Preview draft. Activities have not been tested with caregivers.
Learning · The activity desk
Look inside a tiny garden
Make a small enclosed plant garden and observe changes through its clear sides.
Let's play →
A little plan for play
Open interactive activity →Add to play journal →What you need
A large clear plastic container with a loose-fitting lid, potting mix, a small non-toxic plant, water, paper, and crayons.
Age: 3–5 years; choose for the individual child.
Stay with the child throughout. Check the space and supplies, including anything within reach of younger siblings. Skip any activity that is unsuitable. Stop if a child puts non-food material in their mouth or becomes distressed. Use intact books, full sheets of paper, a large child-appropriate crayon and a clean, dry towel. Follow product labels; remove torn paper and keep broken crayons and caps away from children. Adult handles and stores supplies.
Set up: An adult selects a child-safe plant and a clean, unbreakable container; handles the potting mix and plant; and places a little damp mix and the plant inside.
Adult's role: Handle all soil, water, and the container. Place the garden where children cannot reach it between observations, and check it regularly for excess moisture or mold.
Let's make it happen
- Watch the adult settle the plant into the damp mix and put the lid on loosely.
- Look through the clear side and describe the leaves and soil. Draw what you see.
- Look again on another day. Compare the leaves and any droplets on the container with your drawing.
Make it simpler: Look at the plant together and point to one leaf.
Clean up: An adult cleans the work area and washes hands after handling the plant or soil. Put away drawing supplies.
Adult handles the garden and keeps soil and plants away from mouths. Keep out of direct hot sun; remove the lid if condensation is excessive and discard the garden if mold appears.