Written by Devin and Corey Scillian
Illustrated by Doug Bowles
Portions may be reproduced for use in the classroom with the
express written permission of Sleeping Bear Press.
Teacher’’s Guide written by Patricia A. Pierce
Published by Sleeping Bear Press
310 North Main, Ste 300
Chelsea, MI
800-487-2323
www.sleepingbearpress.com
S is for Sunflower
Read S is for Sunflower and create a booklet on facts about Kansas.
Directions
1.
Cut out the
KANSAS front page
along the solid
black line.
2.
Next, cut along
the dotted lines.
3.
Cut out the
second page and
in each section
write a fact you
learned about
Kansas from
reading S is for
Sunflower.
4.
Attach the two
pages together by
stapling along
the gray area.
5.
Fold back each
section/letter
after the second
page is attached
to reveal each
interesting fact.
Hallway Display
Materials Needed
Yellow and green construction paper
Paper plate
Glue
Scissors
Sunflower seeds
Directions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Draw and cut out sunflower petals from yellow construction paper.
Glue and layer petals around the paper plate.
Glue sunflower seeds in a circular pattern in the middle of the paper
plate. Cover the entire area.
When students have finished their sunflower, have them stand against a
wall in the hallway. Measure and mark their height.
Tape their sunflower on the wall according to their height.
Draw and cut out a stem and leaves using the green construction paper.
Tape the stem and leaves to the sunflower.
Additional tips and ideas
Vary the display of the sunflowers according to the different heights of
your students. Consider adding a sunflower to display your height and
place your sunflower in the middle of the class display.
Do this activity at the beginning of the year and keep each student’’s
sunflower. Repeat the activity at the end of the year and compare the two
sunflowers so students can visualize how much they have grown during the
school year. For an added activity, students can write facts and
information they have learned throughout the school year on the petals.
Create one special sunflower for the entire class. Along with praise and
encouragement, add a petal or seeds to the sunflower at appropriate times
for special recognition for the class or individual students. See how full
and beautiful your class sunflower can grow!
Shake It to Make It Sunflower Seed Snack
Ingredients
Sunflower seeds
Raisins
Chocolate chips and/or chocolate sprinkles
Mini-marshmallows
Peanuts
Additional chopped dried fruit, such as apricots, bananas, or apples
*Each student will need a ziplock sandwich bag.
Directions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Place a tablespoon in each bowl containing the above ingredients.
Arrange bowls in a buffet-style serving line.
Allow students to walk through the serving line and scoop out one
tablespoon of each ingredient into their zip-lock sandwich bag.
Instruct students to securely close their sandwich bag and shake to mix
the ingredients.
Enjoy!
Sunny Honey Sunflower Seed Snack
Ingredients
Sunflower seeds
Honey
Peanut butter
Graham crackers
Directions
1.
2.
3.
4.
Spread a layer of peanut butter on a graham cracker.
Spread a layer of honey on the peanut butter.
Sprinkle sunflower seeds on top.
Enjoy!
FROM TRAINS TO PLANES
Travel to page A of S is for Sunflower and discover how
train and air travel influence the growth and development of
Kansas.
Compare and Contrast Writing
Work with students to generate an essay comparing and contrasting
train and air travel. Explain that they could first describe how each
type of travel is alike and then describe how they are different. Also
include in the essay the impact of each type of travel on the growth and
development of Kansas.
Mapping the Essay
Draw a Venn diagram on the board and list how both
types of transportation are alike and different.
Train Travel
Differences
Similarities
Air Travel
Differences
Discussion Questions
What forms of early transportation did pioneers use?
Were the early forms of transportation slow or fast?
Was it difficult to transport goods before the railroads were
built?
Why is industry important to the growth and development of
a state?
Can you name an aviation company founded in Kansas?
Is train and air travel still necessary today?
Roam with the bison on page B of S is for Sunflower and learn a ““herd””
of interesting facts from the text and illustration. Read the sentences below
and circle the words that correctly complete each sentence.
1. The American bison has a [large head] [small head].
2. A symbol of the Old West, the American bison is better known as a
[buffalo] [cow].
3. The American bison has [large, pointy horns] [small, curved horns].
4. In 1871, a herd near Dodge City was estimated at
[four hundred buffalo] [four thousand buffalo] [four million buffalo].
5. The American bison has long, shaggy, brown hair on its
[shoulders and front legs] [tail and hind legs].
