18 months – 8 years

Sprouting beansMaterials• Sensorytableortub

• Soilwithoutfertilizer

• Beanseeds(largerseedsarebest)

• Water

• Wateringcan

• Ageappropriatehandshovels

Procedure• Guidethechildrentofillthetableortubhalffullofsoil.Letchildrenaddwateruntilthesoilismoistthroughout.

• Addseedstothesoil.Childrencanmanipulatethesoil,andburyanddiguptheseeds.Donotcover.Coveringthetablecreatesanenvironmentformoldtogrow.

• Childrencandig,checkthesoil,andobserveandrecordchangesintheseedseachday.

extension.psu.edu/youth/betterkidcareSupported by funds from the Office of Child Development and Early Learning, jointly overseen by the Departments of Human Services and Education.

This publication is available in alternative media on request.

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to minorities, women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and other protected groups. Nondiscrimination: http://guru.psu.edu/policies/AD85.html

HO_GardenActivities.indd

Claudia C. Mincemoyer, Ph.D., Better Kid Care Program Director 2182 Sandy Drive – Suite 204 State College, PA 16803

© 2015 The Pennsylvania State University

18 months – 8 years

Garden surpriseMaterialsSurpriseoftheday(apinecone,auniquerock,ashellfromthebeach,agardeningbook,asnakeskin,abirdnest,anegg,andsoon)

Anoldmailbox(ormakeoneasaclassproject)

Procedure• Setupthemailboxinthegardenorinaspecialplace.Encouragethestudentstopaintitandnamethebox.

• Eachweek(frequencyisuptotheteacherorfacilitator)putaneducationalnaturesurpriseinthemailbox.

• Childrencantaketurnstocheckthemailboxandbringthesurprisetogrouptime.

• Discusstheobjectwiththestudents.

extension.psu.edu/youth/betterkidcareSupported by funds from the Office of Child Development and Early Learning, jointly overseen by the Departments of Human Services and Education.

This publication is available in alternative media on request.

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to minorities, women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and other protected groups. Nondiscrimination: http://guru.psu.edu/policies/AD85.html

HO_GardenActivities.indd

Claudia C. Mincemoyer, Ph.D., Better Kid Care Program Director 2182 Sandy Drive – Suite 204 State College, PA 16803

© 2015 The Pennsylvania State University

18 months – 8 years

The smelly gameMaterials• Sensorytable

• Aromaticfreshherbs(dill,rosemary,

mint,basil,thyme,oregano)

Procedure• Laytheherbsinseparatesectionsonthetable.

• Allowthechildtoexploreeachherbthroughsmell,touch,andsight.

• Showthemhowtorubtheherbsbetweentheirfingerstoreleasemorearomas.

• Talkaboutthedifferentpartsofeachplant:roots,leaves,flower,andstem.

• Iftimepermits,youcanusetheherbs(ifstillwhole)aspaintbrushesforuniqueartwork.

extension.psu.edu/youth/betterkidcareSupported by funds from the Office of Child Development and Early Learning, jointly overseen by the Departments of Human Services and Education.

This publication is available in alternative media on request.

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to minorities, women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and other protected groups. Nondiscrimination: http://guru.psu.edu/policies/AD85.html

HO_GardenActivities.indd

Claudia C. Mincemoyer, Ph.D., Better Kid Care Program Director 2182 Sandy Drive – Suite 204 State College, PA 16803

© 2015 The Pennsylvania State University

18 months – 8 years

Critter huntingMaterials• Shovel

• Containerswithlids

• Trays

• Magnifyingglasses

Procedure• Takethechildrenoutsidetofindinsectsandcritters.Theycancheckunderrocks,inrottinglogs,cementcracks,orincompostifavailable.Themostcommonbugsfoundareusuallybutterflies,bumblebees,caterpillars,ants,worms,sowbugs,beetles,grasshoppers,andpillbugs.

• Collectinsectsinacontainer,takeinside,andplacecontainersontraystoobservethespecimens.

• Olderchildrencanlookupcommonfactsabouttheirchosenspecimenusingreferencematerials,andreportonittotheclass.Theycanalsodrawtheirspecimenonpaper.

• Talkaboutthebodyparts,color,appearance,andbehaviorofeachcritter.

