The Mom I Want to Be

Many times we walk through gardens without realizing the potential in the soil. This activity invites the preschool child to discover the many possibilities that wait at her feet!

 

Before You Start: Find a plant or a tree that is growing in an unusual place. Ask the children how that plant began growing in that spot.

 

 Ask each child to pull a large sock over his or her shoes. Then take a walk through a garden and/or wooded area. After the walk is completed, ask the children to sit down and carefully take off their sock. Have them carefully examine their sock with a magnifying glass. Ask them to talk about what they see. Talk about the different ways seeds can travel and what other things they might stick to. Invite the children to fill a clear plastic container with potting soil. Plant the sock and cover it with potting soil. Water lightly with a watering can. Cover the top of the containers with plastic. Encourage the children to make a prediction about what type of plant will grow from their sock. Observe the sock garden grow over the next few weeks. As the plants begin to sprout, remove the plastic covering and water lightly.

 

Have the preschool children create a sock garden diary. They can draw what is happening in their sock garden on a weekly basis. If you can’t find a garden or area with enough fallen seeds, scatter some grass and other seeds on the ground where you plan to walk.