Plants that Fly
Learning Standards/Concepts/Practices
Motor Skill
Materials Needed
Seeds, Seeds, Seeds by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace (or another age-appropriate book about seeds), template of whirly-birds, and paper.
Could use - https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/pdfs/paperhelicopter_worksheet.pdf
Part 1: Read-aloud
Seeds, Seeds, Seeds by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
Part 2: Discussion
Ask the students if they have ever seen seeds that fly, glide, or float? Ask for examples. Explain that the seeds of a Maple tree are some of the most fun seeds to watch. Also, birds eat plants that have seeds and then fly them to be planted somewhere new (when they use the “bathroom”. Some seeds float on the wind like dandelions. Tell them that they are going to get to make paper whirly birds that look like Maple seeds, and that they are going to get to watch them fly and, in the process, learn about seeds that fly.
Part 3: Activity
- Together, make “paper whirly-birds” if students are able. If not, have pre-made paper whirly-birds
- Allow students to fly them, and /or catch them. Younger students may feel more comfortable trying to catch them or simply observe them
- Have everyone sit down and discuss what kind of aircraft the whirly-birds resemble – (helicopters)
Part 4: Summary
Today you learned about how some things in nature can fly. It is fun to watch how some seeds fly around so they can grow in new places. Watch every day to see if you can spot seeds flying.