A fun and inexpensive way to explore flower art and science with toddlers and preschoolers. This project is inspired by Franz Bauer, a botanical artist.
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Flower Science
What you need
- Bloom Boom! by April Pulley Sayre
- Photos of Franz Bauer’s work, particularly Erica massoni, L.f.
- Plant parts (stems, leaves, petals)
What to do
- Read Bloom Boom! and ask the child questions about the photographs:
- What colors do you see?
- Where are the petals on this plant?
- Can you find the leaves?
- What part of these plants is the stem?
- How many petals are on this flower?
- Can you count how many flowers are on this page?
- Show the child a picture of Erica massoni, L.f by Franz Bauer and ask him/her questions:
- Are the leaves on this painting big or small?
- What color are the flowers?
- What color is the stem? (Hint: it’s not green!)
- Explore the plant parts. Talk about stems, leaves, and petals and where they go on plants. For older children, talk about what role each plant part plays in keeping plants alive.
Flower Art
What you need:
- Thick paper, canvas, or canvas panel
- Washable paint, we used a neutral color – gray
- Paintbrush
- Different types of plants and flowers (including all parts – stems, leaves, petals)
- Glue
What to do:
- First, encourage the child to paint the background of the canvas panel. While it dries, you can work on Flower Science (above).
- After it dries, present the child with different options for stems, leaves, and petals.
- Encourage the child to choose a stem and glue it onto the panel. Then, he/she can choose leaves and petals and add those to the panel as well.
- Let the new flower dry and display it!
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