One of my assignments this semester was to come up with a creative resource that would help teach a Scientific concept to students of a grade of our choosing. I decided to steer clear of my usual book projects and get crafty with this one. I chose to do grade one Understanding Life Systems, specifically characteristics and functions of plants. I sewed up a 3D model that starts as a seed and blooms into a flower.
The whole project is made out of felt, save for the hemp string roots and the stamens in the flower, which I picked up in the bridal section of my local craft store. I sewed wires into the petals so they can be bent into a bud and then opened up. It was very simple to make, I just made the pattern up as I went.
Of course growing a real plant in the classroom would be a more valuable learning tool, but this can be used in conjunction with that as a lesson prop, and something to refer to and to be played with over the unit.