Florida Nature Guide: Citrus Season

Materials Needed:

• Various citrus fruits (orange, grapefruit, lime, lemon)
• A safe knife for an adult to use
• Plates for paint and for fruit tasting
• Washable, non-toxic paint in various colors (especially orange, yellow, green)
• Sturdy paper (like cardstock or construction paper)
• Book: An Orange in January by Dianna Hutts Aston
• A device to play a short video (tablet or computer)
• Napkins or paper towels for cleanup

1. Introduce the Theme (5 minutes)

Start by sitting with Mia and having the different citrus fruits in a bowl on the table. The goal is to activate her senses and prior knowledge.

Activating Questions:

• "Mia, what do you see in this bowl? Can you name any of these fruits?"
• "Pick one up. How does it feel in your hands? Is it heavy or light? Smooth or bumpy?"
• "Let's gently scratch the skin with our fingernail. Now, what do you smell? Does it remind you of anything?"
• "What colors do you see on these fruits?"

Connecting to South Florida:

• "Have you ever seen trees with these fruits growing on them? Here in Florida, we have the perfect sunny and rainy weather to grow lots of citrus fruits. That's why the orange is our official state fruit!"
• "When you drive through parts of Florida, you can sometimes see big fields called 'groves' that are filled with thousands of orange trees. Our state is famous for them!"

2. Quick Song (3 minutes)

To get energized, watch a fun, simple song about oranges. This helps reinforce the theme in a playful way.

• Video: "The Orange Song" by Kids TV. It's a short, catchy tune about the color and fruit.
• Question to Ask After: "What was your favorite part of the song? Did it make you want to eat an orange?"

3. Story Time (5-7 minutes)

Read the book An Orange in January by Dianna Hutts Aston. This beautiful book shows the journey of an orange from a blossom in the sun to a child's snack, connecting nature, farming, and our daily lives.

Questions to Ask During/After Reading:

• "Where did the orange's journey begin? (As a flower on a tree)."
• "What did the orange need to grow big and sweet? (Sun, rain, time)."
• "How do you think the orange got from the tree in Florida all the way to the little girl in the snowy place?"

4. Activity: Citrus Stamp Art (15-20 minutes)

This is a creative and sensory activity where Mia can explore the inside of the citrus fruits and make beautiful art.

Instructions:

1. Adult Step: Carefully cut each citrus fruit in half (horizontally, so you can see the star-like pattern of the segments).
2. Explore: Ask Mia to look at the inside of each fruit. "How are they the same? How are they different? Can you see the seeds? Point to the juicy parts."
3. Taste Test: Cut small, edible pieces from the other halves for a quick taste test. "Which one is sweet? Which one is sour? Which is your favorite?"
4. Stamp: Squeeze a few colors of paint onto paper plates. Show Mia how to dip the flat, cut side of a citrus half into the paint.
5. Create: Press the painted fruit onto the sturdy paper like a stamp. Encourage her to use different fruits and different colors. She can make patterns, a picture of a garden, or just a colorful design.
6. Talk While Creating: "Look at the cool pattern the grapefruit makes! It looks like the spokes of a wheel or a sunshine." "The lime is so small! It makes a perfect little circle."

5. Explanation & Wrap-Up (5 minutes)

While her artwork dries, review what was learned. The goal is to summarize the key ideas in a simple, conversational way.

Summary Points & Questions:

• "Today we learned all about citrus, which is a special type of fruit that grows all over our state of Florida. Can you name the citrus fruits we used today?" (Orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit).
• "We learned that they grow in big fields called groves and need lots of sunshine and rain, which Florida has plenty of!"
• "When we cut them open, we saw all the little sections inside that hold the juice. What did you think was the most interesting pattern we saw when we made our stamp art?"
• "And best of all, citrus fruits are a healthy and delicious snack. You made some amazing art today showing how beautiful they are on the inside and outside!"

You can display Mia's citrus art as a reminder of the lesson.