BOOKS + S.T.E.A.M.

+ NATURE STUDY

BOOK SEEDS
7102
REMMUS

BY BLOSSOM & ROOT

.EUSSI
EE RF

THE THREE
SUNFLOWERS
BY JANET LUCY
PLANT THE SEEDS OF
CURIOSITY
Using the Book Seeds By Blossom & Root Series

Welcome to Book Seeds By Blossom & Root! You to 8), or as a fun add-on to your existing
are about to embark on a joy-filled and curriculum. It can be used with one child,
wondrous journey of learning and exploration with children of multiple ages, in ECE and
with your child. Using inspiration from beautiful elementary classrooms, or for non-
and captivating children's literature selections, homeschooling families who simply want to
you and your child will investigate nature-based enjoy books, S.T.E.A.M. activities, and nature
S.T.E.A.M. concepts, complete nature journaling study together.
activities, prepare delicious recipes, and
celebrate the magic of words. Remember to go at your child's own pace,
follow their interest-cues, and don't feel
Book Seeds By Blossom & Root can be used as a pressured to complete all of the activities.
stand-alone curriculum for the young child (ages These activities should be a source of joy,
2 to 5), as a curriculum base when combined pleasure, and exciting discovery--not stress
with the math and phonics programs of your and pressure.
choice for the early elementary learner (ages 6
To use Book Seeds By Blossom & Root, simply
read the book selection together (as many
times as you like) and complete the activities
in the order and schedule that works best for
your family. Most families complete the
activities over a two-week period, Here is a
sample schedule:

Week One Week Two

Day 1 - Read Book Read Book

STEAM Activity 1 STEAM Activity 3
Day 2 - Wonderful Words Recipe
Day 3 - STEAM Activity 2 STEAM Activity 4
Day 4 - Art Project Nature Journal
TERMS OF USE
Copyright 2017 Kristina Garner Blossom and Root,
All rights reserved. ISBN# pending.
To report errors contact kristina@blossomandroot.com

Attention: Guidelines to Using the Book Seeds By Blossom & Root Series
This is your copy of our curriculum. Please do not forward, copy, or resell the contents contained in this
curriculum / guide. Please send friends to our website at www.blossomandroot.com, where they can
download their own free sample of our Book Seeds By Blossom & Root series. You do not have permission
to print and resell any portion of the Book Seeds By Blossom & Root series. You may not resell it at
homeschool fairs / online markets and trading groups / etc. You are free to print copies for your own use,
for your own children. We trust you to honor and respect these guidelines and restrictions. Thank you!
This Book Seed is
Inspired By:
The Three Sunflowers
by Janet Lucy
IN
THIS
ISSUE
07 SCIENCE IN NATURE
Flowers, Pollinators, and Birds

08 S.T.E.A.M. ACTIVITY 1
Pollinator Game

09 S.T.E.A.M. ACTIVITY 2
Scavenger Hunt: Flowers, Pollinators,
Seeds, and Seed-Eaters

11 ENGINGEERING IN
NATURE
So Many Seeds on a Sunflower!

MATH IN NATURE
11
The Fibonacci Spiral

12 S.T.E.A.M. ACTIVITY 3
How Many Seeds Can You Fit?

13 S.T.E.A.M. ACTIVITY 4
Spirals
IN
THIS
ISSUE
CONT.

14 ART PROJECT
Painting Sunflowers

15 KITCHEN CLASSROOM
No-Bake Sunflower Butter Cookies

16 NATURE JOURNALING
Noticing Stems

17 WONDERFUL WORDS
Descriptive Names
 The final way we conduct nature study is
INTRODUCING BOOK SEEDS through curriculum and resources, like the
Book Seeds by Blossom and Root series.
BY BLOSSOM AND ROOT
When I created this series, there were three
KRISTINA GARNER
things I wanted to accomplish:
In our homeschool, we do three different forms 1) Use beautiful children's picture books to
of nature study every single week. The first is in inspire natural curiosity about the outdoors,
the style of Charlotte Mason--reading nature 2) Create a resource that could be used for
lore together (Thornton Burgess, Clara both nature study and S.T.E.A.M. education,
Dillingham Pierson, Mrs. Alfred Gatty, and so These two topics, so natively intertwined, are
on) and then investigating outdoors, inspired rarely combined in a comprehensive resource
by what we read together to look closer, notice for parents.
patterns, and find connections. 3) Provide a unit study-style package with
The second is through open-ended play. We gentle activities in language and poetry, art
wander and ramble through the mountains projects, and fun in the kitchen classroom.
and creeks of our backyard and bring home This is the very first Book Seed in the series,
plenty of questions about insects or flowers we with many more on the way!
found. We use our well-stocked library of field I wanted to make a fun, gentle, and very
guides and nature books to learn more about flexible resource for parents like me, wanting
what we saw, and we make paintings and to use nature and literature as a platform for
drawings in our nature journals. If a lifetime love of learning. I hope you and
curiosity continues, we head to the library to your family enjoy these activities as much as
dig a little deeper. we have. :)
SCIENCE IN NATURE: FLOWERS,
POLLINATORS, AND BIRDS
Read Together

