Gardening season has finally arrived! Last month, we began planting seeds and flowers for our Mother’s Day gifts, and now we have fully immersed ourselves in gardening experiences.
We started by planting and caring for various plants inside the classroom. The children have been helping to water the plants almost every day, showing responsibility and enthusiasm as they care for living things. Once the plants were ready, Simone brought them outside with the children to be planted in our garden beds. The children eagerly watched as she dug holes for the plants and helped place them into the soil.
The children also participated in planting seeds. Simone created small holes in the garden beds, and each child had the opportunity to carefully place seeds into the holes before covering them with soil. The children were extremely eager to help and patiently waited for their turns. Their excitement and cooperation were wonderful to see.
Jenny also involved the children in watering the garden beds. The children took turns using the hose and worked together to reach the garden beds that were farther away, ensuring that all the plants received water. During the evenings, Jenny would often pour leftover water from children's water bottles into the gardens. Now, many children independently ask if they can pour remaining water into the garden beds when they notice friends leaving for the day, demonstrating their growing sense of responsibility and care for the environment.
As the days passed, some children began asking questions such as, “Why aren’t the plants coming out yet?” and “When will they start growing?” These questions showed their curiosity and developing understanding of the plant life cycle.
After the weekend, we excitedly checked on our garden and were delighted to discover that many of our seeds had sprouted and tiny leaves had emerged! The children were thrilled to see the results of their hard work and care.
Learning and Development
Through our gardening experiences, the children are developing patience, responsibility, cooperation, and an appreciation for nature. They are learning about the life cycle of plants, what living things need to grow, and the importance of caring for the environment. Gardening also encourages observation, problem-solving, communication, and inquiry as children ask questions, make predictions, and monitor changes over time.
We look forward to continuing to care for our garden and watching it grow throughout the seaso
n!
