation,andmonitoringcomprehensionwhilereadinggradeleveltext.LA 5.2.1 Writing Process: Studentswillapplythewritingprocesstoplan,draft,revise,editandpublishwritingusingcorrectspelling,grammar,punctuation,andotherstandardconventionsappropriateforgradelevel.LA 5.2.2 Writing Genres: Studentswillwriteforavarietyofpurposesandaudiencesinmultiplegenres.

Instructional Objectives► StudentswillwritejournalentriesasiftheywereacharacterinaJapaneseinternmentcamp growingsunflowers,describingtheimportanceofapositivefocusinadismalsituation.

MaterialsBook:A Place Where Sunflowers Grow(Lee-Tai2006)Supplies:paper,pencils

Sequence

1. ReadA Place Where Sunflowers Growtostudents.Thisbookisbasedonatruestoryfromthe author’smotherandgrandmother’sexperienceattheTopazRelocationCenter.Mariandher familyareinternedatTopazRelocationCenter(aJapaneseinternmentcamp)inUtahduring WorldWarII.Topassthetimesheplantssunflowerseedsandgoestoartclasses.The sunflowersgivethemhopeandremindthemoftheirbackyardinCalifornia.Theylivedthere for3½years.EventhoughtheUtahgroundwasdry,thesunflowerseventuallygrewand gavethemhope.

2. Afterreadingthebook,discussJapaneseinternmentcamps(suggestedresourcebooksare listedbelow).

3. HavestudentswritesimulatedjournalentriesasiftheywereMariinthebook,longingforthe sunflowerstoblossom.Havethemfocustheirentriesonflowersandthepromiseofflowersas abrightspotinadismalcamp.

Historicalfiction:So Far from the Sea(Bunting1998);Flowers from Mariko(Jenks2001);The Bracelet(Uchida1993)Nonfiction:Remembering Manzanar: Life in a Japanese Relocation Camp(Cooper2002);Dear Miss Breed: True Stories of the Japanese American Incarceration during World War II and the Librarian Who Made a Difference(Oppenheim2006);Japanese American Internment Camps(Sakural2007);Life in a Japanese American Internment Camp(Yancey1998) 49



Writing Song Lyrics about SunflowersOverview: Studentswillwritelyricsaboutsunflowers.


Instructional Objectives► Studentswillwritesonglyricsaboutsunflowerstoshowwhattheyhavelearned.

MaterialsSupplies:paper,pencils

Sequence

1. Readthewordsofthesongbelowtostudents.Thewordsarefromthechorusof“TheBig Sunflower”(wordsandmusicbyBobbyNewcomb,1868).Thischeerfultunewas“Pa’s troublesong”fromtheLauraIngallsWilderbooks,Little House on the Prairie.“Pa,”the fatherofthefamily,sangthesongduringblizzardstoremindhimselfofsunnytimes.

AndIfeeljustashappyasabigsunflowerThatnodsandbendsinthebreezes

AndmyheartisaslightasthewindthatblowsTheleavesfromoffthetrees---es.

2. Encouragestudentstowritesomelyricsorversestothesong,perhapshighlightingsome factstheyhavelearnedaboutsunflowers(examplebelow).

SunflowersblossomandwaveStrong,sturdy,andbraveAlwaysfacingforthesunUntilthedayisdone.

3. Performtheversesandaddtherefrainfromtherealsong(foundin:Best Loved Songs of the American People(Agay1975,p.141)orThe Laura Ingalls Wilder Songbook (Garson1968,pp.114-116).

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Van Gogh’s SunflowersOverview: StudentswillwriteaboutVincentVanGoghandtheimpactsunflowershadonhislife.


Instructional Objectives► StudentswillwriteaboutVincentVanGoghandhisconnectiontosunflowers.

MaterialsSupplies:paper,pencilsBooksaboutVincentVanGogh:Camille and the Sunflowers: A Story about Vincent Van Gogh(Anholt1994);Van Gogh(Bernard1999);Van Gogh(Crispinoetal.2008);Vincent Van Gogh(Eileen1997);Vincent Van Gogh(Green2002);Vincent Van Gogh: Portrait of an Artist(GreenandJordan2001);Vincent Van Gogh(Lucas1997);Katie and the Sunflowers(Mayhew2001)

Sequence1. HavestudentsreadVincentVanGoghbiographiesandhavestudentskeepnotesonimportant elementsofhislife.

