Parts of a Flower Lesson Plan

Parts of a Flower
Grades 4-6
The Concept
This hands-on lesson will introduce students to the four parts of a flower.
The four parts to be introduced are: the sepals, the pistil, the stamens, and pollen.
Science Process Skills
1. Examining specimens of flowers.
2. Physically identifying the various parts of a flower.
3. Recording the number of each part type per each flower specimen.
4. Comparing two different flower specimens.
Math Process Skills
1.

Count the number of part components for each flower

2.

Subtract the amount of the highest from the lowest for the difference

3.

Compare and contrast the differences.

Illinois Goals
6.A.2, 6.B.2, 6.C.2a, 6.C.2b, 10.A.2a, 10.B.2a, 10.B.2b, 12.B.2b, 11A.2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e.
Objectives (Blooms Taxonomy is referenced)
1.

Introduce students to Biological Science.

2.

Recognize and identify various flower parts.

3.

Application of knowledge to physical specimens.

4.

Synthesize scientific knowledge through critical thinking and communication skills.

Safety
Plastic knives should be distributed last and collected first when the hand-on acitivity has been completed in
order to avoid mishandling and injury.
Resources
Cooney, T (2000). Science. Glenview, Illinois: Scott Foresman.
Technology Instructional Support
California Native Plant Society (CNPS) www.cnps/education/pollin.php
Materials (6 teams)

Newspapers

2 different flowers

Hand lens

Plastic knife

Paper

Pencil

Handouts
Chart with Flower 1 and Flower 2 Parts.
Timeline
This is a 40 minute introductory lesson that can easily be expanded to include other lessons in pollination,
seeds, fruits, and flower life cycle.
Procedure
1.

Anticipatory Set:

Have students name flowers they know. Have students name flower parts

they know. Write them down on board or overhead.

2.

Tell the students that they will be learning the four parts of a flower.

3.

Use picture on page A17 to identify the flower parts to students.

4.

Tell the students what two flowers they will be examining hand-on.

5.

Pass out the newspapers, the flowers, the hand lenses and the plastic knives.

6.

They will slowly cut each flower in half in order to locate the pistil, stamen and pollen which
may not be visible on the outside.

7.

The students will use their hand lens to get a closer look at the inside the bottom of the pistil.

8.

The students will describe what they see on their chart and discuss with their small group of
four or five.

9.

The students will examine each flower, identify, and record the number of each plant part on
their charts.

10.

The students will subtract the bigger number from the lower number on each line and identify
which flower had more of each part.

11.

Students will draw a picture of one of their flowers of their choice and label the plant parts on it.

12.

The teacher will go around the class and discuss with the groups their chart data and drawings.

13.

Students will select the best flower drawings from their groups to go on the Science or Brag
Board.

Recommended Grade Level

This activity is appropriate for fourth or fifth grade.
Assessment Evaluation Criteria
1.

Handling of the plant.

2.

Counting of the plant parts.

3.

Recording of the data on the handout chart.

4.

Subtraction results.

5.

Drawing of flower and labeling of the parts.

6.

Analysis and discussion on the findings with fellow students and the teacher.

Reflective Practice
1.

Success of the lesson as seen by each student anonymously.

2.

What did the student learn from the activity? Reflection Time Handout

3.

What would the student change and why? Reflection Time Handout

4.

Student Learning Log entry.

By:

Margarita Torres

Here we learn about the four parts of a flower

Subject:
Science
Grade:
4
Title The Four Main Parts of a Flower
By Leanna Martin
Primary Subject Science
Grade Level 4
Note from LessonPlansPage.com: This lesson references a worksheet (not included) and some personal
religious comments (included), both of which may be omitted without seriously compromising the benefit
of this lesson. Materials:

The teacher will have a large chart at the front of the room with the parts of the flowers with
removable labels. Also, the teacher will have a worksheet with a chart prepared for the students to
test their knowledge.

The students will need their textbooks and pencils or pens.

Objectives:

The student will be able to identify the four main parts of the flower on a chart with 100%
accuracy.

The student will be able to match the parts of the flower to their function on a matching quiz with
100% accuracy.

Introduction:
Today we are going to imagine a trip by Buzz, the bee, into the center of a flower. Now, Buzz was a very
busy little fellow and he did a lot to help out around the hive. One of his most important jobs was to gather
pollen from flowers to make honey.

