The number of flower parts

This activity is useful to help develop numeracy skills, as the children have opportunities for work on numbers and then link pattern of numbers or parts in different flowers. There is also an opportunity for hone their observation skills. In this activity key terminology is reintroduced such as, sepal, petal, stamen and carpel. You may find the Dissecting a flower teaching notes useful for this activity too.

Examples of the types of flower to use with this activity include:

Winter

• Hyacinth – (note that this has tepals – i.e. the petals and sepals are alike)
• Snowdrop
• Winter Jasmine

Spring to early summer

• Campanula
• Honesty
• Paeony
• Perennial geraniums (garden varieties)
• Ramsons (wild garlic)
• Wallflower

Summer and autumn

• Evening-primrose
• Foxglove
• Lilies
• Rosebay Willowherb
• Rose-of-Sharon
• Sweet Pea

All year around (in the classroom)

• Rapid-cycling brassicas (a bit small)

Note: please check allergens with pupils’ and their parents or guardians before use.