Science

Watch Plants Grow:
One plastic transparent plate.
Paper towels.

Moisten the paper towels. Lay wet paper on the plate.
Place various seeds on top of the paper.
Place other wet paper towel over the seeds.
Place seeds in a window with good light.
Let the kids take turns spraying the paper covered
seeds daily to keep moist. Cover seeds at night.
If kept very moist the seeds will sprout and you can
chart the growth on poster board.

Colored Celery:
Place celery stalks in water and add food coloring.
The celery will absorb the colored water overnight
into the leaves. This is a good way to show how plants
draw moisture and nutrients from the soil.

Sunlight Effects:
Place seeds in two jars with a half-inch of soil.
Water well.
Place one jar in a dark place and one in full sunlight.
Which one will grow quicker?

Tasting Herbs:
Have a tasting party if possible using fresh herbs.
Cilantro, Mint, Oregano, etc...

Budding Branches:
Place a branch that has buds ready to bloom
in a jar of water. Notice that after all the stored
food of the plant is used the plant will die.

Rooting Vegetables:
Place a sweet potato in a jar of water.
Insert toothpicks on three sides to keep it braced,
having only the root end submerged.
We kept one growing all year and planted
it outside before the end of the school year.

Wet Beans:
Soak dry navy beans overnight in water.
Compare the next day to dry beans.
Note the changes in the wet beans.

Plant Math

Seed Sorting:
Place a variety of seeds on a table.
Corn, beans, flower, bird, etc...
Encourage the children to sort by size, color or texture.

Bean Count:
Make a poster with a large drawing of a bean plant.
Place a number, depending on the age level
of the children, on each leaf. Let children count
beans out and place correct amount on correct leaf.

Plant Sequence:
Draw or buy a set of cards with the different stages
of plant growth starting with the seed on each card.
Have the children place in correct sequence.

Social Studies

Take a walk and try to identify plants.
Take a plant book with you.

Plant a tree on the playground.

Make a family tree!
Place a bunch of branches in an old
coffee can filled with dirt.
Have each child bring in a family photo
and tape to the tree limbs.

Dramatic Play

The GreenHouse

Visit a greenhouse and buy a classroom plant.
If you call in advance you might get tour!

Enhanced Play:
When you return make a play Greenhouse on the playground.
Give the children plastic plant trays and cups to fill with dirt.
Add some play money and a cash register.

Visit a Farm:
Enhanced Play:
Make a farm on the playground.
Give children plastic hand tools, rakes,
shovels etc...
I bought some scaled down tools for my boys
at GardenSupply when they were
about 3 years old and later used them at school.
They also sell a scaled down wheelbarrow. All are still
in good shape after 13 years! They now have a website:
GardenSupply.com

Arts & Crafts

Flower Collage:
Ask a local florist to save any petals, leaves, etc...
Provide children with bright construction paper and glue.

Leaf Rubbings:
Place a thin piece of paper over a leaf.
Rub with the flat side of a crayon.

Provide a large assortment of seeds,
construction paper and glue.

Easel painting:
Cut paper into different shapes.
Flower, leaf, flowerpot, fruits, vegetables, etc...
Use whatever color you are trying to teach to paint shapes.

Use muffin liners and pipe cleaners to make flowers.

Foot Flowers:
Trace around each childs foot on cardboard.
Cut them out and let the kids decorate with
shiny beads, beans, lace, velvet, nut shells or glitter.

Plant Circle Games

Leaf Jumping:
Cut out ten large leaves from tag board.
Tape to the floor.
Encourage children to jump from one leaf to
to the next without touching the floor.

Flower hopscotch:
Draw a hopscotch in the shape of tulips
on a sidewalk. You can also use masking tape
inside on rainy days.

Plant Cooking Activity

Sprouts:
Provide each child with a small jar.
Fill the bottom with alfalfa seeds.
Fill with warm water and cover with cheesecloth.
Tighten with a rubberband.
Each day rinse and fill the jar with fresh warm water.
In about four days you should have enough to make sprout sandwiches.

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