I'd like to help the kids in my son's K/1 class to do a science project (in class) that relates to gardening. The goal is to teach them something and also plant in the garden, which is right outside their classroom. It could be something we accomplish in one class or I could do a project with them one week then come back for planting a few weeks later at the end of March. Any ideas?
I was so thankful for all the responses! We decided on a two-part project. I got some rocks about the size of two fists each and each kid painted one to place next to his/her plant in the garden. That way, each can see how his or her plant is growing. (I left polyurethane spray so the teacher could seal the paint.)
I came back a couple weeks later with petunias. I spoke to the children about how plants have likes and dislikes just like we do. Some like the cold, some the heat, some the shade and some the sun. I explained generally how to choose the right plant for a garden. And why I picked petunias for the class garden. The kids got to pick which color petunia to plant. I brought a garden weazel thing to churn up the dirt to make it easier for the kids to dig the hole. After planting, the child got to place his/her rock beside it. I asked the class to take care of their plants by pulling weeds (they take the nutrients and water away), how to pluck "dead heads," and when to water.
I have to say, the garden looked really cute with all the painted rocks and flowers! We'll see how the flowers grow!
Thanks everybody!
Go to Google and type in Elementary School Science Project Ideas. You will be amazed at the varieties. They even go by age/grade level. Good Luck!
K.
Well my son is in head start and they have planted grass seeds here recently, they have a box and let it sit in the window seal due to the cold weather, and so far the grass has grown about 3 inches! The kids just love it!
I've seen this project done many times and is tried and true: planting seeds in egg cartons filled with potting soil (one seed per cup). Once the seedlings have grown to a good enough size, transplant them to the outdoor garden.
I home school my children. Right now my son, who turned 9 today, is growing flowers, tomatoes, and cucumbers inside our home. I bought him some flats and we put potting soil in them , then planted the seeds about two weeks ago. Today we have an abundance of Sweet William, Daisies, Phlox, Poppies, cucumbers and tomatoes about 3 inches high.
This started as a science project but my son wants to turn it into a business and has asked me to allow him to sell the extra plants at the flea market this spring. I have agreed to allow him to do this. We plant about a 100 foot by 50 foot garden each Spring, Summer and Fall.
We studied about how plants grow from seeds and all the parts of a seed and the transformation a plant undergoes from seed, to seedling, to plant. We also studied about the time that a plant starts to bear fruit and/or flower.
What you are undertaking is a wonderful thing. It is teaching the children to have a love for gardening and tending to things. It also teaches them responsibility and where food comes from. A lot of children in big cities have no idea of how to grow their own plants and flowers. They are use to getting it from a store. I commend you on wanting to take an active step in teaching these children something good that will enable them to gain knowledge and teach them a valuable lesson concerning food production.
There is an idea that the kids love! You plant a seed inside a jar that is filled with a gelatin mixture and a drop of fertilizer. The students can see the plant emerging out of the seed and watch it grow. Then you can plant it in the ground when it gets big enough. There is a recipe you follow to do this project. You can't just make up gelatin from a box. Also, don't use jello because it will not work and it molds. If you want the recipe please email me. ____@____.com It will take me a couple of days to find it because we just recently moved.
Super simple: Lima beans. Buy a bag from the store (the ones you eat). Buy some soil, zip lock bags for all kids. Paper towels. Cups for water.
Have the kids wet the towel, place lima bean inside p. towel, put bean and towel in ziplock, surround with soil (measure it out for K students). That's it. This way the kids can watch them grow, make sure they're by the window. They grow well and quickly. Then they can plant them. Let the teacher know your plans so she makes a space by the window.
I have learned that google is a great place to find science projects. You can even search by grade level. For example, try kidergarten science project and you should receive multiple sites to choose from.
An extra hint, the kiddos do an even better job if you allow them to pick the one they can do. I tend to narrow it down to three or four and let mine pick which one to complete.
Hope this helps and best of luck!
We just did this project with a group of kindergarteners. We were teaching what plants need to survive and how the plant absorbs things like water and light. We put white carnations in a cup with water and food coloring. Within 24 hours you can see the color in the petals. The kids were fascinated by the colors! FYI - I have been told it works with other flowers, but have not had much luck with anything but carnations.
In a couple of weeks we are planting with them. I was nervous about having a massive mess, but I found at Lowe's a kit for planting sunflowers, pumpkins, or watermelons. It comes with individual cups and seeds and pressed soil that will only expand when water is added to it. And bonus for us they were 97 cents each!! Our plants will be taken home, but this might work well outside too.
Good luck!
how about watching bean seeds sprout and then plant them.
i can't remember the name of it, Lowes has a book all about gardening for kids. it might help with some good ideas. it lists all the stuff you need for each project, and the steps taken for each project.
Have them plant seeds (beans, flowers, etc.) first INSIDE the class room in small halved-out milk cartons. Teach them about germination and growth. Once the seeds have sprouted (within a few weeks) come back and have the class transfer them to the outdoor garden.
My son did a really cool science fair project. He tested fertilizers to see which one made the plants grow the quickest. The hypothesis was that "Miracle Grow" would work the best from the name and the advertising. He wanted to do it to tell his grandma which fertilizer to use in her vegetable garden. It was a pretty easy project. Another simple one would be to test different kinds of flower seeds to see which ones grow the fastest and which ones bloom the quickest.
plant cucumbers, then when they show fruit, place the cucumbers themselves in clean glass jars. They'll fill the jar up!
