Scented Garden
These tasks link to our current topic. You can use the templates
below as inspiration or you may want to complete the task in a
different way. Have fun exploring the natural world!
Monday – Task 1
Today, you are going to be using a computer to research information about a
plant. You can set out what you find however you like. Maybe you could make a
poster, use PowerPoint or write a fact file?
Below are some useful websites you could use to find information. If you do not
have access to the internet or a computer, see the next page for information
you can use.
Challenge: Compare your plant to another, what differences can you see?
Examples of plants:
The Venus Fly Trap:
https://wiki.kidzsearch.com/wiki/Venus_flytrap
https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/Venuss-flytrap/353896
Roses:
https://kids.kiddle.co/Rose
https://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/plants/roses.html
Sunflower:
https://kids.kiddle.co/Sunflower
https://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/plants/sunflowers.html
Sunflower information:
Sunflower Facts
Sunflower is a plant that belongs to the family Asteraceae. There are around 60 different
species of sunflowers that are all native to North America. Cultivation of sunflowers started
2600 BC in Mesoamerica. These plants are very popular and widely cultivated today. Sunflowers
are used as a source of food, oils and pigments. People also cultivate sunflowers because of their
ornamental morphology. Beauty of the sunflowers was great inspiration for Dutch painter
Vincent Van Gogh, who painted two series of paintings dedicated to sunflowers. Unfortunately,
some species, such as whorled sunflowers are endangered due to habitat destruction as a result
of increased deforestation.
Interesting Sunflower Facts:
Sunflower can reach 3 to 18 feet in height. It is the one of the fastest growing plants, able to
reach 8 to 12 feet in just 6 months.
Sunflower has two types of leaves: oppositely arranged, heart-shaped (lower leaves) and alternately
arranged, narrow (upper leaves).
Head of sunflower consists of up to 2000 miniature flowers (called florets) that turn into seeds
after pollination. Edge of a head is made of flowers that do not transform into seeds. They are
usually yellow, orange or red in color.
There are two basic types of sunflower seeds: black and stripe. They differ in size, color and
amount of nutrients.
Young sunflower plants orient their heads toward the sun. This phenomenon is known as
heliotropism.
Sunflowers reach maturity 80 to 100 days after planting. Dwarf varieties require less time than
Mammoth (large) types.
Sunflower is national flower of Russia, Ukraine and state flower of Kansas.
Sunflower was important source of food for Native Americans. They used yellow pigment from the
flowers to paint their bodies during spiritual rituals. Also, they used sunflowers in medical purposes
and for the production of bread.
Sunflower seeds are rich source of vitamins of the B group and vitamin E, and minerals such as
copper, phosphorus, selenium and magnesium.
Black sunflower seeds are rich source of oil which is used for cooking.
Stripe seeds are popular as snacks. They are also often used as ingredient of salads, breakfast
cereals, various salty dishes and breads.
Seeds of sunflower are important food source for birds, squirrels and insects.
Sunflower seeds are used for the production of biodiesel (eco-friendly type of diesel, designed to
reduce pollution of the atmosphere).
Sunflower can grow as annual (plant that completes its life cycle in one year) or perennial plant
(plant that lives more than two years), depending on the species.
Tuesday – Task 2
Today, you are going to be designing your own flower garden! Imagine that your
school wants to open a new place for you and family to visit. You must provide
flowers, benches, trees, bushes and maybe even a pond. You can use the grid
below with a key to create your design and then draw an artistic piece to go
with it. What are you going to name your garden? Remember to be as creative as
you can!
Challenge: Create a flyer inviting people to your garden. Why should they visit?
Here are some examples of what your final design might look like:
Wednesday – Task 3
Today, you are going to be learning about how to look after your world. A really
good way to ensure our planet is kept clean and looked after is recycling. So
what is recycling? Use these links to help you find out or talk to an adult.
Reduce, recycle and reuse:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OasbYWF4_S8
What is recycling?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jQ7y_qQYUA
Local council A-Z of what can be recycled:
https://www.thurrock.gov.uk/a-z-waste-recyclable
In this task, you are going to investigate what can be recycled in your house.
Extra challenge: Can you reuse something in your house and create something
new? Be as imaginative as you can, and remember you can tweet your pictures to
the school so we can be inspired by what you have created!
Thursday – Task 4
Today, you are going to learn about how sunflowers grow and their life cycle.
Use the information on the next page to learn about what sunflowers need to
grow. Once you know the life cycle create one of the following to show what you
have learnt (or use your own imagination to present):
A poster
A fact file A dance with actions and words
A song or nursery rhyme A model made from Lego or another building material
Challenge: What if a seedling did not get enough light? What do you think would
happen? Predict how this will affect the plant.
Friday – Task 5
Today, you are going to create your own fitness circuit. Fitness circuits are a really
good way to raise your heart rate and keep active at home. Use the cards below to
create 5 stations to spend 2 minutes at. Test out your circuit on yourself or maybe a
sibling if you can.
Challenge: What went well in your circuit? What could you change next time? Plan
another circuit for another day using different ideas or come up with your own!
Other stations could include: star jumps, skipping, high knees, walking up and
down stairs, sit ups or lifting objects