This activity is dedicated to those in the USA who are under a blizzard warning and anyone else who is tired of having snow on the ground. Spring will come and this little guy is here to encourage you until its arrival.
You need: grass seed (or seeds of your choice), soil, water, a clear container, foam shapes, wiggly eyes are optional but fun.
Decorate your cup (before you put dirt in it!) with shapes. I had extra plastic punch cups from a party, but any clear plastic container will work. We used foam shapes to make eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. Younger children will likely place shapes wherever they like and that is great! I used glue dots from the scrap-booking aisle from Walmart. They are very sticky, but safer than a glue gun and great for fine motor for older preschoolers.
Now…pour some dirt into the cup.
Sprinkle on the seeds.
Your child can use a spray bottle or pour some water onto the seeds depending on what skill you would like for them to learn. Talk about what plants need to grow: soil, sunlight, and water. It takes about 7 days for the seeds to sprout. Then…
Watch them grow! This is why I love a clear cup. You can see the roots. 
As they grow you can describe how roots absorb moisture and nutrients from the soil.
Such a beautiful green in a very monochromatic time of year.
Once the ‘hair’ has grown on your friend, give it a hair cut. Great for scissor skills!
There are so many skills that can be incorporated into this activity: science, life cycle, the responsibility of caring for a plant, fine motor, attention to task, color, shapes, and patience…
I wish you could smell that fresh cut grass. Summertime!!!!!
The “Small Seed” is my favorite book that describes planting seeds. It has texture, a fold out sunflower, and a simple text for toddlers and younger preschoolers. It describes what elements are needed to grow a flower in basic terms. I use it nearly every spring.
“In the Garden” is printed on 98% recycled materials. It describes where fruits and vegetables grow. The back cover has recipes, planting tips, and instructions to grow cherry tomatoes. It is a very good little book on gardening.
You can purchase these books at Amazon:
My grandmother loved to garden and see things grow. She found it amazing that you can plant a simple seed in black dirt and have something wonderful come from it. It’s a wonder!
Have fun planting seeds together!
This has been linked to
Science Sunday at Adventures in Mommydom!
 |
Great project. I love how you decorated the cups too. Thanks for the book tip, I’ve been looking for good garden books for kids.
Glad you liked it. These books are great for very young children.
It’s snowing like everything outside right now…and I do have clear plastic cups, and grass seeds
Thanks for the good idea!
Oh wow! I think I’ll stop complaining about our weather!
Awesome! While it’s not snowing this very moment – the sun is shining- we have 15-16 inches on the ground and more coming tomorrow.
Jessy – Science Sunday
Hi Jessy,
After reading everyone’s comments I know that I am truly a winter wimp.
Such a cute idea!
Thanks for visiting! I love the name of your blog.
Thanks
Come visit us if you want!
We are starting a new weekly link-up on our blog to share favorite resources. I’d love to have you participate! Please check out http://thegettys.blogspot.com/2011/02/favorite-resource-this-week-invitation.html if you might be interested. Thanks
I am very interested! Thanks for the invitation.
I love the “hair cut” section. My daughter would enjoy that.
My kiddos love this activity and cutting ‘the hair’ is the highlight.
We did the same experiment!
Coming through from Science Sunday
I love this–the green grass is so cheery!
These are awesome!! I am so looking forward to spring, too!
Thanks to everyone for stopping by.
@Giggles-I saw your blog, great experiment!
@Vanessa and Stacie -I am so ready for a sprig of green in our yard, but this will do for now.
Great idea! We’ll have to do this!
Hi Min~ I’m so glad you like it. Have fun
I love this, such a great idea to see the roots growing through the soil. We’ve been planting wheatgrass which has been so much fun to watch as it grows so quick! Perfect for eager toddlers to grow!
http://sunhatswellieboots.blogspot.com/2011/02/gardening-indoors.html
Ooohhh, good point on the clear cups.
I really need to get some grass seeds.
Thanks for taking a moment to stop by!
@Ticia~ I have really enjoyed linking up to Science Sunday and having direct access to such wonderful ideas.
@Catherine ~ You girls have been very busy with your baking and planting. Enjoyed your precious photos!
Great activity! We tried something similar with Bermuda grass seed, and it was a flop. I definitely need to find some rye grass or wheat grass seeds – it looks like those grow faster and taller. We’re in Texas, and it has been in the 80′s here! We feel like we went straight to summer. Strange weather this year!
Hope it works for you! It is still pretty chilly up here. We sowed grass in the yard last week and are still waiting to see some green. Thanks for stopping by.
A homemade chia-pet
hehe
planting it in the clear party glass give you/the kids the opportunity see what’s going on below the dirt – what a fun way to bring some life into winter
We should definitely do this next winter – I don’t think I’ll kill grass.
Thanks for linking up to It’s Playtime this week, I hope to see more of your ideas next Thursday too!
Jamie @ hands on : as we grow
Hi Jamie~ I agree, this is the one thing I can grow.
Happy to have the opportunity to link up at It’s Playtime. Thank you!
Just stopping by to let you know that I’ve featured your craft on Family Fun Crafts! You can see it here:
http://funfamilycrafts.com/a-cup-of-spring/
If you have other kid friendly crafts, I’d love it if you would submit them.
If you would like to display a
featured button on your site, you can grab one from the right side bar of your post above.
Thanks for sharing, Tami!
What grass seeds did you use? I really like the look of that grass!
[...] A Cup of Spring [...]