• Releasethebugsbackintotheirnaturalhabitat.

extension.psu.edu/youth/betterkidcareSupported by funds from the Office of Child Development and Early Learning, jointly overseen by the Departments of Human Services and Education.

This publication is available in alternative media on request.

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to minorities, women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and other protected groups. Nondiscrimination: http://guru.psu.edu/policies/AD85.html

HO_GardenActivities.indd

Claudia C. Mincemoyer, Ph.D., Better Kid Care Program Director 2182 Sandy Drive – Suite 204 State College, PA 16803

© 2015 The Pennsylvania State University

18 months – 8 years

Bug hotelMaterials• 20oz.plasticbottle,emptyand

withlabelremoved

• Smalldiametersticks

• Pinecones

• Bark

• Piecesoflongdriedgrass(hay)

• Adultsizedscissors

Procedure• Childrencancollectthesticks,pinecones,hay,andbarkoutdoorsfromhome,thefacility,theschoolyard,oronawalk.

• Cutthebottomandtopofthebottleoff,andcuttheplasticbottleintotwocylinders.Adultsmighthavetodothis,dependingonagesofchildren.

• Childrencanarrangethesticks,pinecones,hay,andbarkineachcylinderlengthwise,fillingthecylindersothecontentsfitsnugglytopreventthematerialsfromblowingout.Childrenmayhavetobreakthestickstofitthelengthofthebottlesections.

• Thematerialscreatedarkplacesforthebugstohide.

• Placethebughotelinthegarden,orhangitoutsidewithstring,toattractallkindsofbugs.

extension.psu.edu/youth/betterkidcareSupported by funds from the Office of Child Development and Early Learning, jointly overseen by the Departments of Human Services and Education.

This publication is available in alternative media on request.

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to minorities, women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and other protected groups. Nondiscrimination: http://guru.psu.edu/policies/AD85.html

HO_GardenActivities.indd

Claudia C. Mincemoyer, Ph.D., Better Kid Care Program Director 2182 Sandy Drive – Suite 204 State College, PA 16803

© 2015 The Pennsylvania State University

18 months – 8 years

Veggie stampingMaterials• Vegetablescraps(celeryends,

carrotends,pepperslices,cutokra,

andmore)

• Assortedpaintcolors

• Paperplates

• Constructionpaper

Procedure• Putpaintonpaperplates(onecolorperplate).

• Setpaperplatesofpaintandveggiescrapsonatableorfloor.

• Usethevegetablescrapsasstampstocreatemagicalartworkontheconstructionpaper.

extension.psu.edu/youth/betterkidcareSupported by funds from the Office of Child Development and Early Learning, jointly overseen by the Departments of Human Services and Education.

This publication is available in alternative media on request.

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to minorities, women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and other protected groups. Nondiscrimination: http://guru.psu.edu/policies/AD85.html

HO_GardenActivities.indd

Claudia C. Mincemoyer, Ph.D., Better Kid Care Program Director 2182 Sandy Drive – Suite 204 State College, PA 16803

© 2015 The Pennsylvania State University

4 – 8 years

Feast of the antsMaterials• Cardboard

• Cup

• Marker

• Assortedfood:shredded

carrots,jelly,syrup,chopped

hotdog,sugar,sliceoflime,

breadcrumbs,shreddedcheese,

coffeegrounds,andmore.

Procedure• Usingthecupandmarker,havethechildrentraceacircleforeachfooditemonthecardboard.

• Laythecardboardoutsideandplacethefoodinthecircles.

• Askthechildrentopredictwhichfoodantswilleat.

• Leavetheareaandallowtheantstoexplorethefood.

• Takethechildrentoaseparatelocationtoreadabookaboutants.

Visitthesitemanytimesthroughoutthedaytoobservethefeastoftheants.

extension.psu.edu/youth/betterkidcareSupported by funds from the Office of Child Development and Early Learning, jointly overseen by the Departments of Human Services and Education.

This publication is available in alternative media on request.

