Hey there, fellow garden enthusiasts! Our latest Jr. Green Thumbs class was an absolute blast, and we can’t wait to spill the soil on all the exciting discoveries we made.
Plant Parts Unveiled: In our quest to understand plants inside-out (quite literally), we delved into the intriguing world of plant parts. The kids turned into “Garden Detectives,” identifying roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and even those sneaky seeds! It was like solving nature’s own jigsaw puzzle.
We also learned what foods we eat from the different parts of the plant, one of the tricky ones were stems. YES! We actually eat stems, some of us more than others, in the form of asparagus and celery. Even seeds we eat, like sunflower and pumpkin seeds. It was fun exploring all the different foods that go with each of the plant parts!
The Fascinating Plant Life Cycle: But that’s not all – we embarked on a journey through the plant life cycle. From tiny seeds sprouting into vibrant green shoots to the grand finale of flowering and fruiting, we marveled at the magical transformation plants undergo. We took a look at the life cycle of a strawberry plant, and discussed some on pollination, how the flowers produce fruit.
Nature Scavenger Hunt Extravaganza: Now, let’s talk about the highlight of the day – our epic Nature Scavenger Hunt! Armed with keen eyes and a checklist, our Jr. Green Thumbs embarked on a mission to find treasures from nature.
To our delight, these young explorers didn’t just meet the challenge; they aced it! From smooth rocks to different shaped leaves and even mysterious animal tracks, they found it all. We even spotted some of the elusive items like spider webs and the rarest color in nature (Blue). Our scavenger hunt was a wild success!
Creative Expressions with Leaf Impressions and Nature Collages: As if the day couldn’t get any better, we let our artistic sides bloom. The kids dived into creating leaf impressions, capturing the intricate patterns and textures of leaves on paper. Each leaf told its unique story.
Then, it was time to channel all that nature inspiration into our Nature Collage Art activity. Sticks, leaves, petals, and twigs turned into masterpieces that celebrated the beauty of the great outdoors. We might have some budding artists among us!
HUGE SHOUT OUT TO THE PARENTS! We absolutely love that the parents come and get involved with the kids and have fun learning alongside them. You are also a big help when it comes to managing these activities as well and make our roles so much better! THANK YOU parents, we salute you!
Sharing the Nature Scavenger Hunt: And here’s the cherry on top – we’re sharing our Nature Scavenger Hunt with all of you! Yes, that’s right, you can download it and embark on your own nature adventure with the kids. Get ready for some quality time in the great outdoors. (Download button at bottom of article)
Our Jr. Green Thumbs class was an absolute joy, and we can’t wait to continue our green journey with these amazing kids. Stay tuned for more garden adventures, discoveries, and lots of muddy fun! 🌱🍃🔍🌻
*** Our next class will be November 4th, 10am-12pm you can sign up at the link below to register or at the link in the navigation bar.
CLICK HERE to register.
Plant Parts and Life Cycles Resources:
University of Illinois Extension – “Parts of a plant and life cycle” Guide: Learn about the different parts of a plant, their functions, and how they contribute to the plant’s life cycle. Guide Link
Youth Gardening and Nature Online resources:
