194 Principles of Floral Design 4. Math. Many wholesale florists give quantity discounts: The more you buy, the lower the price per stem. Find a wholesale florist online that gives quantity discounts. Research and record the prices for different quantities of red roses and red carnations. If necessary, do the math to determine the price per stem at each quantity for each type of flower. Then create a graph showing your results. Your graph should show how the price per stem changes depending on the quantity purchased. 5. Social Studies. Conduct research to find out more about how flowers were used during the Victorian era. If you were a flower shop owner in Victorian England, what types of designs would you be making? For example, would the majority of your work be creating tabletop designs, flowers to wear, or other types of arrangements? What types of flowers might you use most? 6. Technology. Search the Internet for new technologies related to floral design. Choose one of interest and determine the following: What are the benefits of using the technology to enhance productivity? What are some disadvantages or risks of using the new technology? What actions could you take to reduce the disadvantages or risks? In your opinion, for what applications will this new technology most likely be used? 7. Play “flower form” jeopardy using 100 top flower and foliage options for designs with students. 8. Create your own mnemonic for ROYGBIV. 9. Hands-On Design. Design a bud vase using flowers that have a specific meaning of your choice. Communicating about Floral Design 1. Speaking and Listening. Divide into groups of four or five students. Have each person choose a person in the group to whom they would like to give flowers. Using the charts with flower meanings and colors, design (on paper) a monochromatic flower bouquet for that person. Present the bouquet to the recipient and ask him or her to decipher its meaning. Share your interpretations with the rest of the group or class. If time permits, create an analogous bouquet and repeat the activity. 2. Writing and Speaking. Using real or artificial plant materials, create a bouquet that goes against color harmony rules. Use a container that is also contrary to the design and color harmony. Include at least one of each type of flower (line, mass, filler, form). Write a list of questions to ask your classmates about how to fix the arrangement. 3. Reading and Writing. Presume you work for a well-known, successful floral designer. Your employer is considering pitching a proposal to the White House to supply the floral arrangements for the inaugural ball. Evaluate and interpret research on designers and arrangements from past inaugural balls. Use at least three reliable sources of information. Write a report summarizing your findings in an organized manner. SAE Opportunities 1. Service Learning. Partner with a local nursing home and work with a floral designer in your community to design and provide floral arrangements to the nursing home throughout the year. 2. Authentic Experience. Interview the florist at a hospital flower shop. Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.