Sponge Painting
Cut a raindrop shape from sponge and use to sponge paint a rainy day picture.
Submitted by Ruth (RUTHJRC)

Umbrella Pictures
Cut an umbrella shape from paper and have the children decorate with stickers.
Submitted by Ruth (RUTHJRC)

Rain Gauge
Have the children measure inches (or centimeters) onto a clear plastic water (or pop) bottle to create a rain gauge that can be used outdoors.
Submitted by Ruth (RUTHJRC)

Painted Flower Pot
Using acrylic paints, decorate a clay flower pot. If you will be adding a plant to the flowerpot, a painting of that plant is a nice touch. Let it dry completely. Fill the plant pot with potting soil and plant the seed of a fast-growing flower (like marigolds) or put in a small plant (herbs like chives are a nice) .
Submitted by Carlyn (CARLYNR)

Sunflowers
Cut petal shapes from yellow construction paper. Glue onto a small paper plate. Add a black circle to the center, glue on real sunflower seeds if you wish. When dry, glue on a stem to the back and add leaves.
Submitted by Ruth (RUTHJRC)

Tulips
Cut an egg carton cup into 3 tulip shape petals. Paint. When dry, poke a hole in the center of the cup and add a pipecleaner, twist to hold the petals. Add construcion paper leaves if you wish.
Submitted by Ruth (RUTHJRC)

Vases
Cut squares of tissue paper. Modge podge (watered down white glue) onto a large baby food jar (or similiar container) Let dry and then fill with flowers you create.
Submitted by Ruth (RUTHJRC)

Garden
Children use cupcake liners and green construction paper to create a beautiful garden collage.
Submitted by Ruth (RUTHJRC)

Fun Foam Flowers
Cut petal shapes from fun foam and glue gun onto a large pom pom. Add a pipecleaner green stem and fun foam leaves.
Submitted by Ruth (RUTHJRC)

Plant Markers
You will need woodsie shapes and large popsicle sticks. Have children decorate their plant marker with flowers, bugs, whatever they wish to make from woodsies. Paint with fabric or acrylic paint if placing in an outdoor garden. When dry, use a permanent marker to write the flower/vegetable to be marked on the stick. Place in the garden. These can also be used to decorate indoor plants in clay pots.
Submitted by Ruth (RUTHJRC)

May Day Wreath or Basket
To celebrate May Day, the kids might enjoy making a May Day wreath or basket to hang on someone's door as a surprise. To make a wreath, they can paint or color a paper plate with the center cut out, and when dry, glue on artificial flowers, or flowers printed off of the internet, either printed in color, or printed in black and white, and then colored or painted. To make a basket, decorate a paper plate, and a half of a paper plate. Staple 1/2 plate to whole plate to form a basket, and make tissue paper flowers on pipe cleaners to go inside, or flowers drawn directly onto bottom paper plate, or printed from the internet.
Submitted by Beth (RYJACK16)

Garden Rocks
They might also enjoy painting smooth rocks with acrylic paints as garden decorations. You can spray them with clear lacquer as a protective finish. Older kids may be able to make turtles, lady bugs etc.
Submitted by Beth (RYJACK16)

Flower collages
Give the children various magazines. Get them to flip through and find pictures of flowers. Let the older children cut them out and the older children to tear them out. Have available paper, glue and sticky tape for the children to stick their flowers down.
Submitted by Allison (ALLISONJW)

Clay Bird's Nest
Salt Clay (Recipe)
small heavy-duty paper plate, dried plant material

Shape a large ball of clay to resemble a bird's nest. Shape a small ball of clay to resemble a bird. Place nest and bird onto paper plate and allow to dry completely. Cushion next with dried plant materials such as leaves, grass, straw. Place bird into the nest.

Variations:

• Poke feathers into clay bird. Allow to dry completely. Paint bird with poster paint.
• Shape bird's eggs from a ball of clay. Allow to dry, paint them, and then place them into nest.