2. HavestudentsviewwebsitesthatfeatureVanGogh’spaintingsofsunflowers,suchas:

http://www.vggallery.com/misc/sunflowers.htm http://www.vangoghgallery.com/painting/sunflowerartists.html

3. HavestudentsoptionswritebiographiesofVincentVanGogh,chosingeitheraclerihewpoem orabiopoemformat(formatsandexamplesbelow).

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Clerihew Poem

NameRhyme(withname)

Rhyme(withbelowline)Rhyme(withaboveline)

VincentVanGoghUsedhispaintingstoshow

ThevibrantflowersofthesunBeforehislifewasdone.

Bio Poem

Line1:FirstnameonlyLine2:Fouradjectivesdescribingtheperson

Line3:Familyinformation(Son/daughterof…orSiblingof…Significantotherof…)Line4:Wholoves…(3thingsorideas)Line5:Whofeels…(3thingsorideas)Line6:Whofears…(3thingsorideas)

Line7:Whowouldliketosee(3thingsorideas)Line8:Residentof…Line9:Lastnameonly

VincentArtistic,creative,complicated,observant

BrotherofTheoWholovedhisbrother,sunflowers,impressionism.

WhofeltcreativeatArles,France;energeticwhenpainting;peacewhenpaintingoutside.Whofearedpoverty,darkness,notbeingabletoexpresshimselfinpaintings

Whowantedtoseemoresunshine,morecolors,morestarsResidentofmanyartmuseums

VanGogh

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Appendix

Suggested BooksThefollowingbooksarelistedinthecurriculumactivities,withappropriategradelevelindicatedinparentheses.

Agay,D.1975.Best Loved Songs of the American People(R.Lonette,illustrator).GardenCity,NY: Doubleday&Co.(G5)Anholt,L.1994.Camille and the Sunflowers: A Story about Vincent Van Gogh.Hauppauge,NY: Barrons(G5)Barry,F.2008.Big Yellow Sunflower.Cambridge,MA:CandlewickPress(PK)Bernard,B.1999.Van Gogh.NewYork:DorlingKindersley(G5)Brown,M.1990.The Important Book. NewYork:HarperCollins(G3)Bruce,L.1999.Fran’s Flower(R.Beardshaw,illustrator).NewYork:HarperCollins(G1)Bunting,E.1996.Sunflower House(K.Hewitt,illustrator).SanDiego:HarcourtBrace(K)Bunting,E.1998.So Far from the Sea.NewYork:Clarion(G5)Clements,A.2007.Dogku(T.Bowers,illustrator).NewYork:Simon&Shuster(G2)Cooper,M.2002.Remembering Manzanar: Life in a Japanese Relocation Camp.NewYork: Clarion(G5)Crispino,E.,B.Simone,andS.Ashley.2008.Van Gogh.Minneapolis:OliverPress(G5)Eclare,M.2008.A Handful of Sunshine.Brooklyn,NY:RaggedBears(PK,G2,G3)Eileen,L.1997.Vincent Van Gogh.Minneapolis:Carolrhoda(G5)Ernst,L.1998.Little Red Riding Hood: A Newfangled Fairy Tale.NewYork:Simon&Schuster(G1)Florian,D.2000.Winter Eyes.NewYork:Scholastic(G2)Ford,M.1995.Sunflower (S.Noll,illustrator).NewYork:Greenwillow(K)Garson,E.1968. The Laura Ingalls Wilder Songbook(G.Williams,illustrator).NewYork: Harper&Row(G5)Green,J.2002.Vincent Van Gogh.NewYork:Watts(G5)Greenberg,andS.Jordan.2001.Vincent Van Gogh: Portrait of an Artist.NewYork:Delacorte(G5)Gunderson,J.2008.Sunflower Farmer (R.Haugen,illustrator).Minneapolis,MN:PictureWindow Books(G4,G5)Harley,A.2009.African Acrostics(D.Noyes,illustrator).Cambridge,MA:CandlewickPress(G3)Heard,G.2011.Falling Down the Page.NewYork:RoaringBrookPress(G2)Hobbie,H.1999. Toot and Puddle: You are My SunshinebyH.Hobbie(1999)Boston:Little, Brown(PK)Holbrook,S.2005.Practical Poetry: A Nonstandard Approach to Meeting Content-Area Standards. Portsmouth,NH:Heinemann(G4)Jenks,D.2001.Flowers from Mariko.NewYork:Lee&Low(G5)Kellogg,S.1992.Aster Aardvark’s Alphabet Adventures.NewYork:HarperCollins(G3)Lee-Tai,A.2006.A Place Where Sunflowers Grow(F.Hoshino,illustrator).SanFrancisco: Children’sBookPress(G5)

