Seed Saving Lesson with Mini-Books, and Garden Signs
Seed saving is one of agriculture's oldest pract ices. For farm ers and gardeners crop-growing includes the art and science of harvest ing. Som e of the crop m ay be used for fuel, food, fodder, fiber, decorat ive or indust rial purposes, then save som e of the seeds for replant ing the following year.
Here in this sim ple lesson for the fall season, each student harvests and saves seeds from a French Marigold.Harvested seeds are stored in an envelope in a cool dry place to keep dorm ant unt il the spring.
In spring the seeds can be sown in the schoolyard garden to harvest in the following fall by next year's class.So students learn to appreciate the seasons, the plant 's lifecycle and they cont inue this ancient pract ice of seed-saving.
This presentat ion includes:
- Lin k t o v id eo (1 m inute)Seed Saving French Marigolds
- Lesson Plan for 1st grade (adaptable K-5)- M in i -b ook to download and copy for each student- Co lo r in g sh eet to download and copy for each student- Sig n for your French Marigold garden- Lab e ls for French Marigold plants
Watch video of seed-saving process
M Y FREN CH M A RIGO LD STO RY
Cover photoPearl Crescent on French Marigolds
Jamestown School by Mary Van Dyke, October 2016
Artwork by George Nicholson
The Illustrated Dictionary of Gardening
London, England, 1884
GreenSTEM
Th an k Youto teachers and students in First Grade classes at
Jam estown Elem entary School, Arlington andthe Pre-K students at Brooksfield Montessori School,
McLean, Virginia for part icipat ing in this lesson.
Lesson
GreenSTEMSe e d Sa v in g a n d M in i -B o o k s
TH E FREN CH M A RIGO LD STO RY
Gr ad e Lev e l 1- 2 for act ivity/m ini-book, pre-K - 5 act ivity only
Su b ject s Science, Social Studies, Math, English Language, Art
Season Fall, October - Novem ber for seed-saving (and spring, m id-April for plant ing)
Tim e 50 m inutes
Faci l i t a t o r s Teacher and adult m entor to take sm all group of students out for seed-saving
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Su m m ar y
In late fall, bring French Marigold flowers into the classroom to observe, review parts of plant
and lifecycle. Study the cultural connect ions of the flowers; consider their beauty, fragrance
and other uses. Prepare to harvest seeds by nam ing envelopes. Then sm all groups of
students go out to harvest seeds from French Marigolds and put seeds in envelopes to save
for plant ing in the spring.
Essen t ia l Qu est ion s
How and why do we harvest seeds from plants? What is special about the French Marigold?
Ob ject iv es
Students will be able to
- Describe plant lifecycle including pollinat ion
- Illust rate parts of a plant- Understand that plants have
seeds- Relate that seeds, if v iable will
becom e new liv ing plants- Increase their stewardship skills
St an d ar d s
VA Science SOLs
K.1, K.6, K.7, K.9, K.10
1.1, 1.5, 1.7, 1.8
2.1, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8
3.1,.3.4,.3.5, 3.6, 3.10
4.1, 4.4, 4.5, 4.8
5.1, 5.5
Pr io r St u d en t Kn ow led g e
- Plants have a lifecycle- Plants have flowers, stem s,
leaves, roots and seeds- Gardens need stewardship- Bees and but terflies and other
anim als are part of the garden ecosystem
- If a flower looks dead then the seeds are dead too
- Seeds are m ore viable from a flower in full bloom
- Pollinators are harm ful to us or to be feared
Pr econ cep t ion s / M iscon cep t ion s
M at er ia ls
Quant it y Descr ipt ion Pot ent ial Supplier Est im at e Pr ice
1 per student Photocopy mini-book of
My French Marigold Story
School photocopy
2 per student Envelopes, 2 per student Amazon $5 for 50
1 per class Shoebox (plastic or card)
Labeled My French Marigold Story
Amazon or
Class supplies
$3 for 1
1 per table Jars or Vases Ball jars $6 for 6
Coloring materials Class supplies
Pencils Class supplies
Whiteboard
Dry erase pens green, red, blue
Class supplies
French Marigolds, with flower,
seedhead, and leaves for vases
and growing outdoors in garden
bed.