Sunflowers, like many flowers, do a lot usually by late summer or early fall, birds
more than stand tall and look beautiful. fly from all around to eat them up!
They also provide food for pollinators (like Birds can be messy eaters, and many seeds
bees and butterflies) and birds. When the wind up tossed all over the ground. These
flower is young, it provides nectar for are the little seeds that will grow up to be
pollinators to make into food. In exchange, next year's sunflowers. So, you see, the
the pollinators carry pollen from flower to pollinators help the sunflower to make
flower, which helps the flower to make seeds while the sunflower provides nectar
seeds. These seeds might grow up to for their food. The birds help to spread the
become flowers too! seeds, while enjoying a few of them for a
When the sunflower has made its seeds, treat. That's what I call teamwork!

MANY KINDS OF POLLINATORS

Pollinators come in many different forms, and most of them only like to visit certain kinds of flowers.
The flowers and the pollinators depend on each other--if one of them disappears (because of
habitat loss or pollution) the other might disappear too.
STEAM ACTIVITY 1:
POLLINATOR GAME
Science in Nature

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

double-sided tape
cotton balls
a couple of boxes or laundry hampers or
something similar that your child can
crawl into
a bowl for each box / hamper
raisins, candy, or something else like this
to put into the bowls

WHAT TO DO:
In this activity, your child will be exploring
the relationship between pollinators and
flowers. On the previous page, let your
child decide which kind of pollinator
they'd like to be. They can even dress up or
make antennae if they would like.
The boxes (or laundry baskets or whatever
you are using) will be the flowers. Your
child should be able to crawl into each
flower (at least their head and torso should
fit.) Pour some of your treats into bowls
and place a bowl in the back of each
flower.
Spread the cotton balls all over the bottom of each box / basket. Then put the double-sided tape
on your child's shirt, across their belly and along their arms. Instruct them to "fly" into each flower
and grab some "nectar" (the treats) from the back of the flower. As they come out, show them
how the "pollen" (the cotton balls) became stuck to them. When they crawl into the next "flower",
have them shake some of the first flower's pollen into the second flower. Continue this as they
visit each flower. Explain again that the pollinators carry pollen from flower to flower as they
gather nectar for food. This is how flowers can make seeds. Without these pollinators, many
flowers (and fruits and vegetables) could not be made.
 STEAM ACTIVITY 2:
SCAVENGER HUNT
Science in Nature

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

access to a park or wild space
a printed copy of the scavenger hunt list
on the next page
crayons or colored pencils
a clipboard or a piece of sturdy
cardboard (or a book) to tape the list to

WHAT TO DO:
First, get everything ready:
- print out the scavenger hunt list and put
it on the clipboard / tape it to the
cardboard or book
- put a few crayons or colored pencils into
a baggie to take with you

Tell your child you're going on a scavenger

hunt. Today you will be looking for flowers,
seeds, pollinators, and birds. Remind your
child of the relationship between these
living things.

Each time you find something on the list, stop to circle it or color it in. You might not find
everything, but that's okay. While you're on the hunt, talk about what you see / hear / smell / feel
as you investigate your outdoor space. Do you hear bees buzzing around a flower? Do you see
birds eating seeds? Can you feel spiky flowers that have gone to seed completely? What about
other animals on the list that eat the seeds, like squirrels--do you see them gathering up food for
the winter?
 Scavenger Hunt:
Flowers, Pollinators,
Seeds, and Seed-Eaters

Bee Flower Hummingbird Acorn

Seed Pods Bird Seeds on Squirrel

a Flower

Moth Seeds on Butterfly Beetle

the Ground
ENGINEERING IN NATURE:
SO MANY SEEDS ON A Sunflowers have to fit a lot of seeds
because many of them will be eaten. The
SUNFLOWER! birds that like to eat sunflower seeds tend
Read Together to be messy eaters and toss seeds this ways
and that onto the ground as they eat. This
Take a close look at a sunflower that has way, the bird has a good meal, and there
gone to seed (like the ones below.) Can you are still lots of sunflower seeds scattered
count how many seeds are on the around to make new flowers next spring! If
sunflower? It might take a very long time-- you can get your hands on a sunflower
there are so many! Sunflowers manage to head that's gone to seed, it can be very fun
fit a lot of seeds in a small space. First, to pull the seeds out with a pair of
notice that the seeds are sticking out from tweezers. You can see how hard the birds
one point, instead of laying flat. Next, have to work to earn their dinner! Count
notice how the seeds fit together in a them as you pull them out--you will be
pattern--almost no space is wasted at all! amazed how many there are.