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Suggested Books (continued)

Legg,G.1988.From Seed to Sunflower(C.Scrace,illustrator).NewYork:FranklinWatts (G2,G3,G4,G5)Lucas,E.1997.Vincent Van Gogh.Minneapolis:Carolrhoda(G5)Mauerer,T.2001.Growing Flowers.VeroBeach,FL:TheRourkeBookCo.(G4,G5)Mayhew,J.2001.Katie and the Sunflowers.NewYork:Orchard(G5)McDonald,M.1997.Sunflowers.NewYork:TheChild’sWorld(G3,G4,G5)McLeod,B.2006.SuperHero ABC.NewYork:HarperCollins(G3)McNaughton,C.1996.Making Friends with Frankenstein.Cambridge,MA:CandlewickPress(G2)Mordhorst,H.2009.Pumpkin Butterfly: Poems from the Other Side of Nature (J.Reynish,illustrator). Honesdale,PA:Wordsong(G5)Oliver,M.2004.Blue Iris: Poems and Essays.Boston:BeaconPress(G5)Oppenheim,J.2006.Dear Miss Breed: True Stories of the Japanese American Incarceration during World War II and the Librarian Who Made a Difference.NewYork:Scholastic(G5)Paolilli,P.andD.Brewer.2001.Silver Seeds: A Book of Nature Poems(S.Johnson,illustrator). NewYork:Viking(G3)Parr,T.2004.Do’s and Don’ts.Boston:Little,Brown(G1)Prelutsky,J.2004.If Not for the Cat(T.Rand,illustrator).NewYork:Greenwillow(G2)Raczka,B.2010.Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys(P.Reynolds,illustrator).Boston:Houghton Mifflin(G2)Rosen,M.2004.Alphabet Poem.NewYork:MiletPublishing(G3)Rosen,M.2009.The Cuckoo’s Haiku and other Birding Poems(S.Fellows,illustrator). Cambridge,MA:CandlewickPress(G2)Sakural,G.2007.Japanese American Internment Camps.NewYork:Children’sPress(G5)Saunders-Smith,G.1998.Sunflowers.Mankato,MN:PebbleBooks(G1)Schaefer,L.2000.This is the Sunflower (D.Crews,illustrator).NewYork:HarperCollins(G1)Schnur,S.2001.Summer: An Alphabet Acrostic.NewYork:Clarion(G3)Seeger,L.2005.Walter was Worried.NewYork:RoaringBrookPress(G3)Spinelli,E.2005.I Know it’s Fall(N.Hayashi,illustrator).NewYork:Scholastic(G4)Steward,D.2008. How a Seed Grows into a Sunflower(C.Franklin,illustrator).NewYork: Scholastic(G3)Swanson,S.2008.To Be Like the Sun(M.Chodos-Irvine,illustrator).Orlando,FL:Harcourt (K;G4,G5)Tagliaferro,L.2007.The Life Cycle of a Sunflower.Mankato,MN:CapstonePress(G2,G3)Uchida,Y.1993.The Bracelet.NewYork:Philomel(G5)Walton,R.2011.Once there was a Bull…(Frog)(G.Hally,illustrator).NewYork:GibbsSmith(G2)Welch,M.1980.Sunflower!NewYork:Morrow(G4,G5)Yancey,D.1998.Life in a Japanese American Internment Camp.SanDiego:Lucent(G5)Young,S.1994.The Scholastic Rhyming Dictionary.NewYork:Scholastic(G4)

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