Seed Fun!

We’re getting together with some friends today to have a seed themed playdate.  We’re planting seeds in little eggshell men (crack the egg on top and draw a face, then plant grass seed that will eventually grow into the "hair") and we may do the classic seed in a baggie bit (put a wet paper towel and a few seeds in a zipper baggie, close and tape to the window).  Here are a few other fun ideas on the seed/garden theme that I found at Perpetual Preschool….

Plant seeds in small, clear Solo cups. Add Jell-O, in a thick mixture, like Jell-O Jigglers consistency. Push seed down into the Jell-O after it has hardened. The cup should be about half-way filled. Sunflower seeds work best. Once the seed has started to grow, take Jell-O and seed out of cup and plant into the ground. The seed need not be watered while growing in the cup. It draws its moisture from the Jell-O mixture. It is a fun way to watch a seed sprout and grow!

Which Water Is Best?

Supplies:  Three identical plants in soil; Tap water; Bottled water; Distilled water

What kind of water makes plants grow the best?  To find out, water plant #1 with only tap water.  Water plant #2 only with distilled water.  Water plant #3 with bottled water.  Do this for one month and chart any differences that you see.

We love to grow things at our preschool–we are limited on outdoor ground space–so we use a small plastic wading pool for our garden–its not to wide so the children can work the garden–make sure you poke holes for drainage.

Planting Flowers Song- Sung to the tune of "Frere Jacques"–

Planting flowers, Planting flowers,
In the ground, In the ground,
Water them and they grow,
Water them and they grow,
All around, All around.

Gardening Game

Play like "Duck, Duck, Goose". Say: seed, seed, sprout, sprout, flower. On "flower" the chase begins.

Magic Bean

At the bottom of a white piece of paper – glue on a lima bean. Then ask children to draw what they would like to grow from the bean. Some of my children drew dinosaurs, toys, houses, babies, and of course flowers. It is a great project to use the imagination!

Vegetable Unit: The following book are wonderful when teaching about vegetables. The Celery Stalks at Midnight by James Howe; A Garden Alphabet by Isabel Wilner; Eating the Alphabet: Fruits and Vegetables by Lois Ehlert; Me and my Veggies by Isaac Whitlatch; Gregory, the Terrible Eater by Mitchell Sharmat; I can grow vegetables by David Magill.

Pour a small bag of potting soil and a some plastic worms, used in fishing in your sensory table. Add child-size gardening tools. Very surprised kids!
 

Sung to the Tune: I’m a Little Teapot

I plant a little seed in the cold, cold ground. 
Out comes the yellow sun, big and round. 
Down come the raindrops soft and slow(ly) 
Up comes the flower grow, grow, grow!

Action: pretend to plant in cupped hand round arms over head for sun raindrops with dancing fingers have right hand push through left hand and emerge as a flower with fingers spread wide!

And with that, I’m off with my sprouts to play.  🙂  Have a great day!