MATH IN NATURE:
FIBONACCI SPIRAL
Read Together

From a distance, nature can seem like a sunflower! Sunflowers are great places to
messy and disorderly place. Look a little see Fibonacci spirals and Fibonacci
closer and you will see that nature is numbers. In the center of a sunflower,
actually very organized and orderly. There's there are actually spirals going in two
a lot of math in nature! One of the neatest separate directions--you can see them
shapes in nature is the Fibonacci spiral. when you look at the middle up close.
This is a spiral shape that starts out tight in This week's math activity is all about
the beginning and gets bigger and looser spirals, so have some fun with them. Here
as it moves outward. We see this spiral is a link to a great online resource where
everywhere in nature! It's in the shell of a you can learn more about Fibonacci spirals
hermit crab, the curl of a new fiddlehead and see them in nature:
fern, the tail of a seahorse, the eye of a
hurricane, and even the middle of a Click here!
 STEAM ACTIVITY 3:
HOW MANY SEEDS
CAN YOU FIT?
Engineering in Nature

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

a piece of yellow construction paper, cut
into the shape of a sunflower
play-dough
sunflower seeds

WHAT TO DO:
Before you begin this activity, be sure to
read the "Engineering in Nature" section on
the previous page. Then, take a good "up-
close" look at a sunflower that's gone to
seed, either in person or in a photo / on the
computer.
Read your child the challenge question
below, then give them the materials. Help
them (if needed) to roll the play-dough
into a ball and flatten it into a disc in the
center of their "flower." Then let them work
on the challenge. Once they finish, count
how many seeds they were able to fit. See
if you can figure out a way to fit even more.

S.T.E.A.M. Challenge Question:

How many seeds can you fit onto your sunflower?

Optional extension: If you have older children, doing the challenge, they might enjoy competing
with one another to see who can fit the most. Once they are finished, graph the results to see
who was able to get the most seeds on their sunflowers.
 STEAM ACTIVITY 4:
SPIRALS
Math in Nature

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

a shallow pan or plastic container
flour or sand
dark-colored beans, coffee beans, beads,
or pebbles
something to write with (crayons,
pencils, chalk, paintbrushes with water,
dry erase markers, etc.)
something to write on (paper, sidewalks,
dry erase boards, etc.

WHAT TO DO:
First, read the "math in nature" section on
Fibonacci spirals and explore the materials
on the website in the link. Be sure to look
at lots of examples of the Fibonacci spiral
(shells, storm cells, fern heads, etc.) as they
occur in nature.
For the first part of the activity, fill a small
container with sand or flour. Trace a spiral,
with your finger, that starts tight and gets
bigger and looser as it moves outward.
Then have your child "fill in" the spiral with
the beans / pebbles. Repeat if desired.
When your child is ready to try drawing spirals, give them something to draw with and
something to draw on and let them practice freely. One fun idea, in nicer weather, is to draw
spirals with chalk on the sidewalk, then "erase" them with paintbrushes dipped in water.
Optional extension: Make a spiral scrapbook. Cut out pictures of spirals and tape them onto loose
paper. Staple the pages together and make a cover for the book.
 PAINTING SUNFLOWERS
Art Project

WHAT TO DO: WHAT YOU'LL

1. Prepare the painting area for your child. Provide

NEED:
brushes, paint, paper, water for rinsing if needed, a paper
smock or old t-shirt to protect clothes if desired, etc. paints
Put a vase of sunflowers where you child can easily brushes
see it as they paint. If the weather is nice, this is a a vase or cup of water
wonderful activity to do outside! sunflowers
2. Find a picture of one of Van Gogh's sunflower access to one of Van Gogh's sunflower
paintings (online is fine!) Show your child the painting paintings (google is a good place to
and talk about how many artists are inspired by start)
nature. Show them the sunflowers and ask them to
make paintings of the flowers.
3. Let your child begin to paint. It is nice to play music while they work. When they are
finished, have them help tidy up. Be sure to hang up their beautiful artwork so that the
whole family can enjoy it!

