Materials
small outdoor garden area, or shallow trays and organic potting soil
rake or shovel grass seed, or real herbs or small flower seedlings small watering can measuring stickInstructions
1. Invite the children to fill the trays with the potting soil, or rake the designated
outdoor gardening space.
2. Demonstrate how to plant a seed by digging a small hole, putting a couple of
seeds in it, and covering it with soil. If you are using herb or flower seedlings,
show them how to dig a small hole, insert the seedling, and put soil around it.
3. Every day, choose a different child to water the garden.
4. As the plants grow, encourage the children to carefully measure the plants'
progress. Invite them to monitor how long it takes different plants to sprout.
5. At the end of the year, or when the garden needs it, let the children use
scissors to "mow" the garden (if they planted grass) or prune the flowers (if
they planted flowers).
More to do Language and Literacy: Invite the children to keep a journal of drawings,
pictures, and notes about the garden's growth.