Art Center Instructions
At this center you will learn about the life cycle of plants from the Northwestern United States and attempt an accurate scientific picture of various stages of one plant’s life. For scientists, it is often very useful to look at pictures of what they’re studying. It sometimes helps to not only look at a picture, but make your own to show yourself how much you understand.
Look at the pictures of plants at the center. Each plant is shown in four stages of its life cycle: flower, fruit, seedling, and adult plant. You should notice that while the life cycle stages are the same (flower, fruit, seedling and adult), they look different for each plant. While not every plant goes through exactly the same life cycle, these are examples of a common and successful life cycle.
Instructions:
1. Choose one of the plants for your art project.
2. With a pencil and ruler, divide your piece of paper into four equal sections.
3. Using the art supplies provided at the center, draw the four life stages of your plant, one in each section of your paper.
4. Color using colored pencils each of your four stages.
5. Label each stage as flower, seed, seedling, or adult plant.
6. Discuss your drawing with the members of your group.
7. Questions to consider when discussing your drawing:
• Did you draw the life stages accurately?
• What similarities do you see between you and your classmates’ drawings in each stage?
• What differences do you see?
• What do the similarities/differences tell you about plants in this area of the United States?
• What characteristics could help you recognize this plant when hiking or riding your bike?
