Botany Montessori-Inspired Activities

This month we have been celebrating the arrival of spring with lots of flowers.  Both boys love flowers and their interest in them led me to create the activities below.  For more details about each activity, please click on the sub-headings.  (We still have a few more planned so I will be adding to this page):

Exploring and Planting Seeds

This activity was all about exploring the texture, patterns and size of seeds as well as understanding how a seed develops into a plant.

The Parable of the Sower - Observing Plant Growth in Different Environments

The seed planting exercise was so popular that we decided to conduct an experiment based on The Parable of the Sower.  We planted seeds on rocky ground, among weeds, on a path and in good soil to observe how the environment in which a seed is planted effects the plant's growth.

Flower-Arranging

This is a classic Montessori exercise, but one which we haven't tried before.  This was an activity that both my toddler and pre-schooler were able to do.

Garden Sensory Tub

The sensory tub was an opportunity to explore the different textures, smells and colours of the garden.  This tub was enjoyed by my toddler, Dooey.

Garden of Eden Small World

Alongside learning about spring, we have been reading the creation story and decided to plant our very own Garden of Eden with our resident (for now!) Adam and Eve.  It is a garden that my sons water and take care of.  

The Anatomy of a Plant

Learning to identify the names given to parts of a plant.

Garden Counting Mat

My way of sneaking in a bit of maths!

The Parable of the Sower - Observing Plant Growth in Different Environments

The seed exploration and planting activity which I carried out with my son last week was so popular that he has been asking every day if we could do some more planting.  We had plenty of seeds left and a spare seed tray so we had another planting session, but this time we planted the seeds into different environments to see how the environment would effect the growth of the plant.

We based our activity on The Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:3-9) where Jesus tells the story of a sower planting seeds in a field.  Some seed falls on the path (which the birds eat up), some on rocky ground (which causes the plant to shoot up only to wither later as the soil is too shallow to let the root grow deeply), some among thorns (which eventually choke the plant) and some on good soil where it thrives.  (In our scene I had to use weeds instead of thorns, but the principle is the same).

The parable itself is a story Jesus told to demonstrate the fruitfulness of God's Word in people's lives. The seed that falls on the path to be eaten by the birds signifies the "evil one" who snatches away the truth that is sown into the listener's heart, the seed that falls on rocky ground refers to the person who receives it, but does not let it take root and is overcome by persecution and trouble, the seed that falls among thorns signifies the person who hears the the word but is choked by the worries of this life and the seed that falls on good soil is the person who receives the word and is fruitful.

Wugs has been observing our Parable of the Sower scene for a couple of weeks now and we have plants shooting up in good soil, one in the weeds, some in the rocks and none on the path.  It has been outside for almost the whole time so the birds could have eaten the seed or the wind may have blown them away or to other parts of the tray.  It will be interesting to see if that tall shoot that has grown among the rocks will wither away as it becomes bigger and whether the shoot among the weeds will eventually be overcome by them (as the parable describes).

Whether our little activity will demonstrate these agricultural principles perfectly is unlikely, but it was a fun way to let Wugs participate in the parable by being the "sower" who has planted the seed, watered it, observed it and will hopefully see some "fruit".

What we used:
Seed Tray
Potting Mix
Seeds
Trowel
Weeds (from the garden)
Stones (from the garden)
Stones to create a path (store bought - something more level and without gaps would have worked better like a stone slab)
Craft sticks
Label
Marker

Please click here for more Botany-related activities:

Garden Sensory Tub

The other week I put together a Garden Sensory Tub for my toddler who loves exploring different textures and who is particularly fascinated with the things he finds in the garden at the moment. Sadly, I am usually taking those things away from him (conscious that some plants are poisonous and my toddler has a tendency to put everything in his mouth!).

One afternoon, I went out in the garden and gathered various things that I thought would be of interest to him or that he has shown interest in: flowers, leaves, a feather, pine cones and bird seed.  I gave him some containers and scoops as well in case he wanted to transfer the items in and out of the tub.

The sensory tub turned out to be a great way to let Dooey safely explore the things he finds in the garden - with me standing just feet away from him, ready to intervene if necessary - and to ensure he washed his hands afterwards.

