Hi everyone.
Have you heard about any of the planting we’ve done this week?
At the beginning of the week, kids noticed containers of soil, scoops and empty planters. Kids started to help fill up the planters with soil. When that step was finished, kids then went about planting grass and sunflower seeds. A teacher helped demonstrate how to poke a hole in the soil and place the flower seeds. Grass seeds were sprinkled and spread on top of the soil. Spray bottles were available for kids to then water the seeds and soil in the planters. Each day, children have been observing with magnifying glasses and giving the seeds a spritz with the spray bottles. This kind of project usually sparks a universal excitement amongst all of us at school. We imagine that we will continue to observe the growth process and share what we notice with each other on a daily basis! In the days to come, some may want to measure or draw any of the changes they’ve observed.
At grouptime, kids and teachers shared information they know about plants and growing. So far we’ve heard that plants need sun, water, and soil. We talked about the parts of a plant: roots, stem, leaves, flowers, and seeds. Since we know our plants will need the sun, our planters are being placed in the sun on our window sills when kids are not observing or tending to the seeds.
As we talk about seeds and growing, kids have been able to look closely at a few different kinds of seeds as well (sunflower seeds, Dragon Tongue green beans and our grass seeds).
To help us think more about the growing process, we introduced “The Seed Song” at grouptime. It’s another Park West favorite. Similar to our beloved “Tree Song,” there is a sequence to be followed, and it takes a lot of practice to get it down. Kids have really enjoyed singing along and doing the hand and body motions that accompany our version of the song! Here are the lyrics we have been singing all week. If you are interested in seeing and hearing a similar version, we are sending along this link as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzF6E7CgzVc
THE SEED SONG
If you’ve got the sun, and if you’ve got the rain
You can plant a little seed down the old back lane.
If you rake, and you hoe, and you keep the weeds down.
You might find, you might find…..
A root coming out from the seed in the ground.
(Repeat chorus: If you’ve got the sun, etc.)
You might find, you might find……
A stem coming out, with the root,
from the seed in the ground.
(Repeat chorus)
A leaf coming out, with the stem,
with the root,
from the seed in the ground.
(Repeat chorus)
A flower coming out, with the leaf,
with the stem, with the root,
From the seed in the ground.
As we continue to explore this topic, we will bring in some books and other materials as well.
Happy Spring!
2West