By: Celia Peru 
Have you ever heard of the Prickly pear cactus? Prickly pear cacti are natives of dry regions. Cacti rely on energy from the sun for nutrients. Prickly pear cacti have barbed spines and ornate flowers. Cactus reproduction occurs through pollination. Prickly pear cacti also produce edible fruit! WHO AM I?
My name is Prickly Pear Cactus I’m part of the plant species genus optunia. Genus optunia is a part of a greater family know as cactaceae.
WHERE DO I LIVE?
I grow in the grounds and can be located throughout the deserts of North America. I’m a native to dry regions. Some areas I’m located in include southwestern U.S.,Mexico and further south of Mexico. WHAT DO I EAT?
I like other cacti do not flourish from a regular diet. However a process of photosynthesises takes place to provide me with nutrients, carbon dioxide, and water. The energy I receive is from the radiant source of the sun. HOW DO I LOOK?
Guess what else? I can grow anywhere from less than a foot to growing the up to 6 or 7 feet in size. I have many barbed spines named “glochids”. My “glochids” are an additional layer to the regular spines. Ornate flowers usually begin to grow around my outer layer, in the colors purple, yellow, and red. HOW DO I REPRODUCE?
I reproduce through a process of pollenation. Pollen substance is produced by the male cactus flower. This pollen is transferred to the flower of the female cactus. A seed will develop as a result which may then create new cacti plants.
FUN FACT ABOUT ME? I mostly consist of flattened paddle shaped leaves. My leaves are covered in spines. I can store large amounts of water in my paddles. I also produce edible fruit that is high in fiber. My paddle shaped leaves are sold in stores as vegetables called “nopalitos”. I also am used for natural medicinal purposes.  ACTIVITY TIME!!!! Kindergarteners-Now use your drawing skills to represent the Prickly Pear Cactus the best you can. Use the pictures to get ideas of color, shapes and details. When your finished have an adult write down your words about the most interesting thing you learned about the Prickly Pear Cactus! Be creative and have fun!!! First and Second Graders- Now use your drawing skills to represent the Prickly Pear Cactus the best you can use the pictures to get ideas of color, shapes and details. Then write three or four descriptive sentences about what you have learned about the Prickly Pear Cactus. Third Graders-Find a picture of a Prickly Pear Cactus on the Internet, cut and copy the picture to a word document. Next to the picture you copy draw your best representation of the Prickly Pear Cactus. Now write a story and include some facts about the Prickly Pear Cactus that you learned. Have fun with this, there is no right or wrong! Be creative!!! ASSESSMENT TIME Prickly pear. (2011). In Encyclopædia Britannica.
Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/475852/prickly-pear Prickly pear. (2011). In Compton's by Britannica. Cactus. (2011). In Compton's by Britannica. Retrieved from http://kids.britannica.com/comptons/article-9273438/cactus
Photosynthesis. (2011). In Compton's by Britannica. |