Objective: Design a whimsical living sculpture and learn
about how plants grow.
Materials: small pots, soil, grass seed (shady seeds work best) or mix it up with an edible plant like sprouts, 3” segments of cotton twine, rubber bands, 4” squares of panty hose or nylon, googly eyes, feathers, sequins, beads, glitter, thin colorful foam, hot glue guns and glue,
Prep- Cut Panty hose into 4”x4” squares. Fill paper cups with soil, cut cotton twine into 3” segments
Lesson- Discuss the life cycle of a plant. What does a plant need to grow and survive?
There are many different types of artist who need to understand plants and how they grow. Landscape designers and horticultural artists are two examples of artists who need to understand design and aesthetics as well as understanding the life cycle and optimal living conditions of the plants that they are using in their creations. -Show examples of Living Sculptures (http://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/incredible-living-sculptures/)
We are working with grass so what does it need?
Take the students through the steps of creating their fuzzy friends.
Brainstorm…sketch a creature that you think would look good
with grass growing out of it. This can be silly and whimsical. It can even be a made up creature.
Gather supplies…
Each student will need to start with a pot, a cup of soil, about ½ teaspoon of seeds, a rubber band, a string, and a square of nylon. Before you start, ask the students what they think the string is needed for based on what they know about how plants grow.
Materials: small pots, soil, grass seed (shady seeds work best) or mix it up with an edible plant like sprouts, 3” segments of cotton twine, rubber bands, 4” squares of panty hose or nylon, googly eyes, feathers, sequins, beads, glitter, thin colorful foam, hot glue guns and glue,
Prep- Cut Panty hose into 4”x4” squares. Fill paper cups with soil, cut cotton twine into 3” segments
Lesson- Discuss the life cycle of a plant. What does a plant need to grow and survive?
There are many different types of artist who need to understand plants and how they grow. Landscape designers and horticultural artists are two examples of artists who need to understand design and aesthetics as well as understanding the life cycle and optimal living conditions of the plants that they are using in their creations. -Show examples of Living Sculptures (http://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/incredible-living-sculptures/)
We are working with grass so what does it need?
Take the students through the steps of creating their fuzzy friends.
Brainstorm…sketch a creature that you think would look good
with grass growing out of it. This can be silly and whimsical. It can even be a made up creature.
Gather supplies…
Each student will need to start with a pot, a cup of soil, about ½ teaspoon of seeds, a rubber band, a string, and a square of nylon. Before you start, ask the students what they think the string is needed for based on what they know about how plants grow.
1- Lay out nylon square.
2-Pour the seeds into the center of the square. 3-Lay the string on half of the seeds making sure some of the string is on the outside of the nylon.
4-Pour most of the soil from the cup onto the nylon and gather into a ball.
5- secure soil filled nylon ball on the bottom with a rubber band.
6-Pour the rest of the soil into the bottom of the small pot to boost the nylon ball.
7-Place nylon ball into the pot with the string side down. Now you are ready to create your creature.
Use the hot glue gun to secure embellishments that create your creature. A quick tutorial on using a hot glue gun and tips on burn prevention can be useful when students get to this point. I use a low temperature glue gun and the kids are usually very careful. If you are nervous about hot glue, Elmer’s glue would work but will take a lot more dry time.
Standards:
Next Gen Science: 5.1.8.C.2,5.1.8.D.1, 5.1.8.D.2,
Art:1.1.8.D.1, 1.4.8.B.2
Resources:
The New York Botanical Gardens and their website is a great resource for science, sustainability, and beauty. There are always artistic exhibitions going on that ties right in with STEAM concepts. If you are local to the area, this would make for an amazing field trip.
Key Words and Terms
Seed germination is simply the growth process that occurs when the seed absorbs sufficient moisture to start sprouting. This is regulated by soil temperature according to the variety of grass. The hull, or hard outer casing, may delay this process until conditions are favorable.
Once germination begins, if the environment changes significantly (like being too hot and dry), the seed or sprout will die. It cannot start to grow, then stop because something is wrong, wait till conditions improve, and then continue the process.
Moisture
Adequate moisture must be present throughout the process. Too little and the seed can dry out. Too much moisture and the seed can rot. Read the article Watering New Grass Seed for guidelines.
Oxygen
When the sprout breaks through the seed, it requires oxygen for its growth process. When soil is over saturated with water, oxygen is not present and the sprout cannot grow. Compacted soil can also contribute to this problem.
Light
A seed has limited resources to support growth while below ground. The sprout must break through the surface in order for the photosynthesis process to function and create food for the plant. Sprouts will not be able to reach the surface if seeds are buried too deep.
2-Pour the seeds into the center of the square. 3-Lay the string on half of the seeds making sure some of the string is on the outside of the nylon.
4-Pour most of the soil from the cup onto the nylon and gather into a ball.
5- secure soil filled nylon ball on the bottom with a rubber band.
6-Pour the rest of the soil into the bottom of the small pot to boost the nylon ball.
7-Place nylon ball into the pot with the string side down. Now you are ready to create your creature.
Use the hot glue gun to secure embellishments that create your creature. A quick tutorial on using a hot glue gun and tips on burn prevention can be useful when students get to this point. I use a low temperature glue gun and the kids are usually very careful. If you are nervous about hot glue, Elmer’s glue would work but will take a lot more dry time.
Standards:
Next Gen Science: 5.1.8.C.2,5.1.8.D.1, 5.1.8.D.2,
Art:1.1.8.D.1, 1.4.8.B.2
Resources:
The New York Botanical Gardens and their website is a great resource for science, sustainability, and beauty. There are always artistic exhibitions going on that ties right in with STEAM concepts. If you are local to the area, this would make for an amazing field trip.
Key Words and Terms
Seed germination is simply the growth process that occurs when the seed absorbs sufficient moisture to start sprouting. This is regulated by soil temperature according to the variety of grass. The hull, or hard outer casing, may delay this process until conditions are favorable.
Once germination begins, if the environment changes significantly (like being too hot and dry), the seed or sprout will die. It cannot start to grow, then stop because something is wrong, wait till conditions improve, and then continue the process.
Moisture
Adequate moisture must be present throughout the process. Too little and the seed can dry out. Too much moisture and the seed can rot. Read the article Watering New Grass Seed for guidelines.
Oxygen
When the sprout breaks through the seed, it requires oxygen for its growth process. When soil is over saturated with water, oxygen is not present and the sprout cannot grow. Compacted soil can also contribute to this problem.
Light
A seed has limited resources to support growth while below ground. The sprout must break through the surface in order for the photosynthesis process to function and create food for the plant. Sprouts will not be able to reach the surface if seeds are buried too deep.