Because spring is on its way and we love to grow as much of our own food as possible, we spent some time learning about seeds in tot school. We tried to tie in this week with when we would do some seed starting anyways; that way we could get plants ready and involve our daughter in the process!
This week as a great review week for us. Especially since my daughter is so young, some of the concepts get lost on her. Being able to revisit colors, shapes, and textures is always a good way to reinforce learning without doing everything all over again. Since plants and seeds come in a variety of shapes, sizes, textures, and colors, what better time to review some of that?!
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Supplies and Books for Learning about Seeds
Find my Gardening and Earth Day book list here.
I am a HUGE fan of the Let’s Read and Find Out Science Books (I used one in the magnet unit). The one applicable here is entitled How a Seed Grows . What I love the most is that it shows an example of a seed and then the plant that it grows to be.
Noggin and Bobbin in the Garden is a great short book. It’s also wonderful for either early readers or early speakers. I like to incorporate books that have short sentences and are easily “digestible” for young learners.
As I am also a fan of Eric Carle, I could not pass up the opportunity to buy another one of his books. This time is was The Tiny Seed and it’s fabulous. It’s a bit of a longer read, but it goes through how seeds may or may not actually turn into a plant (which in my opinion is a good concept to cover).
I also found I Want To Do… Outdoor Gardens at a local thrift store. It’s fairly advanced and would be good for elementary kids (or even adults!). However, it’s got great pictures and is very detailed on how to start seeds, plant a garden, maintain it, and even harvest it. It would be great for a family that is starting out in gardening where the parent would love to read up on it, but needs some great pictures to keep the kids entertained!
Of course you need to start with SEEDS! I love purchasing from SeedsNow.com. They are Organic, non-GMO seeds AND they offer a great variety of sample packets for only $0.99. This is one of the ways that we can have a vast garden, but not spend a lot of money! They are where almost all of our seeds come from each year and we have had great success with sprouting and quality of seeds. If you are planning to purchase seeds from them, please use my affiliate link by clicking here.
As far as supplies go, there are lots of options to inspire some fun learning activities. You can choose to use traditional pots, watering cans, spades, and other materials, or you can find some great options to upcycle. We chose not to use any new plastic pots, but opted to find more sustainable choices. For the past couple of years, we have loved used coco coir seed starters (from pots to the peat moss alternative). They are biodegradable and they are sustainable (whereas peat is not).
- We have used coco coir pots as mentioned above, toilet paper rolls, newspaper, shot glasses, and even old k-cups for starting seeds and lots of other goods around the house. My favorite one is using k-cups because it already has a drainage hole an they’re almost the perfect size! (Plus I hate that they only get one use which had me upset that my husband used one at work. So, he brought home the cups for me and collected them from co-workers too!)
- Sun Hats and Wellie Boots also has some great ideas on using everything from milk jugs to rain boots as pots!
Even if you don’t want to build a grow light system, you can purchase a single regular grow light bulb that fits in a standard lamp. This is great for discussing how grow lights help us start seeds when there’s too little sun.
Other Ideas and Activities for Learning About Seeds
Watch seeds grow! Seeds should sprout in water within a week, meaning you can complete this “experiment” by the time your learning week is done.
- You can grow a seed in a jar with cotton balls like found here at The Imagination Tree and see the whole process unfold. This is such a great way to see the entire plant from root to tip and a great experiment for kids
- You can also plant small seeds inside of a CD case with a wet sheet of felt. The case acts as a small green house and the felt acts as a source of water.
- You can sprout an avocado seed by putting 3 pins in it so that it balances on a cup of water. We have done this a few times and it took a few weeks in the sun with water for it to sprout.
Start a micro-garden! It’s important to teach children where their food is derived. This means getting them involved. Studies show that children involved in growing their own food tend to eat what they grow. (Or at the very least they’ll try it). So even if you don’t have the space for even a container garden, start a microgarden in a window sill with your tots like I did here using k-cups or like Hugo and Mathilda did here with Cress Seeds.
