Growing Week I

Growing Week I marks a continuation of our over-arching unit, All Living Things Grow, which began several weeks ago with "Baby Weeks".  This week we focused on plant life that "grows" from seeds!  We read both fiction and non-fiction books on the topic, and sang several "growing" songs.  Our class discussions were focused on the Science of how seeds grow.

We spent time planting flower, bean, basil, sprout and grass seeds.

Additionally, we spent time observing and exploring all of the lovely flowers and tree buds that are now in bloom at Parker School.

Our classroom activities included:

Flower Printing

Flower Arranging

Painting Bird Houses

Plant Puzzles

Stitching Bird Cards

Looking Deeper:  Exploration and Learning through Play

 Let's take a closer look at the on-going Science concepts we explored this week.

As I mentioned "Growing Weeks" are part of a larger unit of study that I call, "All Living Things Grow".  Generally speaking, "Growing Weeks" are a time to explore and discuss plant life that grows from seeds.  It is strategically scheduled to coincide with Spring so that the children can simultaneously observe and explore all of the things that are beginning to grow once again after our long cold winter. 

As you may remember, we began this unit in early April with "Baby Weeks".  During "Baby Weeks" we explored and discussed our personal growth since we were babies.  We discerned that babies need three important things in order to grow; healthy food, plenty of rest, and plenty of exercise.  Incidentally, these are the same three things that assured personal health and growth as per our discussions during "Doctor Weeks" in mid-March.  As you can see the children's learning is iterative, as concepts interconnect, support and build upon each other.  This week as we explored, discussed and planted seeds, we discerned that seeds also need three things to insure their growth; namely, soil, sun and water.

Growth happens over time, and cannot be observed directly  in the moment, yet the children demonstrate in many ways their understanding of this concept that all living things grow.  One of the fun ways in which they do so is during a game we call "Can I Plant a Seed in the Soil and Grow......?"  We play the game during our class discussions at Story Time.  Basically, I ask the children "Can I plant a seed in the soil and grow a tree, a carrot, a flower, a car, a block, an apple, a potato, a hat etc."  The game exercises the children's thinking skills, and they always discern which things are living and can therefore grow, as well as which things are inanimate and cannot grow.  After a time, the children take on the part of asking the question; "Can I Plant A Seed in the Soil and Grow......?"    Guessing games are a wonderful "play" genre for teaching, learning, developing thinking skills and are also great fun!

In addition to the general concepts of seed growth, we discussed some very specific facts as well.  We used multiple visual tools to illustrate that as a seed grows it first sprouts its roots, then its stem, then its leaves, and then its flower and/or fruit.

We are currently germinating a bean seed that will concretely demonstrate this to the children.  I never cease to be amazed at how much the children love "doing" hands-on Science.  

We planted lots of seeds this week, both in reality and metaphorically.  

The children are looking forward to seeing their seeds grow over the coming weeks, and I derive great joy in witnessing daily the growth of those metaphoric seeds!

Have a fun and restful weekend!