It's a lazy Monday. When there is no plans to go out, I always end up staying at home with the kids. But the weather is too good, spring is in the air and flowers are in bloom. So, we went out for a stroll behind our backyard.
We are always in search of dandelions. Poor little flowers which get dispersed by my kids all the time. Kind of a good thing too?
I lay down our picnic mat, took out two transparent boxes and sent the kids out to pick flowers. Some days I let my kids pick the flowers, some days I don't. Today we do. Because these flowers are growing inside our complex and there are so many of them, I figured it wouldn't hurt to get some for art and learning.
That's a beautiful yellow daffodil. I wish the ones in my backyard would grow soon. And that's BB all ready with scotch tape in hand.
This daffodil is really beautiful and the reproductive parts of the flower are still intact. PK wasn't able to take in all the scientific terms of anthers and stigma, so I simplified for her into the center structure that produces nectar (which she already know) and the surrounding ones that produce pollens (which is new). This yellow daffodil has yellow powdery pollens which I showed the kids with my finger. BB was very excited and wanted to taste them. Guess my kids and I are not allergic to pollens.
Later when we picked other species of flowers, PK was able to point out similar patterns of the structures inside the flower (a central stigma with surrounding anthers and filaments). Learning is done! Mission accomplished.
This project is easy and doesn't cost much at all. I let PK design her own box with any flowers she like in any order of her preference.
Even BB loves it. I prepared some stickers for him so that it's a little easier for those tiny fingers. And helped him with a few flowers and petals.
On our way back, PK picked up more flowers and leaves and leave them in her box. She is now ready to play with them in our backyard.
Yes, a flower for your hair. Why not?
Putting the boxes out in the sun to see how they look.
The flowers are not translucent, but look great in a box anyway. BB is very proud of his very own box.
It was a lovely afternoon. A last minute craft idea that takes so little effort and cost. Love it!