Planting Seeds

If space permits, plant outdoors. Otherwise, place soil planters indoors. Plant some vegetable seeds (radish, beans, etc) together. Identify plants by pasting seed packages on planters. This will help the children recognize the plants as they emerge from the soil.

Sorting Beans

Mix together several shapes and colors of large, dried beans. The children can sort the beans by size and color and count the beans. Watch the children carefully, BEWARE OF CHOKING!

Growing Season

Talk about how the seasons are different in different parts of the world and because of that different types of fruits and vegetable grow in certain climates and seasons. Find a listing of when fruits and vegetables are in season in your area.

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Potato Printing

Cut potatoes in half, have the kids help you carve shapes and designs into the potato halves, provide them with smocks, paint on trays and paper. They can then paint and print using their designed potatoes

Going to a Garden

Visit a garden (flower or vegetable), or a farmers market- talk about the foods and how they grow and are harvested. If possible visit a u-pick garden so that the children could have the chance to find vegetables, pick them and purchase them.

Eating My Vegetables

Vegetable Soup or a Veggie Tray (have the children help prepare the vegetables (wash, peel, cut, chop). For vegetable soup use the vegetables of your choice (potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, beans, tomatoes, beets, squash, peas, etc.) and simmer until tender in chicken or vegetable broth

Little Seeds Lie Fast Asleep

"Little Seeds Lie Fast Asleep" Children's Songbook #243- LIttle seeds lie fast asleep in a row, in a row. “Wake up, wake up,” calls the sun, “Wake up now and grow.” LIttle seeds wake one by one in a row, in a row. Then they stretch up toward the sun and begin to grow.
Listen or download, search by title: http://www.lds.org/cm/display/0,17631,4766-1,00.html

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Gardening Tools

Place garden tools in a sandbox area outside. Let the children experiment with raking, hoeing, digging, tilling, etc. and watering the dirt like gardeners do.

Gardener

Place gloves, large hats, pretend vegetables and flowers, brown butcher paper for dirt (or a blanket), gardening tools, basket for collecting harvested food. The children can pretend play like gardeners planting and harvesting crops.

Fill and Guess

After showing and discussing several kinds of fruits and vegetables with children, place the fruits and vegetables in a bag. Individually let children reach in a touch one item. See if they can guess what it is before pulling it out of the bag. Older children may even be able to describe it.

Gardens Journal Page

Read a book about gardens then hand out a journal sheet with this question on it: "What would you plant in your garden?" Record the children's responses and let them draw a picture to go along with their response.

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Rooting a Sweet Potato

Push toothpicks halfway into a potato. Place it in a glass of water with toothpicks resting on the rim. Make sure the end of the potato is immersed in water. Place glass where it will receive adequate light. Maintain water level so that the bottom of the potato is always immersed. In a few weeks roots will grow out of sides and bottom and leaves with grow out of the top. The plant can be left in water or replanted in soil. Children can observe root growth.

Gardens Lesson Plan

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