April is Garden Month according to the National Gardening Association. When implementing spring-themed activities and lesson plans, preschool teachers and daycare providers should take the opportunity to celebrate Garden Month.
The most interactive way to observe National Garden Month is by planting a small garden with children.
Planting a Container Garden with Preschoolers
Explain to the class that they are planting a garden in containers and that in order for seeds to grow they need soil, water, and plenty of sunlight.
- Find a spot for containers with lots of sun that is in close proximity to where water will be accessed.
- Fill the pots with a damp organic potting mix.
- Let the children place small seeds on top of the mix and push larger seeds into the soil.
- Water and cover the containers with plastic.
Depending on the age and development of the children, they can help with some or all of the steps. Let the children take turns watering the plants and monitoring their progress daily.
Ten Easiest Garden Plants for Children
The easiest plants to grow in the preschool or daycare setting are:
- Sunflowers
- Lettuce
- Radishes
- Snow peas
- Cherry tomatoes
- Nasturtiums
- Carrots
- Potatoes
- Bush beans
- Pumpkins
These seeds are low maintenance and have a short growing season.
Great Containers for Gardening
Container gardens can be created in just about anything as long as they can hold soil and there are holes for proper drainage (about one half inch). Container gardens are especially great for daycare centers and preschools with limited space for gardening. Recycled items are especially wonderful because
- Milk cartons and plastic jugs
- Buckets
- Paper, plastic or Styrofoam cups
- Baskets: Gardening-guides.com recommends adding a liner to the basket, and then creating cross pattern (X) holes. Next pull the triangular ends of the liner through the holes and tape them to the outside of the basket.
- Old boots
- Flour or sugar sacks
- An old aquarium (drain before planting)
- Egg cartons
- Watering can
- Coffee cans
- Chinese food cartons
Theme Gardens for Preschoolers
Try some of these fun theme gardens:
- Pizza garden: Plant tomatoes, basil, green peppers, onions and oregano. When it is harvest time, use vegetables from the garden to make pizza sauce for a homemade pizza.
- Butterfly garden: Grow butterfly friendly plants (flowers that attract butterflies). Most garden supply stores sell butterfly garden seed mix.
- Stone soup garden: Read the book Stone Soup by Marcia Brown [Aladdin, 1997]. Plant vegetables like onions, carrots, peppers, parsnips, beans, potatoes, and corn. Then make “stone soup” after harvesting the veggies.
If it is not possible to plant a garden, either because of the weather or space issues, try sowing seeds indoors. Read books about gardens, gardening or nature. Language and alphabet lessons can include garden-themed coloring sheets such as "G is for garden", "L is for Leaf or Lilly" and "D is for Daisy". Spend time talking about farmers and their role as a community helper. Garden activities also compliment nutrition activities. As always, have fun and be creative!
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