By Rinna Sanchez-Baluyut, Head Teacher
“Plant the seeds of wisdom in children’s hearts; they’ll grow into forests of understanding.” —Unknown
This spring, the Twos studied butterflies and learned how they start life as caterpillars before emerging from a chrysalis and spreading their wings as butterflies. Two weeks after releasing our metamorphosed butterflies in our yard, most of our Twos children experienced another fascinating transformation process. Taking advantage of the glorious spring weather, and with our garden filled with bright-colored geraniums and daisies in full bloom, it was the perfect time to introduce our children to the wonders of planting.
With their little clear cups in hand, the children scooped some soil, sprinkled in several lima and pinto bean seeds, and gently covered them with soil. Once the seeds were planted, the children watered them with a squirt bottle and placed their pots in a sunlit spot in the classroom. Each day, children would check in on their little seeds and water them with care while eagerly anticipating any signs of change.
The teachers conducted a poll, asking the children, “Do you think the seeds will grow?” Most responded, “Yes!” As the days and weeks progressed, tiny green sprouts began to appear, sparking a sense of amazement and delight among the children. Observing the changes excited the children, motivating them to continue nurturing their little plants. Over time, the stems lengthened, and leaves sprouted, prompting the children to exclaim, “It’s growing!”
In addition to using clear plastic cups, we also tucked lima and pinto beans into plastic bags with damp paper towels. The bags were hung on a stand, easily accessible for children to view and examine. Without dirt, the clear bags allowed the children to observe the process of germination. They could see how seeds sprouted and developed stems, leaves, and roots.
To deepen the children’s understanding of how a seed grows into a plant, we integrated related elements into the curriculum. For instance, during story time, we read books such
as Apples Here! by Will Hubbell, The Enormous Potato by Aubrey Davis, and The Turnip by Pierr Morgan (which the children also chose to act out). Caring for their tiny pots of seeds soon extended to tending our garden boxes in the yard. The children also fully embraced watering our flowering plants, such as the geraniums and daisies, and the fresh mint in our garden.
The process of planting seeds invited the children to both actively participate in and quietly observe the experience as it unfolded. This simple project offered them many learning opportunities:
• The value of patience: In a world filled with immediate gratification, this experience provided children with delayed gratification, requiring them to patiently wait for the seeds to grow. Over the course of days and weeks, not only did the children have to wait for their seeds to sprout, but they also had to remain dedicated to caring for them. What’s more, as some seeds sprouted, others did not, prompting children to wonder why. In subsequent days, they became aware that more seeds had sprouted as they continued to care for them, demonstrating that sometimes growth takes time.
• Building community: As the children were highly invested in tending to their seeds, they generously offered to help water and care for the other children’s pots as well. Similarly, when some children had difficulty using the spray bottle to water their plants, other children offered their help.
• Learning: The hands-on experience of working with soil, seeds, and water and steadily observing the transformation from seed to plant provided children with countless science and math skills. The process of germination is a marvel of science, one that walks children through each stage from seed to plant. The math skills practiced by the children included counting the seeds and the number of times they squirted the water bottle; noting the various qualities of the seeds, such as color and shape; and recording how many children in our poll responded “yes” or “no” when asked if they thought the seeds would grow.
• Environmental stewardship: By appreciating the beauty and wonder of nature, the children developed an awareness of and interest in caring for and protecting their environment and the world around them. We hope this is the beginning of a long-lasting, joy-filled relationship.
Just as the children witnessed the transformation of their seeds sprouting and blossoming into plants, we too witnessed our Twos children make incredible strides in their growth and development.