Cover table with newspaper. Use scissors to cut out heads of flowers (like a tulip) from white paper. Paint the flowers with water color paints. Allow to dry completely. Glue flowers onto popsicle sticks for stems. Pour a small drop of glue into each egg carton cup. Press play dough into glue. Allow to dry completely. Poke popsicle stick flowers into play dough for a garden.

Variation: Place soil in egg carton cups instead of play dough. Then plant seeds. Write the name of seed on popsicle stick flowers.

Paper Bag Picnic Baskets
white craft glue
paper plate
markers
large brown paper bag
old magazines (for food pics)

Cut off top half of the paper bag. Fold over rim of the bag about an inch. Cut a handle from the top half, then glue it onto sides of the rim to make a basket handle. Decorate the basket with markers. Cut food pictures from old magazines and glue onto the paper plate. Place plate in the basket for a picnic.

Variation: Cut out shapes of flowers, bugs or designs out of construction paper. Glue to sides of basket.

Picnic Blanket (Group Project)
large sheet of paper (or poster paper)
markers
old magazines
white glue

Cut a fringe around the edges of a large sheet of paper. Have the kids decorate the blanket with markers. Then have them find pics of food items from old magazines they would like to take on a picnic....they can each glue their selections on the "blanket". Don't forget to draw the ants! Display in room for all to see!

Variation: For individual projects - use 8"x11" white construction paper for each child.

Make a Planter
crayons, pencil crayons, felt markers
scissors
a clean, empty milk or juice carton
construction paper
glue or tape
craft sticks or straws

Open the top of the milk or juice carton and cut off the top to make the planter (4"-6" tall). Wrap and tape or glue construction paper around the planter base. Decorate the planter. Cut a piece of construction paper (4" square) for signs. Write the name of each child and draw pictures of the flowers (or have the kids cut pictures out of magazines) you will grow in your planters on the signs. Attach signs to craft sticks or straws. After planting, stick sign in soil.

Spring Bouquet
felt markers
scissors
cardboard egg cartons
pipe cleaners
green construction paper or ready-made fabric leaves

Cut apart the sections of a cardboard egg carton. Depending on ages of children, you may want to do this ahead of time! Decorate the sections with markers. Use different designs for each flower. Make a hole in the bottom of each flower. Insert a pipe cleaner for a stem, bending and twisting it to keep carton section in place. On green construction paper, draw and cut out leaves for each flower. These work great with Milk/Juice Carton Planters - fill with styrofoam and poke the stems in with a dab of glue on the ends.

Daffodils
construction paper (white or yellow, light blue, green)
tissue paper or small muffin cup liners
scissors
glue

Cut or have kids cut 3 daffodil shapes from yellow or white paper. Glue onto blue paper and cut stems and leaves. Then take little squares of tissue paper and wrap around finger or pencil, dip into glue and make a center for the daffodil. You can also use muffin cup liners for the middle.
CarolRiley

Pussy Willow Pictures
Start with dark construction paper with twigs drawn on. Have the children dip their fingers in white paint and print pussy willows along the stems.

Sunflower
small paper plate (per child)
yellow tempera paint
sunflower seeds (with shells)
green crepe paper
white glue

Paint the paper plate with yellow paint. Allow to dry completely. Apply glue in the center, and sprinkle the sunflower seeds into the glue. Staple a large strip of green crepe paper to the bottom of the paper plate for a stem. With small strips of crepe paper fold in half and scrunch the ends - staple to the stem for leaves. Hang on a wall or attach a string and hang from the ceiling.

"Hairy" Sponges
sponges
grass seed
water

Cut sponges into any shape. Wet sponges with water and sprinkle with seeds. Keep the sponge moist, but not wringing wet and in a few days the grass seeds will sprout giving each sponge "hair"!

Spring Blossoms
yellow construction paper
brown construction paper (cut out tree trunk shape with lots of limbs**)
pink & white tissue paper (cut into 2" squares) - you will need LOTS!!
white glue

Glue tree trunk onto yellow construction paper. Scrunch the tissue paper squares into small balls and glue on to the branches of the tree.

**Variation - For tree trunk trace around the spread out fingers and forearm of each child!

Make a Wind Chime
Using old keys, lids, bolts, washers, anything that will clang when it sways in the wind....