DID YOU KNOW?
The American Bison is the heaviest land animal in North America and can
grow to be six feet tall.
x Are you taller or shorter than an adult American bison?
x Is your teacher taller or shorter than an adult American bison?
x Do you know anyone taller than an adult American bison?
Measure a six foot piece of yarn and imagine you are standing next to an
American bison!
ENOUGH WHEAT IS GROWN IN
KANSAS EACH YEAR TO PROVIDE EVERY
PERSON ON EARTH WITH SIX LOAVES OF BREAD!
Solve the following math problems.
The number of people in your family _____ x 6 loaves = ________ loaves.
You plus 5 of your friends _____ x 6 loaves = __________ loaves.
The number of students in your class ______ x 6 loaves = ______ loaves.
Your teacher plus your class ______ x 6 loaves = _________ loaves.
The number of students in your school ______ x 6 loaves = ______ loaves.
Solve the following math problems. Look for a pattern.
1 x 6 loaves = _____ loaves
10 x 6 loaves = _____ loaves
100 x 6 loaves = _____ loaves
1,000 x 6 loaves = _____ loaves
EXPLORER TRADING CARDS
Create your own Kansas Explorers Trading Cards
Directions –– Read page E of S is for Sunflower and search for additional information and
photos at www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/ and www.amliaearhart.com, and create your own set of
Kansas explorers trading cards. Use the front of the card for a picture of the explorer and the
back of the card to write a short biography or factual information.
Use this card to
create an explorer trading
card about you!
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Read page I of S is for Sunflower. Close your book and recall three facts
about Dwight D. Eisenhower. Write your facts on the lines below.
Open your book and reread the passage on Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Can you now list three more facts? List your facts below.
Which fact did you find the most interesting? Circle that fact and
share your fact with a partner.
Little House on the Prairie
Travel back with Laura Ingalls Wilder
to the Kansas prairie on page L of S is for Sunflower.
Directions - Compare Laura’’s pioneer life with today’’s life. Circle the activities that
would have been a part of pioneer life. Draw a smiley face next to the activities and
items that are still a part of our lives today.
Attending a one-room schoolhouse
Playing with marbles
Sewing clothes
Learning math facts
Living in a log cabin
Caring for a pet dog
Playing video games
Moving to a new home
Listening to fiddle music
Doing schoolwork
Listening to the radio
Visiting a zoo
Traveling by covered wagon
Burning cow chips for heat
Embroidering
Playing with Barbie dolls
Carrying water by bucket
Cooking over an open fire
Watching television
Chopping wood
Seeing the Detail
When Laura Ingalls Wilder’’s sister, Mary, became blind, Pa asked Laura to become the
eyes for Mary. Laura would describe what Mary could no longer see. Laura learned to see
and describe with great detail, perhaps this is why Laura was such a descriptive writer.
Trying seeing with detail, then writing what you see. Pretend you are Laura describing
something to Mary. Your description can be about an item, a person, or a place. Consider
describing the state bird of Kansas, the meadowlark. Turn to page M of S is for Sunflower
for a beautiful illustration of the meadowlark.
Serve yourself a piece of pizza history
by reading page P of S is for Sunflower.
Unscramble these pizza toppings!
eechse
________________________________
cabon
________________________________
mha
________________________________
matotose
________________________________
shrouomms
________________________________
reppenipo
________________________________
rgeen reppeps ________________________________
ckbla loisev
________________________________
Which pizza topping has 9 letters? ____________________
Which Pizza Hut sells the most pizza? Find that answer and
other interesting facts on page P of S is for Sunflower!
PROBLEM SOLVING
Sam wanted pizza for lunch, but was having difficulty deciding what to order. He
knew he wanted pepperoni on his pizza, but couldn’’t decide on mushrooms, ham, or extra
cheese for the second topping. He was also trying to decide between thin crust or stuffed
crust. Help Sam out by completing the tree diagram for the stuffed crust to show Sam all the
possible outcomes of pizzas he could order.
Thin Crust
Pepperoni
Mushroom
Pepperoni
Ham
Pepperoni
Extra Cheese
Stuffed Crust
How many different possibilities of pizza could he order? ____________________________
If you were Sam and had the above choices, what would you order? ____________________
Famous Kansas Women
Complete the banners below by filling in the correct name. Search for
your answers on page W of S is for Sunflower.
