Yellow weeds

Activity overview

Run the activity

1. Ask the children what just happened in these pictures. 
2. What happened first? Then what happened? What happened in the end? 
3. What do you know about dandelions? Talk to your partner. 

• Have you ever seen a dandelion growing? 
• Did you see the flowers or the seedheads? 
• What happens if you blow the seedheads? 

Background science

Dandelions are small plants with bright yellow flowers. They grow in many habitats and can even be found in cities growing in cracks in the pavement. Some people consider them weeds, other people call them wildflowers. Dandelions can flower throughout the year, but peak flowering occurs between March and May. In early spring, they are a vital for insects, like bees, beetles and butterflies, because their nectar is one of the only food sources around. 

When the petals dry up, the flowers transform into seedheads which look like silvery balls, often called dandelion clocks or puffs. The feathery seeds are dispersed by the wind, providing food for birds such as sparrows and goldfinches. 

Watch out for...  

Lots of children think that dandelions with flowers and dandelions with seedheads (or ‘clocks’) are different plants. Growing dandelions in the classroom is a good way to prove that they are the same plant. 

Take it further

Activities

Outdoors 

Learn: to recognise dandelions and know that they provide food for bees and other insects.  

You need: an outside area where dandelions are growing (between March and May is the peak time for dandelion flowers). 

Explain to children that we will not pick the dandelion flowers because they supply food to lots of insects.  

Play observe & ask: 

• How many dandelion flowers can we find? 
• Are there any insects visiting the flowers? 
• How many dandelion seedheads (or dandelion clocks) can we count? 
• Can we blow the seeds into the air? How far do they travel? 

Investigate 

Learn: that seeds grow into plants.   

You need: dandelion seedheads so that children can collect the seeds from the plants, compost, pots, watering cans. 

Show children how to collect the dandelion seeds and gently push them into a pot of compost. Find a sunny spot and water the seeds regularly. The seeds typically take about eight weeks to grow and develop flowers. The seedheads ripen 9-12 days after the flower. 

Play observe & ask: 

• What can you see today? 
• Can you draw what the dandelion looks like at the moment? 
• Can you point to a leaf, stem, flower and seed?  

Sensory Play 

Learn: to recognise parts of a dandelion.  

You need: washed whole dandelions (with roots), bowls, jugs of water, scissors, potato mashers, spoons, funnels and strainers. 

Invite the children to make dandelion ‘soup’. 

Play observe & ask: 

• Which part is the leaf? The flower? The root? 
• How can you mash the leaves for your soup? 
• Can you cut up some dandelion root for the soup? 
• How many seeds do you want to go into your ‘soup’? 

Storytime 

Read Dandelions: Stars in the grass by Mia Posada to explore the life cycle of a dandelion. Enjoy the charming story of Christopher Nibble by Charlotte Middleton or The Dandelion Seed by Joseph Anthony. 

Watch 

Go on a Dandelion Eco Quest with Ranger Hamza. This episode of Come Outside tells the story of dandelions growing in the city (watch from 2.40 -10.15). Watch this time lapse film of a dandelion lifecycle. 

Join in with the words and actions of this Dandelion Song. 

Other Explorify activities 

Zoom in on another plant with Winter wonder or watch Bulbs growing.