Sprout and Stem...

On Monday we learned about sprouts and stems!

 During circle time we sang:

"Have you seen the little sprout,

the little sprout, 

the little sprout.

Have you seen the little sprout,

It's (Name) popping out!

(Sung to the tune of "Do You Know the Muffin Man?")

The kids crouched down like little sprouts and waited.  Once a child's name was called, he/she jumped up like a sprout coming out of the soil...

 For our first activity, I asked the kids what they think a seed looks like as it grows.  I asked the kids to act out the stages of growth with their body.  (Crouch small for a seed, start to pop up for a sprout, stretch arms slowly for a seedling, and reach up high for a fully grown plant.) 

 Mother Goose provided us with the following "Seed Story" activity sheet.  I encouraged the kids to make a fingerprint seed in each section.  They drew the growth of a seed by drawing a sprout, roots, a stem, and leaves.

 I also encouraged the older kids to label each section with words...

 For our next activity, I asked the kids to tell me what they think would happen if we put a plant in colored water.  They all assumed the plant would die.  I had the kids explore sucking air through straws, and then again with water.  We reviewed that roots absorb the water and deliver it to the leaves for food. 

 I placed a few stems of mini carnations and celery stalks (with leaves attached) in glasses of water.

 We colored the water red, blue, and green.  The kids thought that the plants were going to die immediately.  I asked them to ponder whether or not they think the plant could change its color.  Some of the kids thought they would, but then we wondered what would happen to the plants in the green glass, being that the stems and leaves are already green.  We will have to be patient, and wait and see!

 For our next activity, Mother Goose provided us with this stem investigation sheet...

 I set out a tray of foods that have stems...

 The kids cut the ruler apart from their paper, and then measured the stems of the food displayed.  They compared the length of each stem. 

 They recorded their observations on their sheet...

For our next activity, I asked the kids to remind me what three things a plant needs in order to grow (soil, sun, and water).  I asked them if they think they could get a seed to grow without soil.  We tested this out by making these adorable "Little Sprout House" baggies...

 The kids first colored their sprout house...

 Next, they wet their paper towel with water...

 They rang out most of the water, but kept the paper towel very wet...

 They folded their paper towel..

 ...and placed three seeds on top.

 Then they placed their wet paper towel and seeds in a Ziploc bag and sealed it.

 I hung the bags on the window to give the seeds sunlight.  Cross your fingers these seeds grow for us!  If they don't, I am pretty sure it is because they are old seeds.

 The kids checked on their grass seed gardens again.  The grass is really tall now!  We chose not to do a recorded observation on this day though.  The kids want to see just how tall the grass can grow!

 Next, the kids played a rhyming Memory game from their literacy workbook...

 They also traced, drew, and colored rhombuses, and then colored the matching picture on the opposite page in their math workbook. 

 These were our books for the day.  The book, "And Then It's Spring" is this month's Kohl's Cares for Kids book!  It is a great book about gardening!