ABSTRACT
This chapter presents ideas for practice which can be used to help children explore the structure of flowering plants. It examines the way plants are adapted to form mutually beneficial relationships with animals such as bees and butterflies. It is not just the beauty of the flowers form and colour that Richard Feynman sees, but he is also affected by feelings of awed wonder at the part its beauty plays in nature. Charles Darwin described pollination as acts of contrivance between plants and animals. It is no accident that animals such as bees and butterflies are attracted to particular flowers. Whether the children live in an urban or rural environment, they will have some experience of flowering plants. Especially in spring and summer, flowers can be seen growing in gardens, parks, woodlands and public spaces such as verges and roundabouts. Many plants have a common structure which includes roots, stems, leaves and flowers.