Eggs in a Nest
You will need: white craft glue, construction paper, shirt cardboard, markers,yarn
Use scissors to cut the shapes of bird's eggs from construction paper. Glue the eggs onto cardboard. Glue short strands of yarn under the eggs for a nest. Allow them to dry completely. Use markers to draw tree branches around the nest and speckles on the eggs.

Note: For the younger child you could pre-draw the tree branches on the shirt cardboard.

Make a Worm Farm
All you need is a 2L pop bottle and some black construction paper. Lay the bottle on it's side and poke some holes all over the top. Fill with soil and add worms. Cover with black paper (worms like it dark!). After a day or two, take off the paper and observe the worm holes that that they have made. Return worms to your garden.

Extended activities...
*Make felt worms by cutting out a worm shape x2 and stuffing with cotton. Add
eyes.
*Make "Worms in Dirt" using chocolate pudding, cookie crumbs and gummie
worms... YUMMY (One worm I don't mind LOL!)
*Use string to create worms on paper.
*Start a composter or tend to one that you already have.

Curiousity Kit
In it you place paper, crayon, magnifying glass, tweezers, and anything else you can think of to go exploring. We attached a string so it could be easily carried then went outdoors and explored all the signs of Spring.

Play with Clouds
Give each child a large sheet of paper. Put some shaving cream in the middle of the paper. Aske them to imagine that it is a cloud. How does it feel? What color is it? Let them have fun creating new shapes for their cloud.

Paint with Clouds
Give each child a large piece of blue paper. Set out some white paint. Give each child a coton ball. They can dip it into the white paint, and press onto the blue paper. They will be painting with clouds!

Puffy White Clouds
Cut two cloud shapes out of white fingerpaint paper. Glue around the edges, leaving a small opening. Stuff with tissue paper or toilet paper. Allow to dry and hang.

Science Experiments
Let it Rain - Make rain using an electric kettle and a mirror. The children can see the condensation building on the mirror until it finally "rains". This, of course, is adult directed, but the fun continues with buckets of water, sponges in the shape of clouds. The children soak up water into their "clouds" and then make it rain.

Rain Gauges - set up your rain gauge (from craft) outside, record, and graph the amount of rainfall for each week and a grand total for the month.
Submitted by Ruth (RUTHJRC)

Plant Needs - Take 5 identical plants. Place one under a box, one in the sunshine. Give one water and another none. Provide one with water and sunshine. Observe and discuss what is happening to the plants daily.
Submitted by Ruth (RUTHJRC)

Plants Take in Nourishment - Place a few drops of food coloring (blue, red, or green) in a tall jar filled with lukewarm water.. Snip an inch off the bottom of the stem of a carnation....place in the colored water. Let it sit for a couple of days - watching carefully for any changes. This works well with a celery stock too. (slice into the top of the celery stock (about 2-3 inches) several times - creating spikes.)

How does the Garden Grow?
Many fruit seeds and vegetable cuttings will sprout easily indoors.

Fruit/Vegetable Ideas: whole ear of corn, potato "eyes" (any kind of potato), peas, beans, seeds from various fruit - peach, plum,

Place fruit seeds or veggie cuttings in a shallow pan lined with paper towels and enough water to just cover the seed or vegetable cuttings. Place pan in a warm, bright area and watch and record the changes over the next few days/weeks.

Other Planting Ideas:
In egg cartons with planting soil - grass seed, mustard seed, watercress or herbs. They are fast growing and fun to sample when grown!!

Pineapple.- cut off the top and trim three rows of bottom leaves. Allow to dry for three days. Plant one inch deep in soil, keep moist and in a sunny location.

Onion - find an onion that is already sprouted. Plant in soil - keep moins and in a sunny location.

Hair" Cups!
Plant grass seed or herbs in styrofoam cups. Have the kids draw faces on the front of the cups....as the seeds grow - their cup will grow hair!! They can experiment with childproof scissors and give their cup a hair cut!!

