A unit study creates a fun and exciting learning environment that pulls children out of their textbooks and into real world applications of knowledge. Choose a unit study based on plants or flowers, such as this one covering the easily obtainable and inexpensive cosmos flower. It is simple to grow and a colorful addition to a home or school garden.
Starting the Cosmos Flower Unit Study
Begin by researching the cosmos flower. Your own understanding and appreciation of the flower will jump-start many fresh and creative ideas beyond the included suggestions. Consider all the lesson subjects which need to be covered during the time frame of the Cosmos Flower Unit Study and incorporate those objectives when possible.
Introduce the subject by producing real varieties of cosmos flowers, including chocolate cosmos. Let students smell the flowers and touch them. Have microscopes available to look at the various parts of the flower under different levels of magnification.
If varieties of cosmos seem difficult to obtain, plan the lesson in advance by beginning with planting different varieties of cosmos and watching the plants grow in the classroom, or save the exploration of the cosmos until the plants are grown.
Physical Education and More with the Cosmos Flower
Gardening is a physical activity. It also can be used to teach many other subjects, including art, science, and math. If the students can plants other flowers with the cosmos, plant height and color composition can be considered as well.
Have students plan a garden of cosmos flowers. They can graph the garden based on the space the plants will need and the size of the garden available. Show them pictures of garden plans so they understand the concept.
If they will be able to plant a real garden, make sure the space each student has allotted to them is accurate. If it will be a community garden, the students will need to work together on a plan. Using large pieces of poster board or newsprint paper will make it easier to create a group garden plan. Prepare the grid before starting to save time.
Art of the Cosmos Flower
Flowers naturally lend themselves to artistic endeavors. Guide the chidren by showing photographs or pictures of cosmos flowers in many different varieties and beautiful colors. Find examples online or in garden magazines, catalogs or books.
Using any type of artistic media, have the children draw or paint their own renditions of cosmos flowers. Bright markers are very nice for cosmos flowers. Colored pencils can make lovely drawings, including the colored pencils which can be used with water to create a watercolor effect. Oil pastels, chalks and watercolors could also be used.
Create paper cosmos flowers. The petals should be similar, if not identical and symmetrical around the center of the flower. Use floral wire for stems. Bouquets can be made from the paper flowers.
Science, Math and Geography with the Cosmos Flower
Science - Research the parts of a flower. Include information on petals, leaves, and pollen. Make sure students understand what plants need to survive and their growth cycle from seed to reproduction.
Math - Cosmos flowers are beautifully symmetrical. Introduce the concept of symmetry. Discuss what it means for cosmos flowers to be symmetrical. Most flowers are radially symmetrical, meaning that the flower has symmetry around a center point.
Geography - Research where the cosmos flower naturally came from in Mexico. Show students a gardening zone map and explain the zone in which they are located. Are cosmos recommended for their zone?
Don't limit yourself to these suggestions. Follow curriculum suggestions as well as your own and the interests of your students. If the unit study appeals to you, but the timing for creating a garden is off, plan to integrate it into your lessons closer to planting time.
Angela Kleinow - I graduated from the University of Michigan, where I focused on Science Fiction and Fantasy for my senior seminar while working with the ...
Join the Conversation