PLANTS
ANNUALS, BIENNIALS, AND PERENNIALS
CLASS-ROOM LESSON
By means of questions based upon the pupils' knowledge of a few common annuals, such as the oat, sweet-pea, and garden aster, develop the following points:
1. These plants are always grown from seeds.
2. These plants produce flowers and ripe seeds during one season's growth.
3. These plants wither and die in the autumn.
Plants having these characteristics are called annuals. The teacher explains the meaning of the word and requires the pupils to name a few other annuals.
In a similar way, discuss a few common types of biennials, such as turnip, cabbage, hollyhock, and develop the following points:
1. These plants produce no flowers and seeds during the first year of their life.
2. These plants, during the first year, lay up a store of food in roots, leaves, or stems.
3. The food is used in the second year of the plant's life to nourish the flowers and seeds.
A biennial should be grown for two years in the school garden to furnish material for concrete study.
In a similar way discuss a few common types of perennials, such as rhubarb, dahlia, apple tree, and develop the following points:
1. These plants may or may not produce seeds during the first year's growth.
2. Some of these plants are herbs, but most of them are trees and shrubs.
3. Food is stored in roots or stems to provide for early spring growth.
4. These plants live on from year to year.