Today's Classroom Activities :

Seeds and Planting Classroom Activities

Sprouting Seeds
Science Prepare some clear plastic bags with a small amount of soil and have the children place two seeds of the same kind in each bag. Try various seeds such as pumpkin, bean, marigold, etc. Number the bags. Apply a couple of drops of water to each bag and then staple them to a bulletin board that gets sun. Keep records as to the number of days before sprouting is seen, days when water is added (with eye droppers), bags that don't require as much water, etc. Graph your findings and transplant seedlings as they become ready.

Seeds from Soil
Science/Poetry Place this poem on the bulletin board with the blossoming seeds (see activity above) to illustrate how science can be described in poetry.

Wood Garden
Art/Science Have each student bring in a small piece of a fallen tree branch. Place each piece of wood into a pie tin. Water the wood pieces well, allowing some water to sit in the bottom of the tins. Next, sprinkle grass seed over the watered branches. Be sure to keep the wood moist and out of direct sunlight until the seeds sprout. How do your students think that the grass was able to grow without soil?

Reality Ratios
Math/Science Give each student 10 seeds, a small plastic container and some soil. Plant them and place them in a sunny spot. Water and observe for several days. What is the ratio of success with these seeds? Why is that an important exercise that many farmers still perform yearly with each crop? What are some reasons why seeds might not have sprouted?

Plant Propagation
Science To help students realize that seeds aren't the only way to begin new plant life, give each student a leaf from an African violet, a cutting of a spider plant and a cutting of a geranium plant. Provide students with clear plastic cups of water and prepared sheets on which to record daily observations. Compare the length of time between seeing new roots on one plant versus on another. Once a group of roots has established itself, the plant can be put into soil and taken home.

A plan to attract wildlife for student observation and spruce up a barren schoolyard transforms into a prize-winning idea in a Gardens of Delight.