DRIED FLOWER AND WEED ARRANGEMENTS-FALL ART PROJECT

INGREDIENTS NEEDED—DRIED WEEDS, PLACTIC CUP, SAND, PLASTER OF PARIS,  SPRAY PAINT

Most teachers teach a unit about the fall season changes and how seeds travel.  We explain how the plants get ready for the fall by producing seeds that get planted in many different ways, by wind, some roll, some stick to animals, some are carried by birds and some are buried by squirrels and other animals.  Many times teachers take the easy and lazy way of just showing the pictures of seeds and try to explain how they travel. This makes no impression on the children. They will look at the pictures, remember some of it until the teacher quizzes them and then out of the head it goes. Hopefully more teachers will try to bring in samples of each method of seeds travel and also bring samples of the different seeds for the children to see, touch, and compare. After actually seeing and touching the seeds the children will understand the processes of travel and it will imprint upon their brains.  Taking a dandelion parachute seed, blowing it into the air always thrills the kids. Taking a sticker bush seed and letting the kids feel how sharp they are and letting it stick to their clothes makes the children understand how animals or people can carry them to a new place where they will plant themselves in the spring.

 

I carry the lesson further and make it more fun. We make dried flower and weed arrangements that last forever.  We will walk around a field and cut some of the weeds that have dried.  The more solid they are the better. Fluffy seeds like dandelion or thistle will not do.  From some gardens cape myrtle round seeds, butterfly bush, dried hydrangea flowers, iris and lilly pods, daisy type seed balls, and any other harder weeds will work well. Some of the time, I even will use dried roses, and zinnias
 

  I will put all the collection of weeds on a table outside (you can do it inside but it is messy).  I have the kids fill a plastic cup (a clear one) with about half sand. I use sand because it will hold the weeds in place.  The more weeds the kids put in the cup the nicer and fuller it looks

After they are satisfied with their arrangement, I will fill the rest of the cup with plaster of paris.  This will add weight to the cup and make it permanent. DO NO FORGET TO PUT THE CHILDS NAME UNDER THE CUP WITH A PERMANENT MARKER.! The kids never remember which one is theirs.

 

 

 

 

Next I will spray paint it all gold or silver. The beautiful arrangements can be put into a vase if the parents want. THE KIDS AND THE PARENTS LOVE THEM.  I have been in homes of my previous students 8 years later and the arrangements are still prominently placed on a table or even the fireplace.
 

 

STOPPING PREJUDICES BEFORE THEY MULTIPLY

Each year I have been lucky to have a very diverse class of children whose families came from many different cultures and countries. At the beginning of the year the children hang with those who look like them, being unsure of others who appear different. Finding a way to teach them even though they may look different from each other they are the same,  was a big challenge until I thought of my garden.

I grow many different kinds of zinnias and marigold flowers, both of which come in all kinds of sizes, colors and varieties. In September I bring in a bouquet of zinnias and one of marigold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The zinnias come in many beautiful colors, some with stars in the center, some petals fuller than others, some in double petals, some dwarf, some giant, and those in-between sizes.  The marigolds also come in different sizes, shades from brown to yellow and almost white.

 

  I hold a bouquet of zinnias first and ask if they are the same flower or different kinds of flowers.  The kids always say different kinds.” Why do you think that? “ I ask. The response is because of color, size, looks, etc.  You are wrong I tell them they are all the same kind of flower, zinnias and just like us they come in all sizes, colors, and shapes.  I show the marigold s and ask the same question.  Again they guess they are different types of flowers and again I explain they are the same.  Then I say to them “look around at us-we are all people and look how different we look but we are still people.”  How many of you have brown hair, blonde hair, black hair, blue eyes, brown eyes, green eyes, etc. We go over all the parts of the body, and all our different skin colors and then I ask “with all our differences are we still people with the same amount of hands, feet, spines, fingers, toes, teeth, eyes, etc.  What about our blood, do we all bleed the same color,  We go over all the same organs and I ask again are we all the same even though we are different looking.

 I than go even further and ask about who is the smartest and how do you know. Most of the time the kids think the tallest or biggest kid is the smartest.”  I ask how that can be.”  My young high school aids are always taller than me, I am only 5 feet .  “ I am the teacher and I am shorter than Josey and all the other high school people and all of the teachers. Does that mean they are all smarter than me?”  The kids begin to think all their stereotypes may be wrong. Then I give the zinger-“who is the oldest?” Usually they will pick the tallest kid.  Again I use myself as the example.  I am 74 but the shortest adult in our school.  “How can the tallest kid be the oldest in our class” I ask.  I am the shortest adult in our school and I am the oldest.  All the other teachers are taller than me and I am the only one old enough to be a grandma so you can’t be right about size making someone smarter or older.  We then go through all their birthdays and ages to prove the point. 

By the end of the day all of the concepts and the previous thoughts of their differences, and prejudices have been thrown out the window and they begin to accept how alike they all are even if they look different.  Bringing nature and beautiful flowers and comparing themselves helps sort out whatever they might have learned previously and in a more painless equation that just preaching to them.