Colorful Celery
celery stalk, jar or glass, water, food coloring

Cut a fewe slits in the bottom of the celery stalk. Fill the jar or glass about 1/2
full of water and add food coloring (darker colors work best - red, blue). Place the celery stalk in the colored water and watch for changes. Record the changes daily. Try using a celery stalk with leaves or white carnations!!

Spring Planting - Indoors
Cut off some carrot tops and put each one in a separate dish with some pebbles. Add just enough water to cover bottom of the carrot. Hide the dishes in a place where there is not too much sun. In just a few days the carrot tops will begin sprouting and turn into plants!

Sensory
Exploring plants - place several types of seeds, leaves, and buds in the sensory table along with magnifying glasses. Allow the kids to observe the small details of seeds, leaves and buds. Later in the day, ask them to describe what they have seen.

Rice Rainbow - fill large baggie with 1/3 cup rubbing alcohol and food color. Add 2 cups uncooked rice. Squish around until all rice is colored. Dry on cookie sheets covered in white or brown packing paper over night. You may need to sift through rice to make sure bottom dries. In the morning we make a rainbow in the sand table by placing each color of rice in an arch... once everyone has seen the rainbow I turn them loose to play in the rice.
Submitted by Leah (ABCSAND123S)

Potpourrie - Create scent pictures using potpourrie that consists of flowers and leaves.
Submitted by Ruth (RUTHJRC)

Last spring, while learning about the parts of plants, I put potting soil in my sensory table (see plans on how to make sensory table on web page), with large seeds (like beans), plants I had pulled up from the ground to see the roots, and some with flowers. I added some cups and spoons, and they played at planting. The surprise was, when I left the cover on for a few days, it had a green house effect, and we grew an accidental garden!
Submitted by Beth (RYJACK16)

Decorating
A bulletin board idea for gardening might be to have the children decorate flower shapes, cut out the centers, and glue a photo of their faces behind each one. Add stems and leaves, and put on a background of grass and sky.The caption might read, "Welcome to Our Garden" or "We are a Great Bunch!"
Submitted by Beth (RYJACK16)

Gardening
If you want to add life to your garden, check out Insect Lore. The kids can experience such things as watching caterpillars turn to butterflies, ladybugs, and hatching praying mantises, and then release them in your garden. There are books on plants that each kind of insect enjoys-you may be able to get them to stick around!
Submitted by Beth (RYJACK16)

Digging Patch - Children love to dig and watch things grow. A great experience for children is to have a little corner in the yard where a patch of dirt is theirs where they can plant something that is easy and fast growing. Each day the children can water their patch of the garden and they will be very excited as they watch it grow.
Submitted by Allison (ALLISONJW)

Story Extenders
If you have the book, "In the Tall, Tall Grass" or can borrow it from the library, you can do a follow up where the kids get scissor practice by cutting a green piece of construction paper in half, and then stapling the ends together to make one long piece. Draw lines down that don't reach the bottom, so that they are cutting many blades of grass. Leave about a 2 inch margin, and they can stamp with bug stamps along it, or stick on bug stickers. When done, measure their heads, and staple to fit.
Submitted by Beth (RYJACK16)

Puddle Jumping
Place several carpet squares (or felt cut into a puddle shape) around the room. Have the children jump into and over the 'puddles'.
Submitted by Ruth (RUTHJRC)

Louder Than Thunder
This is a great activity if you have any children that are afraid of thunder. Provide each child with a tin can or metal bowl and a spoon. Set the activity up near a window area so you can see the flash of lightning to signal a clap of thunder is on its way. Have the children bang on their cans/bowls with the spoons, trying to be louder than the thunder they hear.
Submitted by Ruth (RUTHJRC)

Pussy Willow
(Children crouch on the floor in cat positions. Rise slowly through the verse, then down again on the meows. Jump up on SCAT.)

I know a little pussy,
Her coat is silver gray;
She lives down in the meadow,
Not very far away.
Although she is a pussy,
She'll never be a cat,
For she's a pussy willow.
Now what do you think of that?
Meow, meow, meow, meow,
Meow, meow, SCAT!

