Growing dandelions in a school garden
Teach pollination, plant life cycles and wildlife habitats using a plant pupils see every day.
- Identify the key parts of a dandelion
- Describe how each part of the dandelion supports wildlife
- Understand the life cycle of a dandelion
- Explain how allowing grass to grow longer can increase biodiversity in school grounds
- Science: How animals obtain food from plants, the functions of different parts of flowering plants, flowering plant life cycles (including pollination) and plant reproduction
- PSHE: How pupils can help look after their environment, shared responsibilities for protecting the environment in school and how everyday choices can make a difference
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Dandelion flowers
Buff tailed bumblebee on dandelion plant
From March to October, you may spot dandelion flowers at your school, standing out amongst grass or growing between cracks in the playground like bright yellow suns. These small plants are wildlife wonders, providing food for many animals.
Each large ‘flower’ is made up of lots of little flowers, each with their own nectar and pollen. Pollinating insects such as bees, butterflies, hoverflies and beetles, visit these flowers to feed on nectar. The nectar gives them energy to find a mate or nesting site and to lay eggs. Some insects also collect pollen either for themselves or to feed to their young.
Dandelion flowers are particularly important as they bloom from early spring through to autumn, providing food for wildlife early and late in the year, when there are few other flowers around.
Dandelion leaves
Dandelion plant, showing leaves
Ruby tiger moth
Dandelion leaves grow low to the ground, providing shelter for small insects who hide underneath them. These small insects provide food for larger insects, spiders and birds.
The leaves also provide food for the caterpillars of some types of butterflies and moths who may visit your school, for example the ruby tiger moth caterpillar.
Dandelion seed heads
Dandelion seed head
Goldfinch
When insects visit the flowers to feed, they pollinate them. This means the dandelion plant can form seeds which blow away on the wind across your school grounds, to grow into new plants. The seeds also provide food for birds such as goldfinches and greenfinches.
Life cycle of a dandelion
What could you do?
Dandelions may be small, but they help lots of wildlife. By encouraging dandelions to grow at your school, you can help wildlife too.
Allow an area of grass in your school grounds to grow longer. This will give dandelions a chance to grow, flower, set seed and make more dandelion plants.
Reflection questions:
- Can you see any dandelion plants already growing in your school grounds?
- Can you think of a place in the school grounds where the grass could be left to grow longer?
Extension
Create some signs to place by the patch of grass to let others know why you are leaving it to grow longer.
Remember to look from a distance and not to touch any insects.
Keywords:
| Mate | When a female has partnered with a male to produce young. |
| Nectar | Sweet liquid mainly produced by flowers to attract pollinators. Honeybees make honey from nectar. |
| Pollen | Dust-like grains produced by the male part of the flower. |
| Pollinate | When a flower has received pollen, so is able to make seeds. |
| Wildlife | Animals and plants that live in natural environments (they don’t live with people). |