3.5 Mechanics of Floral Design
This is Lesson Five (“Mechanics of Floral Design”) of Unit 3: Floral Design, created by the National FFA Organization. It teaches students how mechanics (foam, wire, ribbons, pins, and tape) are used in floral arrangements and guides them through practicing bow-making and artificial-stem techniques to construct a corsage or boutonniere. The lesson includes a video-based lecture, hands-on activity, reflection self-evaluation, and an optional “leveling up” pricing/packaging extension tied to the floriculture CDE.
At a glance
- Learning objectives
-
- Identify how mechanics are used in floral arrangements.
- Evaluate the use of foam, wire, ribbons, pins and tape in floral design.
- Demonstrate mechanical skills needed to construct a corsage/boutonniere.
- Time required
- 90 minutes
- Materials
-
- “Mechanics of Floral Design” PowerPoint
- Internet access for the Flower School YouTube Channel, https://www.youtube.com/user/FlowerSchool
- Internet access for the CEV Multimedia YouTube Channel, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmqNTJoxkaWw3VBBKj4NhPw
- Form flowers (roses, carnations, lilies, etc.)
- Filler flowers and/or foliage (baby's breath, spring heather, etc.)
- Corsage bands
- Pins
- Glue adhesive
- Ribbon (#3 or #9)
- Ribbon shears
- Wire (28-gauge)
- Floral tape
- Resources
- 1. Floriculture CDE Handbook. 2. Norah T. Hunter (2013) The Art of Floral Design (3rd Edition) Clifton Park, NY: Delmar Cengage Learning.
- Previous Knowledge Recommended for This Lesson
- 3.3 Equipment Identification and Floral Crops; 3.4 Pricing Floral Arrangements (if leveling up)
- Partnership for 21st Century Skills
- Implement Innovations; Information Literacy; Think Creatively; Work Creatively with Others
- Unit
- Unit 3: Floral Design
- Created
- 05/2017 by the National FFA Organization
Downloads & Links
Lesson plan
Presentation
Aligned Standards
AFNR Career Ready Practices
AFNR Performance Element
- PS.04Apply principles of design in plant systems to enhance an environment (e.g., floral, forest, landscape and farm).
Common Career Technical Core
- AG-PL4Apply principles of design in plant systems to enhance an environment (e.g., floral, forest, landscape and farm).
Common Core – Math Practices
Common Core – Reading: Informational Text
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.9-10.3Analyze how the author unfolds an analysis or series of ideas or events, including the order in which the points are made, how they are introduced and developed, and the connections that are drawn between them.
FFA Precept
- FFA-CS-M.CommunicationEffectively interact with others in personal and professional settings.
- FFA.PG-J.Mental GrowthEmbrace cognitive and intellectual development relative to reasoning, thinking and coping.
- FFA.PL-C.VisionVisualize the future and how to get there.
FFA Precepts
- FFA.CS-N.Decision MakingAnalyze a situation and execute an appropriate course of action.
NASDCTEc
- AGPB01.04Exercise elements of design common to professionals in plant systems to enhance an environment for a variety of purposes (e.g., floral, forest, landscape, farm).