What we used:
Tub
Leaves, flowers, bird seed, feather, pine cones
Scoops and containers

Please note if you are following this activity, be aware that some plants are poisonous.

Please click here for more Botany-related activities:

Exploring and Planting Seeds

Today's activity was about helping Wugs appreciate how a plant is grown from a seed and the basic requirements that plants need in order to survive.

We picked out a variety of seeds: bean seeds, sunflower seeds, pansy seeds and sweet pea seeds and emptied each packet into a bowl so Wugs could examine them (with the help of Teddy!) before sorting them into their correct compartment in the tray.

Once the seeds had been sorted, I set up another tray to help him plant the seeds into some clear cups. I chose clear cups so that we could observe the root system beneath the plant once it started to grow.

The bean seed required a different treatment as it would show the process of germination.  For this, I asked Wugs to spray a piece of kitchen towel and then tuck the bean seed in between the towel and the side of the cup.  (Sadly the only process that the bean seed showed was the process of moulding! It didn't work.  I'll update this post once I find one that does!)

The other seeds were planted into soil, labelled and watered and each day we have been observing their growth, checking the dampness of the soil and have been astounded at how quickly the sunflowers (in particular) have shot up!  This weekend we will be planting them in the garden!

What we used:

Seeds (bean, pansy, sweet pea, sunflower)

Sorting Tray

Tweezers

Magnifying Glass

Plastic Cups

Potting Soil

Digging Tools

Kitchen Paper Towel

Squirty Bottle of Water

Please click here for more Botany-related activities:

Flower-Arranging

The arrival of spring is usually announced in this country with the blooming of daffodils everywhere and I have really missed it.  For us, the added surprise has been discovering the different types of plants that have appeared in our garden.  (We have been living abroad for four years and moved into our current house last November, so we haven't yet seen the garden through all the seasons).  The boys have been learning to spot the daffodils and crocuses on our various walks around the neighbourhood.  Today I gave them an opportunity to pick them and arrange them.

I gave Wugs a basket and some scissors and let him cut the flowers he wished to arrange.  He needed some instruction on cutting the stem as far away from the flower as he could (otherwise the flowers wouldn't fit into the vase).  This would have been an easier activity if I had given him smaller scissors!!

When he had finished he laid out the daffodils on the table and we compared the length of the stems of the daffodils he had cut using a ruler to help him understand that the stem length and the vase size were important.  I set up a tray with a jug of water, a cloth for spills and a vase and he began arranging the flowers, keeping aside the ones that had shorter stems and didn't fit into the vase.  I offered him some white carnations that I had in the kitchen to add to his display.

I wasn't quite sure what to do with the flowers that had shorter stems as I didn't have a small vase, so I made one using the bottom of a water bottle and decided to let Dooey in on the action when he woke up.  I envisaged water everywhere and my toddler with a mouthful of daffodil petals, but he took to the activity very well.

What we used:

Basket

Flowers

Scissors

Jug of Water

Vase

Cloth

 

Please click here for more Botany-related activities:

Garden Counting Mat

As we have been doing lots of activities on flowers and gardens this month, I thought I'd compliment our theme with a little Maths by creating this garden counting mat.  (When I say I created it, I really mean, I designed it and then passed the bits of felt to my very capable mother who cleverly sewed them together!)  Wugs isn't that keen on counting and doesn't see the point, but I offer it as an invitation for him to play with it as he chooses.

What we used:
Brown, green felt
Flower counters
A dice with 12 numbers on it

Please click here for more Botany-related activities:

The Anatomy of a Plant

My three year old has been fascinated with plants this month and especially enjoys running his finger over the different parts of the sunflower plant he grew.  This afternoon, I thought I'd introduce him to the names of the different parts of the plant using this handy picture and puzzle from The Natural Homeschool.  Wugs doesn't enjoy abstract learning, so he identified the names of the different parts of the plant, by running his finger over the same part of his sunflower plant (or at least the ones he could touch) and saying the name aloud before matching the word to his picture.

Garden of Eden Small World

Over the last few weeks I have been reading the story of creation to the children before they go to bed.  We have a few children’s bibles so I have been alternating between different presentations of the story each week.  My three year old has become particularly inquisitive about anything to do with the bible and God, so I wanted to take the opportunity to bring this bible story to life for him.   I thought it would be fun to set up a mini Garden of Eden – one which the children plant and look after, just as Adam and Eve did in the very beginning.  

