Presents five suggestions for using sunflowers to teach elementary students. The ideas include: setting up an exploration table and keeping journals about the plant; taking sunflower measurements and making predictions; reading "Camille and the Sunflowers"; creating sunflower still-lifes; and doing sunflower seed math. A list of…

Author has found that zeroing in on a particular tree can lead to expanding a child's interest concerning trees everywhere. (RB)

This hands-on science unit includes a beginners' and an advanced activity involving tree sap, as well as a brief description of a maple sap harvest. (CB)

Lists and describes varieties of plants which survive drying out, cooling down, heating up, and being brushed against and touched too often, such as might occur in any classroom. Also lists some edible plants. (RH)

Suggests that live plants can brighten up the classroom and can serve as the focus of interdisciplinary learning activities for elementary students. Briefly describes the organization of a "living laboratory" in an elementary school. (SJL)

Three hands-on science activities teach students about plant processes that they normally cannot detect. A K-3 activity has students explore how the presence of water affects plant motion. Two grade 4-6 activities let students see the path water takes through leaves and has students investigate how and why water travels through plants. (SM)

This theme unit includes elementary-level language arts, math, science, art, and critical-thinking activities about gardening. A full-color poetry mini-poster and an idea for growing a special Mother's Day tea are also included. Students learn about different types of gardens as they grow their own plants, and develop a vocabulary of flower names.…