Materials
Newspaper, if needed8-ounce paper or foam cups
Markers
Planting soil
Easy growing grass seed
Water
Watering can or small pitcher
Craft sticks or tongue depressors
Instructions
1. This is a good outdoor activity. If you do the activity indoors, cover the work area with newspaper.2. Give each child a paper or foam cup. Help the children draw a face on their cups using markers. Write the child's name on the back of her cup.3. Put an extra cup next to the soil and ask the children to use it to scoop soil into their cups. Fill it to about 1/2 " (1 cm) from the top of the cup.4. Show the children how to sprinkle grass seed onto the soil. Encourage the children to cover the seeds lightly by sprinkling some soil on top of them.5. Pour water from a watering can to dampen the soil.6. Ask the children to name their cup characters.7. Give each child a craft stick. Help each child write the name of her cup character on one side of the craft stick and draw line markers in centimeters or inches on the other side.8. Check the progress of the seeds daily.More to do:Science: Make experimental cups of grass using different soils, grass seeds, light, and watering. Explore and discuss the possible effects of these variables.Math: The children can use scissors to cut the "hair" of their characters. Ask the children to chart the growth of their grass.