4 x 4 foot bed planted with French
Marigolds will be enough for 4
classes
School garden
1 per student Marigold coloring sheet School photocopy
1 (optional) Bee puppet Folkmanis $16
TH E FREN CH M A RIGO LD STO RY
Se e d Sa v in g a n d M in i -B o o k sGreenSTEM
Vocab u lar y
flower garden seed leaf
stem save sow grow
French m arigold root vase
jar keep living dead
India
Mexico
bee
but terfly
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Teach er / M en t o r Pr ep ar a t ion
- Watch 1 m inute video of seed-saving - ht tps://youtu.be/aq8uXZiBNOY or scan
- Make 1 m ini-book per student i.e. for 27 copies:
- Photocopy the 4 pages, double-sided and 9 t im es
- Trim sheets on dot ted lines, fold and stack to m ake each m ini-book
- Staple on LH top corner of each m ini-book
- Pick French Marigold flowers (with flower, seedhead, leaves, stem s) to arrange in jars
or vases
- Photocopy coloring sheet of Marigold x # of students
Explore (15 m inutes)
As class g r ou p
1. Review parts of a plant
a. Draw diagram on board and label: include flower, stem , leaf, root
2. Plant lifecycle
a. Begin conversat ion about seeds and plant lifecycle, and pollinat ion (use bee
puppet to dem o on real flowers)
M ov e b ack t o t ab le g r ou p s
1. Hand out 1 envelope per student . Draw diagram of envelope on board with flap up
2. Students decorate 1 envelope front side with:
a. Students' nam e and today's date
b. French Marigold nam e - and can draw a picture of the flower
3. Repeat with second envelope.(Different iate, teacher or aide can help student )
On e t ab le g r ou p a t a t im e r o t a t es t o g o ou t d oo r s w i t h ad u l t t o h ar v est seed s
W h i le o t h er g r ou p s ob ser v e f low er s in v ases an d com p le t e m in i -b ook s
GreenSTEMTH E FREN CH M A RIGO LD STO RY
Se e d Sa v in g a n d M in i -B o o k s
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M et h od
Engage (10 m inutes)
1. Bring in vases of French Marigolds from the garden - one for each table group
2. Write 'Fr en ch M ar ig o ld ' on the board/easel
3. Invite class discussion on 'Fr en ch ' and ' M ar ig o ld ' and explore cultural them es:
French Marigolds are nat ive from the area now known as Mexico and Guatem ala. The
flowers were t raded to Spain by colonists, and then t raded to France, elsewhere in
Europe, and to the US and elsewhere around the world.
Why do you think French Marigolds are so popular? (Beauty, fragrance, easy to grow)
French Marigolds flowers are used in Mexico, for exam ple to decorate Day of the Dead
celebrat ion m asks (Novem ber 1st ).
Marigolds flowers are used in India for celebrat ions, for exam ple as wedding garlands.
Explain (10 m inutes)
Explain and reflect that we are saving the liv ing French Marigold seeds.
- Although the petals and plant (leaves and stem ) are beginning to die back, the seeds
are st ill alive. The seeds will be liv ing and dorm ant (sleeping) in the envelope unt il
the spring t im e.
- The seeds need to be stored in cool dry place unt il the spring t im e. Why?
They should be away from m ice or anim als that m ight eat them , and if they were
warm and m oist the seeds m ight start growing shoots and roots.
- We are put t ing the envelopes with the seeds in a labeled shoebox.
We will find the box again and plant the seeds in the school garden in the spring, in
m id-April about the t im e of Earth Day! Why?
- In m id-April, the ground will be warm enough for the seeds to grow outdoors.
We will need to water and look after the plants as they grow.
