It's all about sunflowers!!

What once was a tiny seed, grew to flourish over the holidays into a big tall sunflower.  We had watched with anticipation before christmas as the green stalk grew upwards and developed leaves but alas it did not flower.  Sneaking in throughout the holidays Deanne managed to snap a picture for us to see.

Look at how big it got!  Amazing, How cool!

However as Tawhirimatea blew strong, the sunflower's stake was unable to hold it up, it drooped and then snapped, breaking in two.

The sunflower hardened as it dried out and you see all the small sunflower seeds that made up the middle part of the flower.  We kept the sunflower for the children to see when they returned from holiday.  Our tamariki are naturally interested and curious about the things around them, especially the wonders of nature, so it was no suprise to see everyone come and have a look and investigate closer.

Investigating the sunflower

Leo tells us she has sunflowers at home. "Wow" she says as we look at the tiny sunflower seeds "There are so many".  We used our fingers and started to pull the seeds out.  This was great for working on those fine motor skills.  "It's got stripes" she says with a giggle.

 Chloe comes to help too, this was going to be a big job, one we will probably do over a few days with the help of some more friends.  "Getting them all out now" says Chloe.

Painting sunflowers

We then set up a provocation.... a picture of sunflowers in a meadow..... some paint - yellow, green and brown and painting tools inviting our young artists to look closely at the flowers features - the stem, petals, leave's and center.  Paintings are a way of communicating idea's and feelings.  It helps us learn how to study closely and draw what we see and think.

"These are seeds" says Miane

"Flower, green leaves" says Gracie

Sharing at mat-time

Mat-time was a great opportunity for further discussion..... What had happened to our sunflower?  What did we see?  What did we think?  What did we notice? What did we wonder?

"Lets have a look at these seeds" said teacher Laura.  Using our senses we got to feel, touch, smell.

"What do they look like" asked teacher Laura?   "Black and White"

"What a pattern! Does anyone else know anything that has a black and white pattern?"

Marlo says "A Zebra"

"What shape are they?"

"Curve, circle" says Marlo

"Oval" says Elle

"With a sharp bit" says Cam

"Can anyone look close like a scientist and see anything else" says Teacher Laura

"It's furry" says MacKenzie "Mine has hair"

It was very interesting to hear all the different thoughts and idea's.

"Lets be seeds.  What do our seeds need to grow?" says Teacher Laura

"Water" says Elle. "And sun" says Cam.

We curled up really small and grew when we got watered.

Then our clever teacher Laura, made up a little mat-time song for us, we all joined in the actions. 

I'm a little sunflower

Look and see

Here is my stalk

And here is my leaves

When I see Te Ra

I turn my head

When Te Ra goes down

I go to bed.

We are looking forward to re-visiting our sunflowers again soon.  Perhaps we will plant the sunflower seeds.  Lets see where our learning journey takes us...........