Visit the local Farmers Market or Farm. It is always a fun adventure to talk to farmers and see what they do day in and day out. Getting to see greenhouses and rows of plants makes for a fun field trip. Here in Oklahoma, we have a great place called Sunrise Acres. He’s an organic farmer and teaches classes at the farmers market as well as sells at the market all year long. There is bound to be someone like this near you!
Go on a Hike or just spend time outside. Explore the shapes of different plants, touch them and explain their textures, spot plants of different colors! In all, enjoy nature and talk about how it all originally started from seed. From the grass to the trees, there are endless options when it comes to talking about seeds and plants.
Role Play. Get a big enough pot where your toddler can sit inside of it. Water them with a watering can and have them grow! We did this when my daughter turned one because it was part of her Grow Birthday, but it’s also just a great activity for them to do while playing.
Examine various types of seeds. Every plant’s seed looks different. This is a great lesson is diversity as well as observation.
- Buggy and Buddy has a great activity and free printable on observing bulb growth.
- Fantastic Fun and Learning has a couple of great activities denoting the difference in seeds. Do a simple seed sort like this idea or investigate the sizes, shapes, and colors of different seeds like he kids do here.
Play in the Dirt. You can easily decorate biodegradable pots with crayons and markers. It’s also fun and easy to have your toddlers and preschoolers help you fill them with dirt. And even if they don’t really “help” it’s a fun way to have a sensory adventure.
Build a Mini Greenhouse. This is as easy as using an old plastic bottle or even a plastic bag or cling wrap.
This week’s Bible Verse: Matthew 13:31-32 “He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”
Find more information on themes we have already completed and download the calendar & planner to start any time! There are more theme posts each week with lots of fun ideas all the time.
Kara is an author and advocate for positive, grace-filled parenting. She is homeschooler to her 5 children living on a farm in New England. She believes in creative educational approaches to help kids dive deeper into a rich learning experience and has her degree in Secondary Education & Adolescent Childhood Development. She is passionate about connecting with and helping other parents on their journey to raise awesome kids!
Yuliya
This is so great! I can’t wait to get started on my garden, and am looking forward to having my son ‘help’. He’s only 18 months old, so I’m sure there will be more dirt throwing than anything, but I love the idea of having him involved anyway. We love going to the farmer’s market, too. We also try to get him involved in cooking and preparing food. Always simple, safe, supervised tasks, but I think that helps, too – for him to see where his food comes from and how it is prepared. He always loves to eat what he helps to cook!
Kara Carrero
That is awesome Yuliya! Our gardening is less gardening and more playing, but it’s more fun that way. (And I know she’s still learning too). We adore having our daughter in the kitchen with us. It’s a life skill that so important and healthy decisions are harder to make in our society, so that’s awesome! Thanks for your comment 🙂
Sharla Orren
I love this!!! I miss having little ones because I loved tot school. I have started babysitting a baby a few days a month. When he gets a little older I think I will start tot school with him!
Kara Carrero
That’s a great idea! I always save my best projects for the day I watch a little girl that’s my daughter’s age so they can explore together 🙂
Kelly L
What a wonderfully written article! I like how there are a lot of pictures to go along with what you are describing! Can you tell I am a visual learner? Eric Carle is one of my sons favorite authors and I had never heard of this book before tonight so thank you! I homeschool preschool and pre-K but that tot age they are such sponges absorbing everything! You may think that some things your child is not getting but they will surprise by how much they hear and see!
Kara Carrero
Thank you for your comment! I was once told that we even speak in our learning style. So we say “I see what you’re saying.” “I hear what you’re saying” “I fell what you’re saying”. So can you tell *I* am a visual learner?! haha.
I am so glad I introduced you to a new book of his! Like I said, it’s more complex than most of his books, but it’s still wonderful. It’s a great story about the perseverance of a tiny seed 🙂
My daughter is DEFINITELY a sponge which is so fun. It’s nice to be able to throw something out there and see what sticks. (Like I only taught her ears once in passing, but she knows it!)