Optional extension: Van Gogh's iconic series of four sunflower paintings show the blooms in
several stages from freshly-picked to withering away. It might be fun to look at all four of
them together with your child and try to figure out the proper sequence of the paintings.
SUNFLOWER-BUTTER "NO
BAKE" COOKIES
Kitchen Classroom

INGREDIENTS: WHAT TO DO:

1/2 cup butter 1. Melt the butter in a saucepan.

1 1/2 cups sugar 2. Add the sugar and the milk while stirring.
1/2 cup milk or milk substitute of 3. Bring to a boil, then continue boiling for 60 seconds
your choice while stirring continuously.
1 tsp. vanilla extract 4. Take the pan off the heat and add in the vanilla and
1/2 cup of sunflower butter the sunflower butter. Stir briskly until the sunbutter is
3 cups of uncooked oats melted completely, then pour the oats into the
mixture, continuing to stir.
5. On a sheet of wax paper, drop spoonfuls of the mixture. Allow the cookies to cool on the
wax paper until they are hard. Then store in a container. Refrigeration is not necessary.

How younger children can help:

Your child can help with measuring ingredients before beginning and with dropping the
mixture onto the wax paper at the end.
How older children can help:
Older children can help to measure ingredients, carefully pour them into the pan, to stir the
mixture, and to drop the mixture onto wax paper.
NATURE JOURNALING:
NOTICING STEMS
Nature Journaling Tutorial

When you're drawing or painting flowers in your nature journal, pay attention to the stems.
Many stems have interesting features--more than one color, streaks or spots, thorns or fuzz--
that make them unique. These features can help you to identify plants in the field. Take a look
at the different stems below. Notice what makes them different from each other. How would
they feel if you touched them?

Sunflower Rose

Poppy Carnation

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN:

Practice painting or drawing different kinds of stems in your nature journal. Try to make some
that are spiky, thorny, fuzzy, or smooth. Make some that are green, some that are brown, and
some that are many colors. You can look at flowers outside, at the grocery store or botanic
gardens, or at pictures in books to get some ideas.
 SUNFLOWER

WONDERFUL WORDS
Descriptive Names

Think of the word "sunflower." It's a pretty cupcake

wonderful name for this particular plant, turtleneck
don't you think? First of all, a sunflower butterfly
does look a lot like the sun. Secondly, stink bug
sunflowers turn themselves to face the sun, fire ant
wherever it moves. Sometimes, the names __________________
of things can tell us clues about them. Can __________________
you think of other words like that? __________________

Copywork Selection for Children Ages 6-8:

Write the word "sunflower" on piece of paper and have your child copy the word into their
notebook or on a piece of lined paper. Then have them draw or color a sunflower above it.

Copywork Selection for Children Ages 8+:

Print out the following page. Have your child complete the copywork selection on it.
Light-enchanted sunflower, thou
Who gazest ever true and tender
OSn Ut h
NeF sLuO
n 'W
s rE eRv o l v i n g s p l e n d o u r .

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

From a Poem by Pedro Calderon de la Barca

FEED
THE
SEED
Did something sprout for you?
If, at any point during this Book Seed, something
"sparked" in your child, take some time to go
deeper. Nothing provides richer soil for learning
than your child's own curiosity and interest! Did
something captivate them, fill them with
questions, or inspire imaginative play? Give them
permission to indulge in their wonder! Take them
to the library, watch documentaries, or provide
open-ended materials to explore further.

Here are some great things to keep on hand:

blank books, notebooks, white paper,
construction paper, and lined paper
pencils, markers, crayons, watercolor paints,
and gel pens
baggies, jars, or boxes to put nature treasures
into
field guides to the birds, plants, insects, tracks
and scat, rocks and minerals, and animals in
your local area
an inexpensive digital camera for your child to
document their adventures and discoveries

Do you have an idea for a Book Seed unit that you would love
to see? Feel free to email suggestions to
kristina@blossomandroot.com!

In 2017-2018, we will be rolling out dozens of new issues to

our online store. Here are some of the themes to look forward
to:
Autumn Birds & Nests Apples
Spring Shadows Leaves
Winter Weather Pumpkins
Summer Hibernation Spiders
Ponds & Creeks Migration Bats
Conifers Moon Phases The Soil Cycle
Snow Worms The Water Cycle and many, many more! Follow us at www.blossomandroot.com!
 MORE BOOK SEEDS
BY BLOSSOM & ROOT
ARE ON THE WAY!
To see a complete list of available issues,
and to stay informed about upcoming
issues, visit www.blossomandroot.com!

AUTUMN SERIES A
Available by October 15th, 2017

WINTER SERIES A
Available by November 30th, 2017

SPRING SERIES A
SUMMER SERIES A
Available by March 1st, 2018

NATURE TOPICS
SERIES A TO D
Available by April 1st, 2018