IPS/Butler University Laboratory School

Messi plants some of our seed starters.

Lucas dissects his dandelion.

Every morning, we have a share time during our morning meeting. The Friday before our break, during our meeting, Tajanaye brought in what looked like a white dandelion seeds attached to a stem. She shared that she believed the plant to be a flower. The class began a lively discussion about whether or not the plant was a weed or a flower. Many felt strongly supporting one opinion or the other. As a class, we decided we would explore the concept the next day. Friends were invited to find dandelions outside and bring them in for dissection.

I think I saw something in there. Lucas

What?  Mrs. Argus

Something white. Look inside! Lucas

I don’t see it! Oh! I think there’s a stem right here. Aidan

So if it has a stem, is it a weed? Mrs. Argus

No! Sascha, come open the flower! Or the weed! I don’t know which one! I’ve never had this experience! Lucas

Its milk! Look at the white thing! Its milk. Aidan

(Lucas and Carriea come over with a book.)

They’re weeds! They’re weeds! It says their weeds!

I remember when we read the thank you plants book and it had cornfields in it. It’s a connection. And this says sometimes sunflowers are weeds when they come up in a corn field. Carriea

(Lucas points to a picture.) It’s the dandelion with all of its stuff in it.  Lucas

What’s the stuff in it? Mrs. Argus

I think it might have been the milk being pulled. Lucas

What’s this? David

It’s the nutrients being pulled. Being pulled from the flowers. Lucas

This looks like an umbrella. David

Want to see a cut open one? Lucas Cool huh?

I got this! These are things that turn into weeds! (points to the seeds on the dandelion) Michael

How does it turn into a weed? Mrs. Argus

All it needs is a rainbow to turn into a weed! I just figured out the mystery. These do turn into the weeds! Michael

Ruth shows friends the inner workings of a dandelion. She is trying to show how the dandelion sucks up other plants' nutrients.

Tags: collaboration, curious, problem solving, scientific method

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