The point of this activity to enjoy the sensory interaction of playing with the dirt and the process of growing a plant. This activity will involve some maintenance as you will need to continue to water the plant, but the results will be amazing. Children can learn about the cycle of life and watch the plant grow in days or weeks.
When it comes to choosing seeds for this project, choose durable ones that don’t require being presoaked. Some of the easiest flowers to grow are wildflowers. Choosing a plant that yields fruit or vegetable can also be a very fun activity as children will get to eat their projects.
Materials
- Plastic Cups
- Soil
- Seeds
- Water
- Scissors
- Gardening Gloves (optional)
Prep work
Poke several small holes in the bottom of the plastic cups the soil will go in.
Instructions
- Start by filling the one of the plastic cups with soil about 3/4 of the way full.
- Place the soil cup inside a cup that does not have holes in the bottom.
- Plant the seeds in the soil.
- Add the remaining soil to the cup, so it is not overflowing.
- Water the plant.
- Put the plant in a sunny window.
- Water it according the the seed packet instructions.
Optional
Planting multiple plants at the same time in different cups allows for comparison in their grown and discussions.
As the plants begin to sprout and grow, children can draw to document the progress and draw that they think their plant will look like.
Questions to ask during activity
- How long do you think it is going to take to grow?
- Why do you think the plant like to be watered?
- How do you think the sun helps the plant grow?
- Why do we put soil on top of the seeds?
- What would happen if we put lots of seeds in the cup?
You can download this activity here:Planting a Flower Activity
