Written by Devin and Corey Sci an lliIllustrated 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. Draw and cut out sunflower petals from yellow construction paper. 2. Glue and layer petals around the paper plate. 3. Glue sunflower seeds in a circular pattern in the middle of the paper plate. Cover the entire area. 4. When students have finished their sunflower, have them stand against a wall in the hallway. Measure and mark their height. 5. Tape their sunflower on the wall according to their height. 6. Draw and cut out a stem and leaves using the green construction paper. 7. 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. Place a tablespoon in each bowl containing the above ingredients. 2. Arrange bowls in a buffet-style serving line. 3. Allow students to walk through the serving line and scoop out one tablespoon of each ingredient into their zip-lock sandwich bag. 4. Instruct students to securely close their sandwich bag and shake to mix the ingredients. 5. Enjoy! Sunny Honey Sunflower Seed Snack

Ingredients Sunflower seeds Honey Peanut butter Graham crackers Directions 1. Spread a layer of peanut butter on a graham cracker. 2. Spread a layer of honey on the peanut butter. 3. Sprinkle sunflower seeds on top. 4. 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 growdevelopment of Kansas.

th and

Mapping the Essay Draw a Venn diagram on the board and list how both types of transportation are alike and different.

Train Travel Similarities Air Travel Differences 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.

Are you taller or shorter than an adult American bison? Is your teacher taller or shorter than an adult American bison? 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

Sewing clothes

Living in a log cabin

Playing video games

Listening to fiddle music

Listening to the radio

Traveling by covered wagon

Embroidering

Carrying water by bucket

Watching television

Playing with marbles

Learning math facts

Caring for a pet dog

Moving to a new home

Doing schoolwork

Visiting a zoo

Burning cow chips for heat

Playing with Barbie dolls

Cooking over an open fire

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. Pepperoni Mushroom Thin Crust 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. Where am I? ______________ 7. I am in the largest city in Kansas. 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. �“People of the South Wind�” 2. Kansas state animal 3. Kansas state flower 4. Name of a Kansas Trail and Railroad 5. Kansas state bird 6. 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.

AS

KANSAS WORD SEARCH TOPEKA SUNFLOWER KANS WHEAT BISON DODGE CITY TORNADO WICHITA BEEF MEADOWLARK AVIATION JAZZ

W H E M O D O D G E C I T Y B M B I T I W H E T J A Z O F I W E Z B O Z S U T A N T R S S H S A V I A T I O N D K W U Z M E N D J V A B P Z O A I N J T O D T O R K A N B D N C T B O J R J H W I C V M I S J O A P A E A N M L W Z E J A A P V A V W Z B I E A V A W S U E T K B I S O N E W R D R J A K T A E K U I B H E H K O T J A Z N E A N D T W H E E T O P Z W T F N O D O I S T O R B E F I B I D T L R C M E A T D F M C E B A F B J U D O D A O K E J S E N S T S M B I J D D B A A M U B U E U W H E A T F J K K S T W N Z N S M N R B I T J Z H B S Z T N U R K E A V I B I M E A J A Z O B E D K B O E V W J N K F T M E W I C H I T A B I W H T O P E J A Z B E T K

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 5. mushrooms 6. pepperoni 7. green peppers 8. black olives Pizza topping with 9 letters �– pepperoni LET�’S ORDER A PIZZA There are 6 different possibilities of pizzas Sam could order.

Pepperoni Mushroom Thin Crust Pepperoni Ham Pepperoni Extra Cheese Pepperoni Mushroom Stuffed Crust Pepperoni Ham Pepperoni Extra Cheese

FAMOUS KANSAS WOMEN 1. Susan Madora Salter 2. Mabel Chase 3. Georgia Neese Clark Gray 4. Hattie McDaniel 5 Nancy Landon Kassebaum

WHERE AM I? 1. University of Kansas 2. Dodge City 3. Fort Leavenworth 4. Hutchinson 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

W H E M O D O D G E C I T Y B

M B I T I W H E T J A Z O F I

W E Z B O Z S U T A N T R S S

H S A V I A T I O N D K W U Z

M E N D J V A B P Z O A I N J

T O D T O R K A N B D N C T B O J R J H W I C V M I S J O A

P A E A N M L W Z E J A A P V

A V W Z B I E A V A W S U E T

K B I S O N E W R D R J A K T

A E K U I B H E H K O T J A Z

N E A N D T W H E E T O P Z W

T F N O D O I S T O R B E F I

B I D T L R C M E A T D F M C

E B A F B J U D O D A O K E J

S E N S T S M B I J D D B A A

M U B U E U W H E A T F J K K

S T W N Z N S M N R B I T J Z

H B S Z T N U R K E A V I B I M E A J A Z O B E D K B O E V

W J N K F T M E W I C H I T A

B I W H T O P E J A Z B E T K