My original idea for the garden involved setting aside a plot of land in the big garden with a little picket fence around it for the children to work on and play in, but we are renting at the moment and I didn’t want to invest so much into a garden that we may only enjoy for a few more months. (Also I don’t have a great track history of keeping plants alive!), so we went for a moderate window box Garden of Eden.

We started this project by choosing our plants.  This involved a bit of research into which plants are safe in case a child ate one of them (which, in the case of my 22 month old is very likely!) I decided to go for a herb (rosemary) and other edible plants (dianthus and viola), letting the boys choose the colour.

I set up the table with a tray for the children to spoon the soil into the flower box and then we dug out three spaces to put the plants into.  I showed Wugs how to handle the plant when we took out of the pot and re-planted it, which led to a discussion about roots.  Once our plants were in their new home, Wugs watered it and I added in a few characters to link our flower box to our nighttime story.

Our Adam and Eve figurines were made from wooden pegs, which I decorated with markers and then used a varnish to protect them from the moisture.  The decision not to cover their bodies was a deliberate one, as was the omission of the snake and the angel with the flashing sword.  I didn’t want our Garden of Eden to be reduced to a story about the Fall, but to reflect the innocence and freedom that humans once had.  Plus the fact that Wugs would never have made the association between our figurines and the creation story unless he could see “Adam’s willy” (something he checked immediately before placing him in the garden)! 

The signpost was made from painted craft sticks and a label which was also varnished.

The garden spends most of its time outside the conservatory where the children can view it when they are playing indoors or they are free to play with it when they are outside.  I keep a container of different animal figurines which they can use in their play.  Every few days I ask Wugs to check the soil to see if it is dry and he waters it appropriately and we have watched the dianthus in particular come into bloom.

What we used:

Flower Box for the plants

Potting Mix

Tray to contain the potting mix (optional, but easier than using a bag)

Digging tools

Plants

Wooden pegs

Craft sticks

Markers

Labels

Mother's Day Cards

It's Mother's Day this Sunday in the UK and it seems that every toddler, preschool and church group is full of activities that children can do to show their appreciation for their mothers.  I thought I would share a couple of simple ideas that I picked up along the way before sharing our own Mother's Day Card which Wugs and Dooey will give to my mother this weekend.

The Gift Card
The teapot card was made by Wugs at preschool this week.  It appears to have been made from pre-cut shapes (of decorative paper) that he had to stick together to create the teapot shape.  The little message and the attached teabag inside the card is a nice effect.  An inexpensive card that could be put together quickly using pages from magazines or wrapping paper.

The "MUM" Banner Card
This adorable banner card was decorated by my 22 month old Dooey.  I discovered this idea at a toddler craft lunch.  The card was cut from (what looks like) a folder (it is longer than A4).  This occupied Dooey for ages,  He decorated it with felt-tip pens, stickers and Do-A-Dot stampers.

The Flower Card

This card was of our own inspiration after a walk around some gardens last week with my mum. The card is made from tissue paper and paint.  I've written a detailed post about how we made it here.

Flower Cards

We made these flower cards for Mother's Day, but as they are for my mum, they could equally be used for Grandparent's Day (or any other occasion really).  Grandparent's Day is on 13th September this year (2015).

Last week we took a walk to some beautiful gardens and had the pleasure of seeing some flowers that had come into bloom - camellias, daffodils and a whole bank full of purple crocuses.   That trip provided the inspiration for our flower cards.

What we used:
Coloured card
Green paint
A small box (small enough for the child to get his fingers around)
String
Coloured tissue paper
Glue sticks

We started this activity by making the grass.  I wrapped string tightly around an old cream cheese box and asked the children to dab the bottom of the box into the green paint (until each section of string was covered with the paint).  Then I asked them to press the box against the card creating this grass effect. Our first attempt at this was better as I provided Wugs with just a small amount of paint.  Our second attempt with Dooey was a little smudged as the paint was too watery.

