Super Seeds

This week, following their interest on the topic of seeds, the students uncovered the characters Sammy the Seed, Rachel the Rain-cloud and Simon the Sun waiting for them in our mystery box.  Similar to the students' questioning, Sammy the Seed was interested in what he needed in order to grow.  He hoped the students could help teach him all about this topic.  After conducting research through dramatic role play, the students learned that Sammy the seed had his own food store inside to grow.  He also had a baby plant or embryo inside which needed the right conditions to sprout.  The students learned that when Sammy was warmed to the right temperature with the sun and his seed coat was softened by the rain, the embryo could break through and start growing.

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Students had the chance to make puppets to explain what their Seed needed to grow.  They practiced using scissors, drawing faces, and gluing their puppets together and then went into role to perform for their friends.  The students also practiced using the words, "first, then, next and finally," when retelling a series of events.

In our gardening centre, the students had the opportunity to assemble their own mini-green houses.  Before they did this the students dissected a seed that had been soaking in water for 12 hours.  As they opened the seed the students could clearly see the seed coat, the embryo and the food store inside.

As our recipe of the week, students worked to measure the ingredients for playdough.   This activity also helped the students to work as a team and take turns as they waited patiently in circle as each person stirred the dough 3 times.

The students had a lot of fun playing with the seeds combined with the playdough!

The students also were able to incorporate the seeds into their artwork in a series of different art activities.  They made beautiful mandalas out of seeds and also created sunflowers.

Students had a lot of fun playing in the seed sensory bin this week as well.  The students also had the opportunity to make bird feeders out of seed during math centres time.  Students followed a recipe and learned about fractions and shapes as we assembled these bird feeders.  

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