First Woman Mayor in the United States
First woman sheriff in the United States
First woman United States Treasurer
First African-American woman Academy Award Winner
Only woman in the Senate in 1978
Kansas’’ Neighbors
1. Label Kansas’’ Neighboring States
Nebraska
Missouri
Oklahoma
Colorado
2. Turn to page X of S is for Sunflower and place an X near
the
town of Lebanon. Explain the significance of this spot.
3. Place a dot on the location of your hometown or another
Kansas town you would like to visit.
Read S is for Sunflower and the following clues to discover interesting
places in Kansas.
1.
I am at the university where Dr. James Naismith coached
basketball. Where am I?
________________________________________________________
2.
I am at the city that started with a single sod house
built by H.L. Sitler along the Santa Fe Trail. Where am I?
________________________________________________________
3.
I am at the oldest continuously operating U.S. Army fort
west of the Mississippi River. Where am I?
_________________________________________________________
4.
I am at the home of the Kansas State Fair. Where am I?
__________________________________________________________
5.
I am at the birthplace of Charlie ““Bird”” Parker, noted for
““be-bop”” jazz. Where am I?_______________________________
6.
I am at the capital of Kansas.
7.
I am in the largest city in Kansas. Where am I?
__________________________________________________________
Where am I? ______________
Read S is for Sunflower and play a game of search and find. Have a
partner choose a word from the list below. Search for the picture in the
book. After you find the picture, read aloud the passage of that page to
your partner. It’’s now your turn to choose a word and have your partner
search and find!
Word List
AIRPLANE PROPELLER
TRUMPET
SANTA FE TRAIN
MAP
COMBINE
CAPITOL BUILDING
BOBWHITE QUAIL
HARDWARE STORE
MEADOWLARK
SUNFLOWERS
WILD BILL HICKOK AND BUFFALO BILL CODY
PIZZA
TRAIN DEPOT
WINDMILL
BISON
TEPEES
OLYMPIC RINGS
FOOTBALL PLAYERS
I LIKE IKE BUTTON
VEGETABLES AND WHEAT
FORT
DOROTHY AND TOTO
MISSOURI RIVER
WIND TURBINES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
““People of the South Wind””
Kansas state animal
Kansas state flower
Name of a Kansas Trail and Railroad
Kansas state bird
Highway system created by President Dwight Eisenhower
Write a short paragraph about where you live today. Draw or attach a picture of your home.
Write a short paragraph about where you may live in the future. Draw your future home.
KANSAS WORD SEARCH
TOPEKA
WHEAT
TORNADO
MEADOWLARK
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ANSWER KEY
AMERICAN BISON
1. Large head
2. buffalo
3. small, curved horns 4. four million buffalo
5. shoulders and front legs
KANSAS –– ““THE WORLD’’S BREADBASKET””
Answers will vary for the top section.
Look for a pattern answers: 6 –– 60 –– 600 - 6,000
DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER
Facts and information provided on page I of S is for Sunflower.
LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE
Pioneer life activities include attending a one-room schoolhouse, sewing clothes, living in a log cabin, listening to
fiddle music, traveling by covered wagon, embroidering, carrying water by bucket, playing with marbles, learning
math facts, caring for a pet dog, moving to a new home, doing schoolwork, burning cow chips for fuel, cooking over
an open fire, chopping wood. Answers may vary regarding activities that are part of our lives today.
PIZZA
1. Cheese 2. bacon 3. ham 4. tomatoes
Pizza topping with 9 letters –– pepperoni
5. mushrooms
6. pepperoni
7. green peppers 8. black olives
LET’’S ORDER A PIZZA
There are 6 different possibilities of pizzas Sam could order.
Thin Crust
Pepperoni
Mushroom
Pepperoni
Ham
Pepperoni
Stuffed Crust
Extra Cheese
Pepperoni
Mushroom
Pepperoni
Ham
Pepperoni
Extra Cheese
FAMOUS KANSAS WOMEN
1. Susan Madora Salter
3. Georgia Neese Clark Gray
2. Mabel Chase
4. Hattie McDaniel
5 Nancy Landon Kassebaum
WHERE AM I?
1. University of Kansas
4. Hutchinson
2. Dodge City
3. Fort Leavenworth
5. Kansas City, Kansas
6. Topeka
7. Wichita
KANSAS CROSSWORD
1. Kansa Indians 2. American bison 3. Sunflower 4. Santa Fe 5. Meadowlark 6. Interstate
KANSAS WORD SEARCH
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