Fun Strawberry Unit Study for Summer

Inside: Strawberry unit study with free strawberry life cycle printable.

I have only to break into the tightness of a strawberry, and I see summer–its dust and lowering skies.

Toni Morrison

There’s something about strawberries that says summer to me. The bright red fruit and sweet juiciness associated with it bring fond memories. We found some wild strawberries growing in our yard and the kids enjoyed a few before the deer ate them all.

Of course, the discovery of wild strawberries for a homeschool family means a strawberry unit study!

Interesting Facts About Strawberries

• Did you know that the seeds are actually the true fruit of a strawberry plant? They are called achenes and each of them surrounds a tiny seed.
• Strawberry plants are a type of stolon. This means they are runner plants that grow across the ground.
• The very first strawberry garden was in Brittany, France in the 18th century.
• Strawberries are a member of the rose family.
• The whole plant used to be used to treat depressive illnesses.
• Over 53% of seven to nine-year-olds pick strawberries as their favorite fruit.
• In the US, California produces 80% of the strawberries we consume.
• There is a museum in Belgium dedicated to strawberries.
• Strawberries at room temperature are sweeter than cold strawberries.
• Strawberries come in a variety of colors. They can be blue, purple, black, white, yellow, and red.

A Brief History of the Strawberry

In ancient Rome, around 234BC, is when historians believe the first strawberry plant was discovered. Originally, the plant was used mostly for medicinal purposes. The garden variety strawberry that we enjoy each summer first began showing up in a garden in Brittany, France. Essentially an accident, they were a hybrid of Chilean and Virginia strawberries resulting from bee cross-pollination, and Botanist Antoine Duchesne (1747-1827) then documented the process.

There are many theories as to how the fruit received the name “strawberry.” It is believed it was originally called “earth-berry,” but etymologists are unsure why the name was then changed to strawberry. It is thought, that perhaps it was changed to strewn berry, regarding the fact that the plant produces runners and the fruit grows on the ground. Another assumption is that it refers to the fact that farmers use straw when planting or that the berries used to be sold on a stick of straw. However you look at it, it is a unique name for a most delicious fruit.

Life Cycle of a Strawberry Plant

Strawberries are perennial plants. This means the same plant can survive and bear fruit again year after year.

There are eight steps in the life cycle of a strawberry plant: seed, germination, sprout, seedling, plant, plant with flowers, plant with fruit, and fruit with seeds.

Strawberry plants send out stolons, or runners, that spread out a few inches from the crown. These runners then take root and begin to grow new plants. These new plants are referred to as daughter plants. Most strawberry plants are grown from runners as opposed to seeds.

How Do Strawberries Grow?

As the strawberry plant grows it produces between three to eight flowers. As the flowers grow, the petals fall off and the yellow center becomes a strawberry. The first berry is referred to as the “King” berry. This will be the biggest berry the plant will grow.

This YouTube video does a good job of explaining how strawberries grow.

Why Do You See Straw Around Strawberry Plants?

If you’ve ever gone strawberry picking, you might notice that farmers place straw around their strawberry plants in the field. The straw serves a few purposes. First, it helps to protect the plants during cold weather, as strawberry roots are fairly shallow (roots occupy the top six inches of soil). Straw also helps to deter weeds. And lastly, it helps keep the berries clean from mud after it rains.

Free Strawberry Life Cycle Printable

To help with your Strawberry Unit Study, download this free Strawberry Life Cycle Printable Pack. The printable pack includes strawberry life cycle cards that can be laminated, a coloring page, and cut-and-paste stages of a strawberry life cycle page.

The First Strawberries Unit Study Complement

To take your strawberry unit study even further, check out my all-inclusive unit study based on the book, The First Strawberries: A Cherokee Story retold by Joseph Bruchac. This is a beautiful story based on Cherokee legend about how the first strawberries came to be. The unit study covers language arts, STEM, fine arts, and geography. It would make a lovely addition.