Materials
recyclable materials (juice boxes, paper scraps, empty paper towel tubes, and so on)
glue (craft and sticks)
collage materials (pompoms, sequins, chenille stems, plastic glitter, and so on)
Instructions
1. Have the children help you set up a fun and fancy greenhouse in your
dramatic play area.
2. Set up a small water table in which the children can plant real seeds in real
potting soil. When potted, the seeds can be put on a sunny windowsill or
taken outside.
3. Add gardening tools such as spades, rakes, trowels, watering cans, and garden
gloves. Also add gardening clothes such as aprons, hats, and sunglasses.
4. Place small boxes on low tables. Add shredded brown paper bags to the boxes
to simulate dirt. The children can "plant" the plastic foods usually found in the
Dramatic Play center and "harvest" them using the trowels and rakes.
5. Add dried or plastic flowers. These also can be "planted" in the gardening
boxes.
6. Add plastic flower vases so the children can "cut" their flowers and make
arrangements.
Assessment
Consider the following:
* Show the children photos of a variety of plants. Ask them what those plants
need in order to survive.
* Observe the children carefully as they play in the Greenhouse. Do they share
equipment easily or do they hoard items? Are real conversations happening?
Are the children playing interactively or involved mostly in parallel play?
