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Now that spring is here, I thought it was time to do a basic botany lesson.
Now, I’m not much of a gardener at all. Obviously I know that plants need soil and water, but my mom – the kids’ grandmum – is the one who knows all about which plants like sun, which plants like shade, and which plants do better in which climates. And since she loves plants and flowers, I decided to involve her in this lesson. The goal of this activity was simply to give my kids some basic knowledge about plants.
Note: For more botany lessons for kids of all ages, see my botany unit study page.
We started by heading out to our local OSH to buy some flowers. Grandmum showed the kids all sorts of different flowers, and we ultimately decided to buy some pansies.
When we got back home, we had to find a place to plant them. I had originally wanted them in our front yard, but Grandmum quickly noted that the dirt was too hard, so we re-adjusted and found a spot in the backyard that would work.
The kids immediately got to work digging in the dirt.
We talked about the importance of making the holes big enough for the plants to fit in. So when the kids thought they had dug their holes big enough, we checked to see if the plants would fit.
Then we put the plants in, and filled in the space with dirt. Grandmum talked with the kids about the importance of patting down the dirt really well in order to get rid of any air around the roots that would dry out the plant.
Altogether, the kids planted 12 pansy plants.
Although the goal of this activity was really for the kids to learn about plants, the flowers also really brightened up the dirt patch we had!
Of course, the kids are also learning that all living things need water to survive, and plants are no exception. So they have been helping to water the plants the last few days.
I’m excited for them to take care of what they have created and to watch the plants flourish!
More botany resources for kids
More botany posts from Gift of Curiosity:
- Teaching kids where food comes from
- Dyeing flowers
- Dissecting flowers
- Vegetable people craft
- Sprouting seeds
- Do seeds need light to grow?
- How leaves breathe
- How leaves get water
- Why do leaves change colors?
- Gardening do-a-dot printables
- Leaf rubbings book
For more botany activities for kids of all ages, see my Botany Unit Study page and my Botany Pinterest Board.
Follow Katie @ Gift of Curiosity’s board Botany Unit Study on Pinterest.
That looks very pretty. We had a great time as a family this year planting our garden! The kids just love it! Looks like yours had a LOT of fun as well.
Gardening is a great activity for kids. I used to do this with my little kids. Now they are big and my son has taken off on his own planting all kinds of seeds. It’s amazing what effect all the activities you are doing with your children will have on them in a few years.
Julie
Yes, I did mean to post at Hobbies and Handicrafts, but I made a mistake! So sorry about that!
*love* this post~ over from highhill-lessons learned- and I think nurturing gardens is a lesson learned, don’t you? *smile*
~Sheri
Thanks so much! I agree with you – I love opportunities to have my kids nurture things, whether plants or animals. Such great learning lessons involved!
You know there’s a little area by my front door where I think I could fit some plants and the children would love it.
Thanks for inspiring me and sharing with MotivationalMonday
Lovely to get the children on board. Please pop over and join me on Country Kids where we have been doing much the same this week! It is a linky on outdoor fun for children every Saturday to Thursday. Found you from Motivational Monday Blog hop
I love how you used a real life activity like planting the pansies to teach about plants! And they do look fabulous! Thanks so much for linking up at Teach Me Tuesday at Preschool Powol Packets!!
That looks great. We have just started gardening here too, though we are mostly growing food not flowers. They look very pretty though, we might have to find a little more space!
I love that you did this w/preschoolers! Pinned it. Thanks for linking up at Family Fun Friday. Sincerely,
Monica
Great job getting kids involved in gardening and learning something.
So fun!! We always love gardening or at least planting/digging, watering and enjoying at my house. Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!!
This is such a fun post! We love learning and playing outside 🙂 Thanks for sharing with us at Share It Saturday…we always love your ideas!!
Colleen
I’m with you and am terrible at gardening, but it’s my MIL who’s great at it, she can make a dead flower come back to life, or at least so it seems to me.
Thanks for linking up to Science Sunday!
Some people just have the green thumb, don’t they? Sadly, not a gift I was born with though. 🙂