Gardening

[Anna]

Does anyone have any ideas/activities for the preschool theme "Gardening"?

[AnnW]

You could plant pinto beans..they grow like wild fire.

A really simple thing is to plant grass seed in cups or cans. When the grass grows, the kids can cut it (and then it grows more!!!). It's so easy to take care of, and my preschoolers love it. They are city kids, and the whole growing things is cool. For fun, draw a face on the container, and then the kids are "giving haircuts".

[Diane]

I'll have to continue this onto another post or two... it's telling me that this is too long. Sorry. :) I hoe these are of some help!

Garden Theme

Collage Make collages using all types of seeds and beans. This activity can also be used by cutting pictues from seed catalogs.

Rooting a Sweet Potato To root a sweet potato in water, push toothpicks halfway into the potato. Then place the potato in a glass of water with the toothpicks resting on the top rim. Make sure the end of the potato is immersed in water. Place the glass where it will receive adequate light. Maintain the water level so that the bottom of the potato is always immersed. Note that in a few weeks roots will grow out of the sides and bottom of the potato, and leaves will grow out of the top. The plant can be left in the water or replanted in soil. This activity provides the children an opportunity to observe root growth.

VOCABULARY: Bulb-a type of seed. Flower-part of the plant that has colored petals. Garden-a place to grow plants. Greenhouse-building for growing plants and flowers. Leaf-flat green part of a plant. Rake-a tool with teeth or prongs. Soil-Top of the ground. Root-part of the plant that grows into the ground. Seed-part of the plant from which a new plant will grow. Stem-part of the plant that holds the leaves and flowers. Vegetable-a plant that can be eaten. Hoe-a tool with a thin blade. Weed-plant that is not needed.

Planting Song

I took a little seed one day About a month ago.. I put it in a pot of dirt In hopes that it would grow.

I poured a little water To make the soil just right. I set the pot upon the sill Where the sun would give it light.

I checked the pot most every day, And turned it once or twice. With a little care and water I helped it grow so nice.

GARDEN STEW Gardens grow so many wonderful vegetables that we can use in the following recipe. So, let the kids make lunch today! Healthy, good tasting, and an easy recipe. 2 lbs ground beef 1 15oz can tomato sauce 1 onion, diced (optional) 4 cups water 6 potatoes, diced 1 tsp. salt 6 carrots, diced 1/2 tsp. pepper 1 can green beans (or 1/2 lb fresh) 1 can whole-kernel corn (or fresh from 3 ears of corn) dash of oregano

Brown ground beef and onions: drain. Add remaining ingredients. Cook on medium heat for 20 minutes and simmer for 30 additional minutes. (Increase time if fresh green beans are used). Makes 12 servings.

Books and Stories: The Rose In My Garden by Arnold Lobel Really Spring by Gene Zion The Plant Sitter by Gene Zion The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle Dandelion by Ladislav Svatas Seeds and More Seeds by Millicent Selsam I Found A Leaf by Sharon Lerner Who Goes There In My Garden? by Ethel Collier The Turnip by Janina Domanska Where Does Your Garden Grow? by August Goldin Busy Seeds by Irma Simonton Black My Garden Grows by Aldren Watson Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni Willie's Garden by Myra McGee Let's Grow a Garden by Gyo Fujikawa The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss

Birdseed Garden

Need:

Birdseeds sponge plastic plate

Place a sponge soaked with water in a plastic plate and allow child to sprinke it with birdseeds. Place the plate in a sunny place and watch for the seeds to sprout! The seeds will continue to sprout as long as the child keeps water in the plate.

Chia Pet Egg

Need:

Eggshell with the top 1/4 broken off Ring cut from an empty paper towel roll to hold the eggshell 3 Damp cotton balls 1/8 teaspoon alfalfa seeds Fine tip markers

Set the empty eggshell in the holder cut from the empty paper towel roll. Draw a face on the eggshell with colored markers. Place damp cotton balls inside eggshell. Sprinkle seeds over the cotton and keep the cotton damp. In two or three days, the seeds will begin to sprout. Put in a sunny spot. As the sprouts grow, your child can give the egg friend a "haircut".

[Diane]

Pop Up Flower"

You will need: 1 brown sock (a dad sock works great) 1 medium sized plastic flower with stem Felt: Yellow (cut to quarter size to look like a seed)(you can use any color of your choice) scissors fabric glue

1. Take sock and cuff it. 2. Take yellow felt (seed) and glue to center of cuff. 3. Let dry. If glue does not hold sew seed to cuff (I did so it would stay permanently) 4. Then placing hand into sock so tips of fingers touch the end, snip a TINY hole. 5. Now take flower and stem and place through hole, push down flower into the sock so sock, which now has become the soil, is completely covering the flower.

