Catching Sun and Growing Willows

R was 15 months old at the time of this activity

Book: 

Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert – Growing Vegetable Soup is a great book with vibrant colours about a father and son who grow vegetables from seeds to harvest.  There is even a recipe for vegetable soup at the end!

Activity:

1. Planting Sunflowers

We planted sunflower seeds in the pot R painted yesterday (I added some embellishments with black marker).  We first examined the seeds together and I used the word “small” to describe them for her.  She helped me place the seeds into the soil.  She definitely liked doing the watering part of the activity the most!

 

 

Extension Activities:
a. Older children can add embellishments with marker on their own.
b. Review all the things a plant needs to survive, discussing the importance of watering regularly.
c. Plant multiple plants with your child to compare the growth of each plant

2. Pussy Willow Branches

R experienced glue for the first time today.  It was so funny to watch her!  The cotton buds would get stuck on her fingers and she would whip her arm around and try to shake them off.  The activity was easy to put together.  We had brought home a fallen branch from the forest a few days ago.  I separated one cotton bud into four pieces.

Extension Activities:
a. Look up photos of pussy willow plants on the internet and discuss the features of the plant.
b. Add the made pussy willow plant into a vase and add it to the child’s “house” centre in his/her play area.

3. Flower Sun Catchers

We did a crafting activity I had seen a number of moms doing on Instagram, so I thought we’d give it a go.  I made a flower out of construction paper with a contact paper centre.  R then stuck flower buds, leaves and petals onto the contact paper.  We practiced the word stick as she helped me put bits on.  I hadn’t finished preparing all the activities during R’s nap today since I was busy doing a number of other things.  I ended up doing some prep while R waited very impatiently!!  There was plenty of whining and crying going on as she yanked on my pants and said, “bee”.  That’s what she says every time she sees her activities and is impatient to get to them!

Extension Activities:
a. Have the child select fallen flowers, leaves and petals herself to add to the sun catcher.

Check out the rest of the Plants Theme:
1. Grassy Heads and Window Plants
2. Feeling the Garden
3. Catching Sun and Growing Willows
4. Fairy Gardens
5. Planting Flowers and Collaging Seeds