The Rain

Pitter-patter, raindrops falling from the sky; (flutter fingers down from the sky)
Here is my umbrella (cup one hand over pointer finger of the other hand)
To keep me safe and dry. (hold over head)
When the rain is over and the sun begins to glow, (make a big circle with your arms)
Little flowers start to bud, (cup two hands together)
And grow and grow and grow! (spread hands apart slowly)

Creatures in the Garden
Really a tickling rhyme, but it's also a nice fingerplay! The first time thru, creep and run fingers along the floor to the children's legs. The second time thru, children join you like this"
Slowly, slowly, very slowly,
Goes the garden snail.
Slowly, slowly, very slowly,
Up the garden rail.
With two fingers, slowly creep up one leg.

Quickly, quickly, very quickly
Quickly runs the little mouse
Quickly, quickly, very quickly
All around the house.
Quickly run fingers around your knees.

Slowly, slowly, very slowly
Creeps the garden turtle
Slowly, slowly, very slowly
Through the garden myrtle.
Slowly creep up other leg with other two fingers.

Quickly, quickly, very quickly
Quickly runs the little rabbit
Quickly, quickly, very quickly
That's his everyday habit.
Quickly run fingers around your knees.

Rain Poem

Rain on the green grass.
And rain on the tree.
Rain on the housetop,
But not on me.

Teeny Tiny Raindrops
Sung to "Eency Weency Spider"

Some teeny, tiny raindrops
Are falling from the sky.
They're filling up the puddles
And dropping in my eye.
Drip, drop, drip, drop,
I love to hear them fall,
For the teeny, tiny raindrops
Mean wet fun for us all.

Daffodil

A little yellow cup
A little yellow frill
A little yellow star
And that's a daffodil.

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary

Mary, Mary, quite contrary
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells, and cockle shells
And pretty maids all in a row!

Flower Song
(Sung to: Frere Jacques")

Lots of flowers, lots of flowers
Bloom in May, bloom in May
May has lots of flowers, no more April showers
May is here, May is here.
-- Submitted by Beth (RYJACK16)

Here's A Little Flower
(Tune of "Did You Ever See a Lassie?")

There's a little flower,
A flower, a flower.
There's a little flower
On my garden path.

A flower so neat!
It's a rose so sweet.
There's a little flower
On my garden path.

(Continue singing additional verses to the song, replacing the word "rose" in the second verse with hollyhock, marigold, zinnia, daisy, bluebell, lily, peony, pansy, tulip, and sunflower.)
-- Submitted by Kathy (KJ_NANNY)

Ten Happy Dandelions

Ten happy dandelions
Growing in a line.
One turned to fluff and
Then there were nine.

Nine happy dandelions
Growing by the gate.
One turned to fluff and
Then there were eight.

Eight happy dandelions
Growing toward heaven.
One turned to fluff and
Then there were seven.

Seven happy dandelions
Growing to be picked.
One turned to fluff and
Then there were six.

Six happy dandelions
Growing up with pride.
One turned to fluff and
Then there were five.

Five happy dandelions
Growing more and more.
One turned to fluff and
Then there were four.

Four happy dandelions
Growing wild and free.
One turned to fluff and
Then there were three.

Three happy dandelions
Growing just for you.
One turned to fluff and
Then there were two.

Two happy dandelions
Growing in the sun.
One turned to fluff and
Then there was one.

One happy dandelion
Having lots of fun.
It turned to fluff and
Then there were none!
-- Submitted by Kathy (KJ_NANNY)

I'm a Dandelion
(Tune of "I'm a Little Teapot")

I'm a dandelion,
Oh, so small. (Crouch down.)
I'm growing bigger; (Slowly rise.)
Now I'm tall. (Stand.)

Soon my yellow blossom (Round arms over head.)
Will turn to fluff.
Along will come the wind (Turn in circle.)
With a great big huff. (Blow.)

Then my dandy seeds (Wiggle fingers above head.)
Will dance around–
Traveling to places;
Floating to the ground. (Lower fingers to the ground.)
-- Submitted by Kathy (KJ_NANNY)

Growing Garden

This movement activity will have youngsters growing from a seed to a vegetable. Recite the story below, which explains the growing process of a plant, and have students pretend to grow.

