Look for the book Strawberry by Jennifer Coldrey and George Bernard (1989).
Strawberry has beautiful pictures and easy to read-aloud text and will engage elementary-age children.
Read the Strawberry book while you grow your own strawberries.
Also use a microscope (e.g. a Magiscope) to observe your strawberry plants: flowers, roots, leaves and runners and of course the strawberry fruits in more detail over the weeks.
What do you notice?
- Did you see bees or other pollinators pollinate the blossoms?
- How many petals are there?
- Can you see small strawberries forming from the pollinated flower?
- Where do you think a strawberry seed is?
- Cut a strawberry in half lengthwise, draw and discuss what you see?
- What else happens to the strawberries you don't harvest?
- How many strawberries do you harvest from each plant?
- How are the strawberry plants reproducing (in addition to seeds)?
- Count how many runners grow from one plant. Can you see root hairs and small plants growing from the runner?
Triple wash your strawberries, and taste test them.
- How would you describe the flavor?
- Do you notice a difference if you planted different varieties?
- If you were a chef - how would you recommend preparing and cooking with strawberries?
- Do you like strawberries
I do!
References:
Strawberry by Jennifer Coldrey, photographs by George Bernard, published 1989.
Strawberry recipe ideas from Virginia Dept of Agriculture and Consumer Services, thanks to Mackintosh Fruit Farm.
http://www.mackintoshfruitfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/2013_06_03_15_24_50.pdf
See previous two blog posts on Green STEM Learning for strawberry planting and cultivation tips.
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