Seeds, Seeds, Seeds

March and April are the perfect time of year to begin planting a small garden with your child. Consider using a window planter if your space is limited.


Before beginning, read the book Seeds, Seeds, Seeds. In this book, Buddy receives a package from Gramps that has a weeks worth of fun activities all relating to seed exploration. Each day Buddy pulls out a small bag and opens it to find an exciting new project for the day.

To really bring this book alive, have an aunt, uncle, grandparent, etc send your child a weeks worth of seed activities. You could have the book included in the package or read the book prior to the arrival of the package.

(Reading the book prior to the arrival of the package will build your child's schema or background knowledge for the activities. They will more than likely relate back to the book and can use the book as a resource when completing the activities.)

After completing all the activities, draw a picture or allow your child to dictate favorite activities or memories revolving around all the fun you both have shared. You may even want to send a similar package to a good friend or niece/nephew. Have your child help to select the activities and put the package together.

Have fun exploring and learning about seeds with Buddy.

*Check out other titles by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace at your local library. All of her books are fantastic!*

Muncha, Muncha, Muncha

This is one of my favorite books when I am studying plants. In this story, Mr. McGreely wants to have a vegetable garden. He finally decides to plant one, but there is a big problem. Three little bunnies keep eating his veggies. Read this beautifully illustrated book to find out how Mr. McGreely tries to keep the bunnies from his veggies.


Activities to Consider:

1. Compare Muncha, Muncha, Muncha with The Story of Peter Rabbit. How are these two stories the same? different?

2. Start a story journal. Get a composition notebook (much sturdier for little hands). Write your child's name on the front cover. Have your child record different things in the journal after hearing a story.

* Draw a picture of your favorite part.

* Stop before finishing the story and draw a picture of what you think will happen. ETC.

3. Draw various vegetable/fruit shapes on the cardboard from a box of cereal. Cut out the shapes. Have your child trace and cut out the various fruits and veggies.

*Hang these from a wire coat hanger with yarn to make a mobile.

*Fold copy paper in 1/2 and glue one veggie/fruit on each page. Label the food. Allow your child to practice pointing to the words and reading them.

4. Have your child color a picture of a vegetable garden with crayons. After the picture is complete, you can have your child use green watercolors to paint over the entire picture.

5. Plant a small vegetable garden in your backyard.

6. Cut up various fruits and vegetables into bite sized pieces. Give your child bamboo skewers. Have your child pattern fruit onto the skewer. Eat as a healthy snack.