You are a little seed that's just been planted. (tuck into a ball on the floor)
Your tiny roots start growing down under the ground. (bend toes down toward the floor)
When your roots find water, you can feel it helping you grow. (begin to uncurl)
You are beginning to sprout! (pop up and hold your head high)
You grow toward the shining sun. (stand up)
You are very tall and ready to be harvested. (stand tall)
The farmer comes to pick you! (jump up high)
-- Submitted by Kathy (KJ_NANNY)

Parts of Plants
(Tune of "The Farmer in the Dell")

A seed grows little roots.
A seed grows little roots.
The roots grow down into the soil.
A seed grows little roots.
A seed grows a long stem.
A seed grows a long stem.
The stem grows way up toward the sun.
A seed grows a long stem.
A plant grows many leaves.
A plant grows many leaves.
The leaves grow out quite green and strong.
A plant grows many leaves.
A plant can grow a flower.
A plant can grow a flower.
The flower grows and holds the seeds.
A plant can grow a flower.
-- Submitted by Kathy (KJ_NANNY)

My Flower

My flower grows up towards the sky,
Leaves and stem and petals high.
See the green leaves near the ground.
On the stem is where they're found.
See the petals, count with me,
How many petals do you see?
l, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
See the honeybee come callin',
Buzzin' around in search of pollen.
My flower smiles and says, "Hello."
The bee says, "Thanks!" before he goes.
-- Submitted by Kathy (KJ_NANNY)

Hoe, Hoe, Hoe
(Tune of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat")

Hoe, hoe, hoe your garden
Up and down the rows.
See the [sun] come [shining down] and
watch your garden grow!

Repeat the song, replacing the words in brackets with rain/pouring down.
-- Submitted by Kathy (KJ_NANNY)

Seeds

Some little seeds have parachutes
To carry them around (cup hand downward)
The wind blows them swish, swish, swish, (flip fingers outward )
Then gently lays them on the ground. (let hand gently float down and rest on lap)
-- Submitted by Kathy (KJ_NANNY)

Garden Fingerplay

This is my garden (extend one had forward, palm up)
I'll rake it with care. (make rake motion on palm with 3 fingers of other hand)
And then some flower seeds (do a planting motion)
I'll plant in there
The sun will shine (make circle with hands)
And the rain will fall (let fingers flutter down to lap)
And my garden will blossom. (cup hands together, extend upward)
And grow straight and tall.
-- Submitted by Kathy (KJ_NANNY)

Little Wiggle Worm
(Tune of "The Eensy-Weensy Spider")

The little wiggle worm (wiggle pipe cleaner worm)
Went crawling underground. (wiggle worm under hand)
Down Came the rain; (wiggle fingers downward)
Soon mud was all around. (open arms wide)

Rain filled the tunnels (open hand; move fingers together)
And pushed out the little worm. (push worm through other hand)
So the puddles on the ground (make an O with hand)
Were the only place to squirm. (wiggle worm into O)
-- Submitted by Kathy (KJ_NANNY)

Dirt n Worms Cake (Serves 8 to 10)

1 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
2 3 oz. pkgs. instant vanilla pudding (prepared as per package directions)
1 lb. Oreo cookies, crushed
1 8 oz. container Cool Whip
Gummy worms

In a bowl, mix together cream cheese, sugar and pudding. Fold crushed cookies into Cool Whip
container. Layer mixture in a clean plastic sand pail, starting and ending with cookies. Serve with plastic shovel. For added fun, put gummy worms in as you layer. If you prefer, use a large glass bowl to layer "cake" in, and arrange worms so they can be seen.

Rainbow Spaghetti
Cook regular spaghetti noodles and drain. Fill gallon baggies 1/4 full of water. Add food color to color water. Add part of cooked spaghetti and lightly squish around in baggie until noodles change color. Drain and put in seperate bowls for each color or arrange on plate in a rainbow shape.
Submitted by Leah (ABCSAND123S)