The cost of books about sunflowers, sunflower seeds, potting soil, and sunflower life cycle puzzles is $248, including shipping and <a target="new" href="http://www.donorschoose.org/html/fulfillment.htm" onclick="g_openWindow('http://www.donorschoose.org/html/fulfillment.htm', 300, 800, 'fulfillwindow');return false;">fulfillment</a>.
Our goal as first and second grade teachers at a Title I school in northeastern North Carolina is to provide our students with real world experiences in learning. One experience we would like to provide for our students is through the life cycle and growth of plants, particularly a sunflower. Approximately 40 students will be affected by this project. This project will begin in the first grade and resume when students return for the second grade. We are looping classrooms, meaning the students will be with the same teacher and classmates for two consecutive years.
First grade students will start by investigating the needs of plants. This will be a foundation to build on for second grade. Second grade students learn about the life cycle of animals and insects.
The first grade students will begin learning about the life cycle of a sunflower in the spring. We will use literature funded from this project to help the students understand the life cycle of a sunflower from the earliest point of life to the completion of the cycle with the actual growth of the sunflower plants. We will also use various activities from a thematic literature-based book to provide ready to use lessons. These lessons will integrate all subject areas. This book will also provide us with many hands-on approaches to learning. We will use music to help students learn the process of planting and growing seeds by using a song book. The students will understand parts of a sunflower by using a model of a see-inside puzzle that reveals the hidden pictures underneath the outside appearance of a sunflower.
Once the students understand the life cycle of a sunflower, they will create a class sunflower garden. We will use various types of sunflower seeds, planting soil and fertilizer. The gardens will be located outside each classroom. The students and teachers will maintain the gardens. When the sunflowers are ready to harvest, the students will learn how to save the seeds for a new crop and use the remaining seeds for bird food.
Our students will be able to understand more clearly the life cycle of a sunflower by using a multidisciplinary unit that will integrate literature, math, science, writing and music. We are looking forward to teaching our students how to harvest the sunflower plants and having a continual garden for many years to come.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. M. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.