Explore (15 m inutes)
In d oo r s - t ab le g r ou p s (w h i le r o t a t in g ou t d oo r s)
Han d ou t m in i -b ook s
1. Students observe and draw in m ini-books. Draw flower, leaf, seed and vase.
2. Observe flowers and seedheads using all senses.
3. Do you like the fragrance of the flowers? Do you like the colors of the flowers?
Ex t r a t im e: Co lo r d r aw in g o f M ar ig o ld w h en st u d en t h as f in ish ed w i t h
m in i -b ook /ob ser v a t ion
Ou t d oor s - in sm al l g r ou p o f 5 o r 6 st u d en t s w i t h ad u l t t o h ar v est seed s
Take ou t two envelopes per student and basket to carry them in on return
Rev iew parts of a plant on the French Marigold
1. Find flowers, leaf, stem and seedheads.
2. Observe any insects on flowers, and ident ify.
What are the insects doing? Feeding on pollen and nectar?
3. Gent ly pull off a seedhead. Hold stem in right hand, and petals in other hand, and
pull seedhead off gent ly to reveal the m any seeds.
4. Discuss the shape of the seed. How does the seed t ravel? How is it the sam e or
different from other seeds students know, such as a dandelion seed or coconut?
5. Put French Marigold seeds into envelope
6. Repeat with another seedhead for each student , and put seeds in second envelope
7. Adult gathers together envelopes explaining that we are saving seeds unt il the spring
Ret u r n t o classr oom w i t h sm al l g r ou p o f st u d en t s, an d w i t h en v e lop es in b aske t
Ro t a t e t h r ou g h a l l t ab le g r ou p s t o t ake t u r n ou t d oo r s h ar v est in g seed h ead s
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TH E FREN CH M A RIGO LD STO RY
Se e d Sa v in g a n d M in i -B o o k sGreenSTEM
GreenSTEMTH E FREN CH M A RIGO LD STO RY
Se e d Sa v in g a n d M in i -B o o k s
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Su g g est ed Lin k s Fo r Th is Lesson
- Follow seed-saving with lesson about pollinators, include nat ive bees and honeybees
- Plant your French Marigold saved seeds in m id-April (around Earth Day) in sunny spot
- Watch the seed-saving video with your class ht tps://youtu.be/aq8uXZiBNOY
Elab or a t e / Ex t en sion s
- Harvest French Marigold flowers, and decorate with them as part of your school or
com m unity's Day of the Dead celebrat ions on Novem ber 1st
- Plant French Marigolds in your garden in the spring from m id-April
- Interplant French Marigolds with vegetables or as a flowery border for your vegetable
garden. French Marigolds at t ract pollinators, and also can discourage pests, such as
white fly and nem atodes
- Plant French Marigolds with Lavender in a Sensory Garden
- Cou n t seed s in a seed h ead ( f o r 3 - 5 g r ad e)
Give each table group, or each student a seedhead to take apart carefully.
Sort out seeds and count them .
Each student records how m any seeds in their seedhead.
Com pile results for the class.
How m any seeds are there in each seedhead?
What is the average num ber in each seedhead?
Save seeds, and plant them and see how m any com e up!
Consider reasons why these plants have so m any seeds?
- Repeat this seed-saving lesson and adapt for other plants, e.g. pum pkins and peas
- Read in g con n ect ion , e.g. for 2 grade and up, read Seed Saving poem in A First
Book of Nature by Nicola Davies and illust rated by Mark Hearld, 2012, page 104.