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to minorities, women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and other protected groups. Nondiscrimination: http://guru.psu.edu/policies/AD85.html

HO_GardenActivities.indd

Claudia C. Mincemoyer, Ph.D., Better Kid Care Program Director 2182 Sandy Drive – Suite 204 State College, PA 16803

© 2015 The Pennsylvania State University

5 – 8 years

Water bottle irrigation systemMaterials• Plasticsodabottlewith

lid,emptyandwithlabel

removed,ofanysize:20oz.

workwellforthisage

• hammerandnail

Procedure• Cutoffthebottomofthesodabottleandplacethebottleupsidedown.

• Cutsmallholesthroughoutthebodyofthebottle.Piercethelidwiththenailandhammerandreplaceonthebottle.

• Digaholebigenoughtoburythebottle,lidenddown,indirtuptotheopenend.

• Dependingonthesizeofthebed,youmayneedacoupleofwaterbottleirrigationsystems,orlargerbottles.

• Packsoiluptotheopenendofthebottle.

• Fillthebottlewithwater.

extension.psu.edu/youth/betterkidcareSupported by funds from the Office of Child Development and Early Learning, jointly overseen by the Departments of Human Services and Education.

This publication is available in alternative media on request.

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to minorities, women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and other protected groups. Nondiscrimination: http://guru.psu.edu/policies/AD85.html

HO_GardenActivities.indd

Claudia C. Mincemoyer, Ph.D., Better Kid Care Program Director 2182 Sandy Drive – Suite 204 State College, PA 16803

© 2015 The Pennsylvania State University

5 – 8 years

Garden creationMaterials• Leftoversmallartsandcraftmaterials(buttons,stickers,colored

cottonballs,coloredpipecleaners,glitter,mosaicstones,andmore)

• Glue

• Crayons

• Paper

Procedure• Askthestudenttothinkoftheirfavoritething(car,doll,princess,frog,rainbow,heart,baseballbat).

• Askthemtodrawtheshapeoftheirfavoritethingonpaperwiththecrayons.Thiswillmakeagardenshapedastheirfavoritething.

• Usingtheleftovercraftmaterials,encouragethemtocreateagarden.Thematerialsrepresenttheplantstheywanttogrow,withthebuttons,glitter,stickers,andcottonballsastheplantsinthegarden.

6 – 8 years

Paper potsMaterials• Scissors

• Newspaper

• Seeds

• Soil

• 5.5oz.juicecan,6oz.tomatopaste

can,orothercan(foruseasamold)

Procedure• Childrencancutstripsofnewspaperatleast3inchesby10inches(orlongerandwiderifalargercanisusedasamold).

• Placeastripofpaperonthetablewithoneoftheshortendsclosetoeachchild.

• Placethejuicecanattheendofthenewspaperstripclosesttothechild,leavinganinchofpaperonthelongsidehangingoverthebottomthatwillbecomethebaseofthepot.

• Rollthejuicecanalongthestrip,wrappingthepaperaroundit.

• Foldtheextra1inchofpaperclosetothebottomofthecan.

• Pressthecanintothepalmofyourhandorontoatable,twistingasyoupressdown,tosecurethefoldedbottomofthepaperpot.

• Gentlypullthepaperoffthejuicecan,retainingtheshapeofapot.

• Fillyourpotwithsoil,planttheseed,label,keepmoist,andobservethegrowingplant.

extension.psu.edu/youth/betterkidcareextension.psu.edu/youth/betterkidcareSupported by funds from the Office of Child Development and Early Learning, jointly overseen by the Departments of Human Services and Education.

This publication is available in alternative media on request.

Supported by funds from the Office of Child Development and Early Learning, jointly overseen by the Departments of Human Services and Education.

This publication is available in alternative media on request.

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to minorities, women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and other protected groups. Nondiscrimination: http://guru.psu.edu/policies/AD85.html

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to minorities, women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and other protected groups. Nondiscrimination: http://guru.psu.edu/policies/AD85.html

HO_GardenActivities.inddHO_GardenActivities.indd

Claudia C. Mincemoyer, Ph.D., Better Kid Care Program Director 2182 Sandy Drive – Suite 204 State College, PA 16803

© 2015 The Pennsylvania State University

Claudia C. Mincemoyer, Ph.D., Better Kid Care Program Director 2182 Sandy Drive – Suite 204 State College, PA 16803

© 2015 The Pennsylvania State University