Plant "Surgery"

As part of our investigation into our science unit, Life Cycles, Traits, and Adaptations, students explored another science mystery and were able to answer these questions:

• Why are flowers so colorful and how does their color impact their survival? 
• Why and how flowers are pollinated? 
• What happens to the eggs of a plant after they are pollinated? 
• What insects and animals help the pollination process and how? 
• How does pollination ensure a plants survival/reproduction? 

Ask if your child can articulate these answers to you!  

Students then had a fantastic time dissecting a lily to locate the various parts (stamen, pistil, ovary, petals, and pollen). They were very excited to feel how sticky the pistil was and were amazed that the pollen was so concentrated (thick) that they could write with it! (I cautioned them to take care with their clothing, so, hopefully, there no stains!) 

I hope you'll enjoy the pictures of our fun... (and to view more of them, click here)

Emre took his role as a scientist very seriously. 

Finding the eggs wasn't easy, but we could see a few (we think). 

Smiles all around! 

Funny story: When I bought these lilies and I mentioned that I needed them to open by the next day because I was a teacher and we were going to use them for a science lesson, the florist surreptitiously grabbed this pink rose and handed it to me, saying, "Here, for you, teacher." It was so touching and a nice surprise! Unfortunately, most of them did not open by the next day, we were flexible and did another investigation about apples (inheritance, traits) instead. :)