Ev a lu at e / Assessm en t Too ls
- Mini- book com plet ion of drawings, and elaborat ion
- Coloring of Marigold flower sheet
- Part icipat ion in brainstorm ing and plant /insect ident ificat ion and act ivity
GreenSTEMTH E FREN CH M A RIGO LD STO RY
Se e d Sa v in g a n d M in i -B o o k s
Sam p le Assig n m en t
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French Marigolds grow well in a sunny place
Harvest seeds in late fall, and save seeds until spring
Sow from mid-April
Bee puppet demonstrates pollination in class
Outdoors you may find a bee drinking nectar and feeding on pollen, and pollinating the flowers
Save the seeds and put safely in envelope Observe the flowers, leaves and seeds
Complete the My French Marigold Story mini-book
My French MarigoldStory
NAME:
My French MarigoldStory
NAME:
My French MarigoldStory
NAME:
My French MarigoldStory
NAME:
Flowers in a Vase
Flowers in a Vase
Flowers in a Vase
My French MarigoldFlower,
My French MarigoldFlower,
My French MarigoldFlower,
French Marigolds- Are native to Mexico and Guatemala.- Became popular in France, England and many
other parts of the world, as explorers and traders traveled.
- Came to America with English colonists. - Are a favorite flower in Mexico to decorate for
the Day of the Dead in November.- French Marigold flowers are used in India to
flavor and color cuisine, and to make garlands for celebrations.
History
Enjoy the beaut iful br ight f lowers and scent of French Marigolds!
- Are native to Mexico and Guatemala.- Became popular in France, England and many
other parts of the world, as explorers and traders traveled.
- Came to America with English colonists. - Are a favorite flower in Mexico to decorate for
the Day of the Dead in November.- French Marigold flowers are used in India to
flavor and color cuisine, and to make garlands for celebrations.
History
Enjoy the beaut iful br ight f lowers and scent of French Marigolds!
- Are native to Mexico and Guatemala.- Became popular in France, England and many
other parts of the world, as explorers and traders traveled.
- Came to America with English colonists. - Are a favorite flower in Mexico to decorate for
the Day of the Dead in November.- French Marigold flowers are used in India to
flavor and color cuisine, and to make garlands for celebrations.
History
Enjoy the beaut iful br ight f lowers and scent of French Marigolds!
French Marigolds
French Marigolds
How to Grow French Marigolds
Plant French Marigolds with herbs: lavender and sage
Plant French Marigolds with vegetable cropsto reduce pests: nematodes and white fly
Plant ing Tips
Grow French Marigolds in sunny spots
Plant seeds in spring after last frost (mid-April)
- Sow seeds 6 inches apart
- Cover seeds with ¼ inch of soil
- Water your garden gently every day
The seeds will germinate in 7 to 14 days
How to Grow French Marigolds
Plant French Marigolds with herbs: lavender and sage
Plant French Marigolds with vegetable cropsto reduce pests: nematodes and white fly
Plant ing Tips
Grow French Marigolds in sunny spots
Plant seeds in spring after last frost (mid-April)
- Sow seeds 6 inches apart
- Cover seeds with ¼ inch of soil
- Water your garden gently every day
The seeds will germinate in 7 to 14 days
How to Grow French Marigolds
Plant French Marigolds with herbs: lavender and sage
Plant French Marigolds with vegetable cropsto reduce pests: nematodes and white fly
Plant ing Tips
Grow French Marigolds in sunny spots
Plant seeds in spring after last frost (mid-April)
- Sow seeds 6 inches apart
- Cover seeds with ¼ inch of soil
- Water your garden gently every day
The seeds will germinate in 7 to 14 days
Using French Marigolds Leaf , and Seed
? Do you like the flower colors?
? Do you like the scent of the flowers?
Pick French Marigold flowers.
Arrange the flowers in a vase of water.
Harvest French Marigold seeds next fall.
Save, and sow the seeds next spring too.
Using French Marigolds Leaf , and Seed
? Do you like the flower colors?
? Do you like the scent of the flowers?
Pick French Marigold flowers.
Arrange the flowers in a vase of water.
Harvest French Marigold seeds next fall.
Save, and sow the seeds next spring too.
Using French Marigolds Leaf , and Seed
? Do you like the flower colors?
? Do you like the scent of the flowers?
Pick French Marigold flowers.
Arrange the flowers in a vase of water.
Harvest French Marigold seeds next fall.
Save, and sow the seeds next spring too.
My French MarigoldFrench Marigold image from momjunction.com
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