Once the paint had dried, we made our flowers by tearing up pieces of tissue paper and then screwing up the individual pieces into balls to make flowers.  Dooey does this naturally with all kinds of paper, so I knew he would enjoy this part!  Then I handed them each a glue stick and they stuck the tissue paper balls to the cards to create flowers.

These flower cards could also be made from pages of a children's magazine or any paper that is thin enough to screw up into a small ball.

Creating a Nature Table

"See how the flowers of the field grow.  They do not labour or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these" (Matthew 6:28-29)

Today's activity was almost cancelled as Dooey woke up multiple times last night with a high temperature and I anticipated that he would be too ill to engage with the activities.

I had planned a visit to the winter walk at The Royal Horticultural Society Garden Wisley today as it is very near to where we live and looks stunning.  Then I stepped outside and it was so cold that I knew the little one couldn't take it.  (Click on the link above to see pictures of the beautiful gardens there anyway).

Following on from our walk, I planned to set up a nature table that celebrates the sights, smells, tastes and textures of the festive season and we managed this, taking some of the items for the nature table from our garden.

Our table consisted of:
Pine cones
Reindeer moss (which is actually a lichen and is patterned just like a deer's antlers- not to be consumed)
A wreath
A cutting from a bush in our garden (which looks just like holly - it's prickly, green and shaped like holly, but turns out to be an "osmanthus" , a shrub - commonly called "Variegated false holly")
Some red berries from a bush in our front garden
Cinnamon Sticks
Cranberries
Oranges
Twiglets (something I've often associated with Christmas and they suited the nature table as they look like mini twigs)
LED tea lights (a candle would have looked nice, but Wugs and Dooey love playing with LED lights)
Warm spiced drink

The nature table went down well with the boys - the consummables (although not all of them were specific to the season) were a nice addition as Wugs and Dooey were eating and drinking while playing with the pine cones and smelling the cinnamon sticks which made the table a truly multi-sensory experience.

I'm considering keeping the nature table as a permanent feature in our house (at least throughout December) as a place to collect interesting finds.  And hopefully we will get a chance to visit Wisley Gardens and I can update this post with some amazing pictures.

Wisley Garden pictures from our outing on 9th December:

Jelly Worlds

Today I took advantage of my husband having a public holiday and decided to put together a sensory play activity for both Wugs and Dooey. I haven't attempted this with both children at the same time before, so it was a bit of an experiment and it helped to have an extra set of hands and eyes to limit the mess. Having said that, the play was surprisingly civilised.

I themed the jelly play according to the moulds that I already had in the cupboard - flowers, fish, starfish and shells.  Making the jelly involved a bit of trial and error as I bought two types of jelly - one made of seaweed ("Swallow Globe Agar-Agar) that involved adding sugar and boiling the mix and the other one ("Jello") was a ready mix that only required hot and cold water. I found the seaweed jelly to be the best as it was firmer, cheaper, set quicker and with just 4 packets of the white powder, I could separate it out and colour it with food colouring according to my requirements (so less waste).  Having said that, the "Jello" softer jelly worked best as a base (we used it as the base of the coral reef jelly tub).  As it broke up easily, it was fun moving the firmer jelly fish, shells etc through the base.  It also meant the children could experience the texture of two different types of jelly.

As the coral reef themed tub was for Wugs, I included some non-edible plastic coins (treasure) for Wugs to dig up.

Then we placed each tub on the light box to see how the light passes through the jelly creating different colours.  For details on how to make your own light box, click on my post: DIY Light Box

The first thing Dooey did was pick out the small flowers from his tub and eat them.  He saw the sensory play as one big feast, to the point that we had to remove some of the flowers as I was concerned about the sugar content.  The first thing Wugs did was use a spoon and carefully lift out the fish for closer examination.  He did eventually touch the jelly, but preferred to handle it with utensils.  Then they swapped places and enjoyed each others' tubs.

What we (should have) used:
(I'll spare you the details of exactly how many packets and brands of jelly we went through to get the right mix and just give you my recommendation):

1 packet of "Jello" green powder mix jelly
1 packet of "Jello" blue powder mix jelly
2 packets of "Swallow Globe Agar-Agar" of white seaweed jelly (I'm sure any brand of seaweed jelly would have worked as well)
500g castor sugar
Food colouring (red, yellow, green, blue)
Tubs