While hand is placed in its hidden soil sing this song:(tune Pop Goes the Weasel)

"Up Pops the Flower"

We plant a seed in the ground, (point to seed) The rain falls in a shower, (Do falling rain with opposite hand) The sun comes up and what do you know (look up toward sky and point) UP POPS A FLOWER!!!!!!! ( pop out the flower with your hand).

My co teacher and I made these individually with the kids and they love them.

Second Idea:

You will need: large marshmallows small marshmallows popsicle sticks (enough to allow each child to make two) play dough (rolled into golf size balls flattened slightly on bottom)(becomes stand for flowers color of dough does not matter paint brushes (which are only used for food projects) (small water paint brushes) small bowls food coloring (I used yellow and red because they looked the best when flowers are complete) confectionery sugar water with dropper

Before you get started: We had two children do this at a time so we needed two bowls of red food coloring and two bowls of yellow food coloring (each with their own paint brush) In two bowls we mixed our "paste"

MIX: 1/8 of a cup of confectionery sugar and add droplets of water until it is of a pasty like consistency. If "paste" hardens add a droplet of water at a time stir until usable.

Let's get started: 1. Take popsicle stick and push through flat end of large marshmallow until you can almost see it, it doesn't matter if you can see it. (popsicle stick is now stem offlower)

2. Using paint brush, brush on "paste" all the way around the center of the marshmallow.You can also dip them in "paste" brushing off excess otherwise itwill not stick

3. Now, take small marshmallows and stick them flatside to the "paste" hold to the countof ten.

4. Continue to add marshmallows until "paste is covered and flower completed to child's liking.

5. Place stem in playdough and allow flower to dry. If pedal should fall off use a small amount of "paste " and reapply to flower, hold to a count of ten. You willknow when flowers are drywhen "paste has hardened.

6. When flowers are dry paint them with food coloring.

7. Stem can be painted green and small green construction leaves can be glued (regular glue)on.

8. How many features you add depends on age of child.

I hope you and your children enjoy these projects as much as ours did and are!!!

Seeds/Growing Story - The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle - This is a wonderful story to show children the life cycle of a plant.

Art - Teacher can cut out large flowers, stems, and leaves. Children can glue their pieces onto construction paper. In the middle of the flower have children glue sunflower seeds. The children also glue a paper printed with title and author to show the parents what we have read.

Science - Have children sponge paint the outside of a styrofoam cup.

After it dries, fill it with potting soil and plant sunflower seeds. If you have room in your classroom, grow them at school.

As a group activity, show what happens if you don't water, what happensif you don't have light. Place several plants away from the light and watch how plants reach for the light.

Patterning - Cut out flower petals of several colors to be used on the flannel board. Begin to construct your flower by alternating two colors . Example - yellow, pink, yellow, pink, yellow. Have the children tell you what comes next and complete the flower. Make enough petals so everyone in your group can have one. Start the pattern and let them finish. After they understand the concept let the children play this activity during your free time.

Story - Jack and the Beanstalk - Find a version that is notfrightening.

Science - Have the children plant pole beans so they can grow a beanstalk.

[Diane]

Here's a few ideas for a unit on flowers:

Flowers (sung to the tune of "Pop! Goes the Weasel")

All around the forest ground There's flowers everywhere. There's pink, yellow, and purple too. Here's one for you.

Flower Arranging:

I bought an assortment of plastic flowers and put them in our rice table (or in the sand box, etc.). I put little plastic pots and toy shovels, etc. The children have really enjoyed this activity.

Muffin Cup Flowers:

Children can glue muffin cup liners to paper, add stems and leaves using construction paper. You can even add a little perfume to the muffin cup liner.

Books:

The Carrot Seed ----- Ruth Krauss The Rose in My Garden ----- Arnold Lobel The Reason For A Flower ----- Ruth Heller The Tiny Seed ----- Eric Carle Growing Vegetable Soup ----- Lois Ehlert One Watermelon Seed ----- Celia Barker Lottridge See My Garden Grow ----- Jane Mancure Pumpkin Pumpkin ----- Jeanne Titherington

Have the children choose eight to ten seeds that they want to plant in their gardens. Challenge them to devise their own planting methods or one of the following:

Cup of Seeds: Stuff crumpled paper towels into a clear plastic cup, and add water to dampen but not soak them. Place some seeds between the side of the cup and the paper towel so that they are visible from the outside. Cover the cup with plastic wrap, and tape a second cup on top of the first.

Bag of Seeds: Place a paper towel in a zip lock baggie. Place seeds in the bag and some water to dampen the towel. Zip closed.

