With spring, the children have been pointing out all the changes they've observed on the trees and plants in our neighborhood, asking really good questions about buds and sprouts, and helping get the garden ready to plant. With this current curiosity, I decided it was a good time to do a tree/plant unit.
First we made a mural to decorate our space. At first I intended to make leaves or collect leaves to add later, but one of the kids suggested painting hands and making prints. It was a hit, and turned out really cute! (It's fun to notice the difference in the areas the 'big' kids painted and the ones the 'little' kids painted!)
After that, I decided to explore some open ended crafting. I gave the kids an outline of a tree on some sticky tack, and some assorted supplies, and let them decorate.
They turned out really cute!
Next it was time to get our hands dirty - literally. We painted small clay pots, stuffed them with dirt, sprinkled grass seed, and watched and watered each day.
This is science and fine-motor rolled up into one, because the spray bottles are intriguing, but employ lots of hand and arm muscles.
They had so much fun 'spraying' their plants, that we took the bottles on a nature walk to a local forested area. They could have stayed out there spraying all day.
If we're going to do a forest unit, we have to go where there are trees. No complaints from these naturalists!
After two weeks, our grass looked more like this: Time to give these Hairy Harry's a hair cut (more fine motor skills! Yay!). The kids got so into this, their plants were basically bald when they were done. Great thing about grass - it grows back!
Next I think we'll get some hair clips, and let them snap them in the 'hair'.
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