Preview draft. Activities have not been tested with caregivers.
Nature · The activity desk
Watch a seed wake up
Plant a seed with an adult and draw changes as it grows.
Let's play →
A little plan for play
Open interactive activity →Add to play journal →What you need
An untreated seed from a known non-toxic plant, potting mix, a small plant pot with drainage and a tray, 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 checks plant suitability and seed instructions, handles the seed and potting mix, and prepares the pot on its tray.
Adult's role: Handle seeds and soil, guide watering, and keep the pot out of reach between supervised observations.
Let's make it happen
- Watch the adult place the seed in the mix at the depth on its packet and cover it.
- Help an adult add a little water and choose a suitable bright place for the pot.
- Look together on later days. Draw the first sprout and add leaves to your picture as they appear.
Make it simpler: Watch the adult plant and point to the first visible sprout.
Clean up: An adult cleans the work surface and washes hands after handling soil. Put away drawing supplies.
Seeds can be choking hazards; an adult handles them and keeps them away from mouths and younger children. Do not taste the plant or soil.