One day as Buzz was flying along, he happened to notice one particularly bright flower for those were
always his favorite kinds. He landed softly on a big, fluffy-looking leaf that was his favorite color red!
From there he dove straight into the flower and noticed a big green stalk right in the center of the flower.
All around it were little stalks that waved in the breeze. They had funny little knobby things on their ends.
Buzz, was really curious what all these things were and decided to go ask his favorite uncle. As he left the
flower, he sat on a green leaf sticking out beside the flower and then took off into the big blue sky.
When Buzz got back to the hive, he eagerly asked his uncle what all these things were that he had
observed. Today, we are going to learn, along with Buzz, what these parts of the flower were and what
they do.
Sequence of Activities:
How many of you have ever looked really closely at the inside of a flower? (
Hopefully, some of the students raise hands.
) Did any of you ever notice any of the parts that Buzz noticed as he gathered pollen? (
Some saw the funny knobby things, some saw the big stalk in the middle, etc.
) Well, how many of you have ever wondered what these parts of the flower do? (
Some students raise hands.
) I know when I look at a flower, I am always curious about how these parts work together and what they
do. It is important to know how these parts of the flower work together, because flowers are a very
necessary part of forming something we like very much. How many of you like to eat? (
All raise students raise hands.
) What are some of your favorite fruits or vegetables that you like to eat maybe theyre something you
and your family actually raise? (
Peppers, watermelons, strawberries, tomatoes, apples, etc.
)
Today we are going to learn how God designed the flower to be both beautiful and useful for making food
at the same time. Gods design of the flower shows us so much about his wisdom, that he can design
things to be both enjoyable to look at and useful. So be thinking about the ways God made the flower
beautiful and useful as we learn about the different parts of the flower.
The first part we are going to look at is this pointy little leaf here at the base of the flower. This is called
the sepal. Lets all say sepal together. 1 2 3, Sepal! The sepal is important when the flower is young,
because it helps protect the bud. Lets all say sepal together 3 times. And what does the sepal do for the
flower? (
Protects it when it is young.
)
Okay, as Buzz flew into the flower, does anyone know what the big, red fluffy looking leaf was that he
landed on? (

Petal.
) Very good! How many of you like this part of the flower best? (
Some raise hands.
) This is my favorite part, too.
God really did a spectacular job of making the flowers beautiful by making flower petals different colors.
Well, He actually created them this way for a reason.
The bright colors attract pollinators like Buzz to them. The flower needs this to help it form new seeds. Ok,
now who can tell me what two parts we know now? (
Sepal, petal.
)
Now we are going to move even farther into the flower, down to the middle where the big pistil sits. Can
anyone point to the pistil on the chart? (
Have one student come up and point out the pistil.
) This is a very important part of the flower because this is where the pollination occurs. Thats a big word,
so Im going to explain what it means. Pollination is the process of the little grains of pollen moving down
the pistil where they form seeds. The bulb part of the pistil is called the ovary (
point on chart
) becomes the fruit. Now lets review a little. Can anyone tell me why flowers are so important? (
Because they help form food-fruits or vegetables
) What happens in the pistil where the fruit begins to form? (
Pollination.
) Good job!
The last part we are going to talk about is what? Can anyone remember the part that Buzz saw that we
didnt go over yet? (
The tall things with knobbys on the end.
) Very good! These things are called stamens. The stamens hold pollen on their ends which are called
anthers. (
Point out on chart.
) This is where Buzz gathers the pollen he needs to make honey. Now what holds the pollen? (
The stamens.
) Good job!
Ok now, lets look at the chart and say the parts of the lower working from the outside in. Sepal, petal,
pistil, stamen. Awesome! Lets say them together again (

Remove one label from chart

) Can anyone tell me which one is missing (
Petal.
) Very good! Alright lets say them all together again. (
Do this until all the labels are gone.
)
You can also remember these parts in order, too, by remembering that the first and last flower parts both
start with S while the middle two both start with P. So you have two Ps sandwiched by the Ss.
Lets review what the different parts of the flower do. Who can tell me what the sepal does? (
It protects the flower when its young.
) Nice job! What do the colorful petals do? (
they attract bees that pollinate the flower.
) Good answer! What forms as part of the pistil? (
The fruit.
) Very good! And lastly, what do the stamens hold? (
Pollen.
) Exactly!
Conclusion: To bring this all to a close, how many of you are more thankful for flowers now that you see
how important they are? (raise hands) I know I am! When we look at a flower and know and understand
how the parts work together, it gives us a better picture of how God created our earth so well so that
everything works together to do what needs to be done. Remembering these parts of a flower is
something you can use all through school and your life so that you can even teach your younger brothers
and sisters about Gods awesome creation.So the next time you pick a flower, look at it really closely and
think how wonderfully God designed this work of art to be both beautiful and useful!

A lesson and worksheet on flowers and seeds.

Objectives:
Students will be able to list the parts of a flower.
Students will understand how flowers reproduce.
Students will be able to describe the role of insects in the reproduction of flowers.

Suggested Grades:
3rd Grade - 4th Grade - 5th Grade

Lesson Procedure:
Print the reading comprehension worksheet passage and questions (see below).
Students should read the passage silently, then answer the questions. Teachers may
also use the text as part of a classroom lesson plan.

Lesson Excerpt:
Most flowers have aromas that attract insects. When insects are attracted to flowers
and fly into them, they contact the part of the flower that releases tiny grains called
pollen. As insects move around some more, they spread pollen so it can mix with other
parts of the plant. This is called pollination, a process that causes new plants to grow.
Nature has a very interesting way of keeping insects inside a flower until their job is
done. The insides of the flower are so smooth that the insect cannot climb out.
However, after the flower is pollinated, the insides of the flower become more wrinkled.
Insects can then get some footing to climb out and move on to another flower!
Flowers have four important parts - sepals, petals, stamens and pistils.