Graph vegetable preferences. Make playdoh vegetables Write about the insects in the garden Design a seed package Act out gardening experiences Sing Going on a Lion Hunt but change to going on a creature hunt as though your are looking for slugs, worms etc. in your garden

Gardening.com --- contains links to great gardens online and a plant encyclopedia

The Seeds Grow - tune:Farmer in the Dell

The gardner plants the seeds The gardner plants the seeds Deep down inside the ground The gardner plants the seeds

The rain clouds give them water The rain clouds give them water seeds need some water to drink The rain clouds give them water

The sun gives heat and light The sun gives heat and light Seeds like it warm and bright The sun gives heat and light

The gardner pulls the weeds The gardner pulls the weeds Seeds need the room to grow The gardner pulls the weeds

The seeds grow into flowers The seeds grow into flowers Flowers that are beautiful The seeds grow into flowers

Seeds - tune: Twinkle, twinkle little star

Dig a hole deep in the ground Spread some tiny seeds around Pat them down - so they will keep They are lying fast asleep Rain will help the seeds to grow Sunshine keeps them warm I know

[Diane]

I'm a Tiny Seed - tune: I'm a Little Teapot

I'm a tiny seed, deep in the ground I lie asleep - I don't make a sound I am waking up now - see me sprout

My kids have made a greenhouse out of 2-liter pop bottles. I ask each child to bring one to school. Just cut them in half with an exato (?) knife beforehand and peal off the label. Make slits going long ways so the top section will fit over the bottom section. Have them fill it with dirt and plant bean seeds, flowers seeds, grass, or whatever you have. Put the top section back on. Put them in a sunny spot. The great thing is you only have to water them about once or twice a week. The items really grow great and it gets really warm inside of the pop bottle!!

I also took a bunch of bean seeds and soaked them in water for about a day or two. Then, I let the kids take them apart and see what the inside of a seed looked like. They used a magnify glasses to examine them up close. They really enjoyed this quick activity. I hope this helps. I would like to hear any other ideas on this subject for I will be doing this also.

Are you familiar with the AIMS publication - Primarily Plants? Lots of great activities with seeds and plants. Also - an adaptation of one of the activities - It In The Bag - in this activity students sprout one corn seed and one lima bean seed on a wet paper towel mounted inside a clear recloseable zip lock bag. For an adaptation, duplicate a house - green-house - that forms a frame around the zip lock bag. Have the students write their name - for example, Carol's Green-House - Tape these mini green houses to the window and watch the seeds grow. Duplicate the measuring tape included with the activity on a transparency and the students can hold up or tape this measuring tool to the plastic bag and measure the growth of the roots and the sprout. Great activity and looks good for open house as well. The students can write about their project too.

Teacher Tip: before giving the seeds to the students soak them overnight in the following solution: 1/2 teaspoon bleach to 1 quart water. Have the students wash their hands before handling the seeds as well. This helps prevent the seeds from molding in the greenhouse! Carol Gossett The Kindergarten Connectinon - http://www.kconnect.com

A beautiful free art you can pretty much do with children of all ages. Choose 3 or 4 colours of paint and pour a thin amount into a shallow dish (a cookie sheet would do, or something smaller of that shape) Set 2 bows in each dish (the more decorative the bow the more variety of "flower" shapes you will create. Have the children stamp the bows after they have been dipped in the paint, onto a large pre-cut piece of paper. I lay the paper out the length of the table the children are working on. Depending on the ages of the children you can paint the stems and leaves onto the "stamped" flowers or with older children they can. I also take my green paint and paint grass on the bottom to give this work of art an garden look. I don't choose green for my "flower" colours so as not to get too much green in our picture.

Contact "Let's Get Growing". They have a wonderful catalog.

http://www.letsgetgrowing.com/index.html

Put pumpkin or lima bean seeds in a wet paper towel and put it all in a clear ziplock baggie. Hang it on a bulletin board where it gets moderate sun. Watch it grow.

Grow a carrot top in a plate of water.

The absolute best is to have a small plot garden where you can plant and grow flowers or veggies from beginning to end. There are some regulations in some states about letting the kids eat food they grow, but why not grow carrots and lettuce and feed it to the pet guinea pig or bunny?

[helen]

Sunflowers are really easy to grow too. Great also for numeracy. You can measure them every couple of days to see the difference!!
Peas are good as the children can eat them!!
How about a small tyre garden?
Check to see if the tyres are safe. Fill with some dirt/potting mix then plant. We planted silverbeet seedlings so the children could feed the rabbits.
Hope this helps

[Ryleigh]

We planted 'nasturtians' (flowers) the seeds are nice and big, easy for little fingers to pick up. They grow really fast. In about 2 weeks time the plants were a good 6 - 7 inches tall. I have never tried it but it says on the package that the flowers it produces can be used in salads to give it a peppery taste.

We then decorated terra cotta flower pots, transplanted out little plants into them and took them home for Mother's Day!!!

I've done the grass thing too. The kids loved it. We often decorate a flower pot or cup to look like "Dad" and plant the grass seed inside. The grass becomes Dads hair.