Just one little piece of wisdom...once you start a garden, you can't just stop "gardening". Please make sure you are committed before you start
how about an herb garden and then you can show him things to cook with the herbs he grows and let him help add the herbs to the food and then let him taste the food with the herbs.
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Plant squash! They grow really quickly , or lettuce,onions.Ask them if a squash is a veg. or fruit.It is a fruit becuuse all blooms produce fruit.
Hi M.,
This is a great idea, one that more classes should do. A garden will give them the opportunity to learn hands on. What you should grow depends on how involved you want it too be. it would be a nice idea if they coud reap what they sow. Meaning that maybe growing something that they can eat. Maybe corn, tomatoes, lettuce or even strawberries. Another would be the previos suggestion of sunflowers and then they can have the sunflower seeds. my kids (pre-k, 1st and 4th) are thrilled that they have their own garden to grow and enjoy what they grow in it. Hope this helps.
S. J
www.ShazzArtisticVisions.com
Lettuce and spinach are easy to grow ,..they love cold weather ,it will be something the kids could watch ,also eat some of before school goes out ,...I grow gourmet lettuces and bloomsdale spinach all winter long,...they grow rather fast in this region
I remember when I was in kindergarten my mom helped our class with cutting the tops off carrots and planting them.
Hi M.,
this is a tried and true remedy for your situation.
1 pkg of Styrofoam cups
2 pkgs of potting soil
1 pkg of plastic wrap
1 bag of dried beans (any kind will do)
Let the children decorate their cups. Place soil in the bottom of the cup approximately 1/2 of the cups size. Place three beans in the cup and cover lightly with more soil. Use a spray bottle and spritz the top of the soil until it is moist. Cover with the plastic wrap and place in a sunny window sill. When the bean sprouts in about two weeks or less, the plant will be ready to transplant after there are two sets of leaves. Remove the plant from the cup and transplant to the garden.
I teach Kindergarten. Lima beans are the easiest and quickest things to grow.
M., I'd like to give you some ideas, but need to know what part of the country you live in, so I can recommend something that will grow quickly there. If you are far north, something the children can plant in a small pot and take home might be a better idea. A.
hi! i am a teacher and have done many science projects with my kids. if you can find soybean seeds, you can have your students grow them, examine the root structure, etc. After you find the seeds, place 1-2 in a plastic bag with a damp paper towel and the seeds should sprout shortly. After sprouting, you may be able to transfer the seedlings to the garden. Hope this helps! :)
Waaaay back when I was in first grade (when dirt was young. LOL!) we did a project with corn. Everybody had to bring a clear glass from home, because we got to take our sprouts home when we were done. We compared how regular corn grows to how popcorn grows. If you plant the seed right next to the wall of the glass, you can watch it sprout and grow. I obviously thought it was a really cool project, since I remember it so clearly after almost 25 years! LOL I also remember using a small jelly jar that had Archie comic characters on it. I can't remember the capitals of all 50 states, but I remember THAT. Go figger.
Another fun thing to do (but takes a while) is to suspend an avocado seed in a glass of water with toothpicks. Carrot tops are supposed to grow well in a dish of water too.
Good luck, and above all, have FUN so your students will remember it 25 years from now. ;-)
xo,
AJ
When I was a kid, we had all the parents send in old two liter bottles, take the bottoms out and invert them, making a little plastic greenhouse...we planted seeds to watch them grow. Seeing that it is almost spring, something of this type with a clear container (so they can watch them in the classroom over the next couple of weeks or so and chart by drawing its progress) you could use little seedlings from home depot or someplace. They will need to sit them in a window sill if possible and water them every four days or so, depending on how dry their soil gets. Hope this helps!
I actually have a book with all sorts of Gardening in the classroom ideas. I bought it at KSS in New Albany, though I am not sure if they still have it. I could make you some copies, of activities if you are interested.
Organic pest control
You could show aphids or other pests on a vegetable plant and have him mix in the blender some garlic, dish soap and water then spray the plant. Jalapenos in the nix will also work but will also kill the 'good' bugs so is much harsher than normally needed. He couls talk about the effects of chemicals on the food we eat and compare that with the organic pest controls. Just a thought. Lots of stuff out there on the web to help you.
I always thought it a cool project to grow bulbs. Get a small clear plastic glass (like a cheap tumbler from the dollar store or a clear plastic dixie cup) and fill it with river rocks and some water. Then nestle the bulb on top of the rocks, put it in a sunny window and watch it grow. You can see the roots grow at the same time. You can always then transplant the bulb in the garden and watch it grow back the next year. Or leave it in the container if the water shortage keeps you from watering outside. There are a ton of lessons that can be taught with growing bulbs. Good luck!
Just A Idea:
Maybe You should do sunflowers. They're easy to Grow, There're also Very pretty and you can see the results quickly.
If you have a garden then everyone could plant and raise there sunflower, Or you Maybe could do like my Father Does, and Use wildlife seed. Give each of the Kids A seed. Teach them how to germanate, And Then plant the seed (each kid) And as It grows, They will have to figure out what they have planted By Looking and comparing With other Plants(in a book)
My father Gets A Book That is Related To the Seed Mixture That he has bought. He does This just as a hobbie. That and He likes plants And has a Green Thumb. But anyways Its Kinda Like plays cross word puzzels with plants. Sorry If my spelling is A little off. and if the phraseing is a little of too.
Also Hopefully this has Atleast Giving you an Idea of how you want to do your project, Thanks For your Time
J. C G.