Honey
Keeping children in touch with the Earth means we’ve a healthier planet. Love all these great ideas you’ve shared!
Oh….I’ve a crush on Eric Carle. He’s WONDERFUL and we wore many of his books reading them.
~Honey
Kara Carrero
Couldn’t agree more Honey!
Karen W
What a wonderful collection of ideas for learning about seeds. The children love planting seeds and watching them grow. We have tried (unsuccessfully) to have a garden, but we do keep trying. My girls just today planted some seeds they found on the counter. They are doing a little experiment. My older daughter planted hers in soil (still trying to figure out where she got it) and my younger daughter planted her’s in flour to see if it will grow.
Playing in the dirt is great fun for kids, even when they are not supposed to be!
I would love for you to stop by and share this on my Toddler Ideas Tuesday linky.
http://totsandme.blogspot.com/2014/02/toddler-ideas-tuesday-february-11th-2014.html
Have a great evening
Kara Carrero
Thanks Karen! Hey, even unsuccessful gardening is fun and full of learning opportunity 😉 That sounds like a fun experiment and like your girls are natural explorers and learners. I will be sure to stop by, thanks for letting me know!
Beth
These are some GREAT ideas for learning about and growing seeds! Have you seen the idea to start seeds in old CD cases? It’s a great way to see the root structure as it starts to develop. I do like your little jam jar, though. I think it might hold water better than the CD cases. I am going to look into all your book suggestions – they look great! What is it about gardens that so fascinate children? 🙂
Kara Carrero
Thanks for your comment Beth. I have seen the CD case experiment! In fact, we did it and I mentioned it in the article, but since we only have a week turnaround they weren’t photo-ready. I do plan to update soon though! It’s one of my favorite little experiments because they make great tiny greenhouses.
mychillthoughts
I’m pinning this for future reference – you’ve got some great ideas and resources here! I can’t wait to explore your blog even more…
Thanks for sharing all of this!
-Cristyl @ http://www.MyCHillThoughts.com
Kara Carrero
Thanks for pinning Cristyl! I hope you do stop by again. We do a learning theme each week and my posts keep me accountable to my daughter 😉 Thanks so much for stopping by and for commenting.
Mommy Battles
I love your ideas. I’ll start a micro-garden this year since I don’t have much garden space. My daughter will definitely enjoy this.
Kara Carrero
I hope she does! It’s really a fun way to still get them in the process with little space. You may even look into something like the UrbMat to do some gardening in a small space. http://www.pinterest.com/pin/439241769879313282/
Meeghan Mousaw
Thanks for all the great ideas for teaching a tot to garden! I have five children under 8 and we love to garden…. you give some great ideas the I will definitely use as we get ready for the next year of summer learning. Thanks!
Kara Carrero
No problem! I hope that your little ones love diving into seeds and gardening. It must be so much fun to raise and teach them all together to see how they approach everything different and among each other.
Cole Nemeth
So many great tips to help teach not only children, but adults too! I love gardening and showing my daughter all the wonders of nature. Last year we did quite a bit of playing around with seeds and plants and I can’t wait for warmer weather to get back outside! Thanks for sharing all of these wonderful ideas and resources!
Kay Kathleen
What a great source of information! I’m planning on starting a garden with my kids this spring and will definitely be needing to come back here for help!!
Adrienne Z. Milligan
I love the ideas you posted here. I need to check out the Eric Carle book you mentioned. I love his work! We have four boys (ages 14, 10, 3, and 2) and the oldest two have spent a lot of time in the garden when we lived at our previous house. The little two are not fully aware of the fun that can be had in a garden with some dirt, seeds, and a water hose. Thanks for the fun post!
Kara Carrero
Thanks for your comment Adrienne! I love that you say they don’t know what fun can be had yet. I can fully relate. Some days my daughter just looks at me like I am crazy playing in the dirt. 😉
pschooltoolbox
Kara – TY for sharing via our FB wall today! What fun and learning going on here!:) Nice job!
Kara
Absolutely! Thanks for allowing me to share and for stopping by. 🙂