Earth Day/Earth Month

In observance of Earth Day/Month, I will be teaching approximately 250 second and third graders from Clinton and the surrounding area schools (including those homeschooled) about seeds, rhizomes, tubers, spores and more tomorrow. I've done it for quite a few years now, and really enjoy it. The kids are SO much fun.

First we talk about different ways that you can get more plants; seeds, rhizomes, spores, tissue prop, and so on. I have examples of just about everything. The kids seem to like touching stuff, so I'll pass each item around the room. Then we'll concentrate on seeds...those which look like what we eat (think of corn & peas) and those that look nothing like the mature version (carrots). Kids like to call out the answers. We briefly go over what seeds to NEVER eat, and I stress that an adult should be asked before consuming anything outside.

Of course, there will be time for questions and answers (we have 25 minutes together). The BIG thrill is the seed game. I created a 12 box area on two different boards, labeled board A and board B. Original, I know. I have seeds glued to the top part of each square, and a dot of Velcro. The kids have to match the empty seed packets (with the other side of the Velcro) to the seeds. The class is divided in half (there's usually 12-20 kids per class) and race to see which team can get all of the seed packets in the right squares. The kids have to work together to figure out which is which. It's a blast.

I didn't make hand outs this year as an effort to cut down on waste. Hopefully the kids will go home with a greater understanding of plants and more passion for their planet.

shel