Objective

By the end of this lesson, Willow will understand what makes plants sprout in spring, explore the signs of spring in nature, and begin her own gardening project by planting seeds. She will also create a nature journal to document her findings and experiences.

Materials and Prep

• Seeds (e.g., flower seeds, vegetable seeds)
• Garden soil
• Plant pots or garden space
• Camera or smartphone for taking photos
• Nature journal or Lapbook
• Crayons or colored pencils
• Printed time-lapse video of flowers blooming
• Paper for the care calendar
• Measuring tape or ruler

Before the lesson, familiarize yourself with the local area for the spring hunt and make sure to select a safe walking route. Watch the time-lapse video together to spark interest.

Activities

• Time Lapse Video Viewing: Start the lesson by watching a fun time-lapse video of flowers blooming. Discuss what Willow sees in the video and how she thinks plants grow.

• Spring Hunt: Go for a walk in a local park or nature area. Look for signs of spring, such as new leaves, flowers, and even animals. Count how many soft things you can find, like bunny fur or soft petals. Take photos of the things you find!

• Nature Journal Creation: Back at home, print the favorite photos from your spring hunt. Paste them into the Lapbook and draw a picture of the softest thing you found. Label your drawing with its name.

• Planting Seeds: Choose seeds to plant together. Prepare the soil in pots or in the garden, plant the seeds, and create a care calendar to track watering and growth. Measure the plants as they grow and create a graph to see how tall they get!

Talking Points

• “What do you think happens to seeds when they are planted in the ground?”
• “Can you see any flowers or leaves starting to grow? What colors do you see?”
• “How many soft things did we find on our walk? What was the softest?”
• “What do you think plants need to grow? Do they need water, sun, or something else?”
• “How can we remember to take care of our seeds? What will we write on our care calendar?”
• “Why do you think spring is a special time for plants? What makes it different from other seasons?”