Picking Berries

Find a u-pick farm or some wild berry bushes to pick berries from. Talk about the type of berries you pick, where and how they grow.

Blueberry Muffins

2 Tbs sugar
1 3/4 cups flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup oil
Mix all of the above ingredients together. Add 2 Tbs of sugar to 1 cup of frozen blueberries. Mix slightly and gently add to the muffin batter. Bake at 400°F in muffin tins for approximately 25 minutes.

Berry Animal Movement

Talk about the different types of animals that like to eat berries and make a list of them (birds, mice, squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, fox, deer, bears, etc.). Read “Blackberry Banquet” by Terry Pierce. Then move like the different animals you have listed or read about.

Sorting Berries

Cut out pictures of berries form magazines or print of pictures from online. Have the children sort them by color, shape, kind and size. After they sort them, they can make a collage my gluing them to paper.

Berry Stand

Set up a berry stand for the children to pretend play selling and buying berries and berry products. Use any of the following props: aprons, play food (berries, pies, etc.), baby food jars with colored paper labeled like different types of berry jam, baskets, cash register, aprons, berry sign, etc.

Berry Painting

Give your children blueberries to look at, touch, smell, and taste. After observation, add a little water to them and cook them in the microwave for one minute. Have the children help you mush them up. Use the blueberry juice to paint with.

Mulberry Bush

(You can substitute any other type of berry for mulberry)-

(Dance around in a circle)
Here we go 'round the mulberry bush, the mulberry bush, the mulberry bush.
Here we go 'round the mulberry bush, so early in the morning.
(Act out)
This is the way we pick the berries, pick the berries, pick the berries.
This is the way we pick the berries, so early in the morning.
(Act out)
This is the way we smash the berries, smash the berries, smash the berries.
This is the way we smash the berries, so early in the morning.
(Act out)
This is the way we make a pie,make a pie, make a pie.
This is the way we make a pie, so early in the morning.

Washing Berries

After picking berries, let the children help you wash the berries. They will need to be handled very gently. Fill the sink or a large bowl with water. Place the berries in the water and gently swish them in the water. The dirt & debris will float to the top. Then carefully drain the debris and then the berries.

Berries Journal Page

Read a book about berries then hand out a journal sheet with this question on it: "What type(s) of berries do you like? How do you like to eat them?" Record the children's responses and let them draw a picture to go along with their response.

Click on the image to view and/or print.

Types of Berries

Find a children's book about berries ("The Berry Book" by Gail Gibbons). Talk about the different types of berries and how some are edible and not, wild and cultivated, what you make with edible berries. Explore the different types of berries & seeds.

Berries in Your Area

Talk about the different types of berries that grow in your area (wild and cultivated). Go on a walk to find wild berries or visit a farm that cultivates berries in your community.

Berry Yogurt Popsicles

Blend natural yogurt, berries (fresh or frozen) and some sugar or honey; pour into popsicle containers or small dixie cups with popsicle sticks; freeze for a few hours and enjoy!

Berries Lesson Plan

Click on the image to view and/or print.