We have been working on what has ended up being some of my most favorite science lessons for the year — seeds!
I cannot recommend growing some plants from seeds enough. Whether you live on a farm or you live in an 18th floor big city apartment, consider taking some time to grow something from seeds this year.
At our house, we have a vegetable garden (which also includes strawberries). In the past, we have exclusively used starter plants from the local greenhouse for our garden. While I still feel like my kids got a great educational experience from the garden, I now know that growing at least some of our crops from seeds is by far a more educational and exciting experience!
For some of you, this will be old hat. For others, you will read this and think, “I can’t grow something from seeds. I don’t know how.”
Let me tell you a little secret — I didn’t know how to do it either. I just picked up a Jiffy “green house” kit from Walmart for a few dollars, as well as some potting soil, and we were off. We had already picked up seeds at the local green house, and then we promptly put off planting because that’s what I do when I’m unfamiliar with something.
I am so thankful that I finally broke down one school day and announced that we were doing some planting. The kids had a great time, and it gave us visions of warmer weather in the midst of cold and rain. And, in less than a week, it gave us very real visions of seedlings!
Not only did we enjoy getting plants ready to go out in our garden, we got to marvel at God’s magnificent handiwork. Few lessons are better than that.
Are you working on planting this year (whether flowers or veggies or fruits)? What are you planting?
Angie is a homeschooling Mom to three active kiddos. When she isn’t busy working on household management, she can be found writing at Many Little Blessings.
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We liked growing seeds too. I had a lot of luck getting seedlings, but I think all of my plants got to the point of flowering then never produced a single fruit!
Our favorite project so far was with candles http://home4skool.blogspot.com/2008/11/candle-experiment-that-feels-like-magic.html
We use toilet paper rolls (empty of course lol) and fill with dirt to start seeds in-they fit nicely in a container and then in the window sill. Just water when the brown cardboard is dry. We had a wonderful time doing this. Another fun thing we did is make potato porcupines…we just scooped out the inside of a potato and filled with dirt. Then planted organic wheat grass (any grass will do) and watered it. After the grass “took off” and started sticking out, we put tooth picks in the bottom as feet and made a face on the end-it resembles a porcupine with the grass as the porcupine needles and toothpicks as feet. Too cute! The kids loved this!