Little Learners: Garden

Vegetables and flowers grow in gardens, but what else can you find there? Find out with this week's books and activities. 

#READ: My Little Garden by Katrin Wiehle 

My Little Garden book cover

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Hedgehog, Mouse and Sparrow live in the garden and introduce readers to their home: showing the vegetable plots, the fruit trees, and the many other creatures who share their world. 

Increase pre-literacy skills as you read together: 

  • Read the names of the animals, flowers, fruits, and vegetables and ask your little one to repeat them.
  • Pause periodically to ask your little learner if they like the fruits and vegetables in the book. Ask them to talk about why they like them.  
  • Talk about the colors of the animals and plants in the book. Ask your little one if they can think of other things that are the same color. 

READ

#SING: The Seeds Grow 

(Tune: The Farmer in the Dell) 

The gardener plants the seeds 
The gardener plants the seeds 
Deep down inside the ground 
The gardener plants the seeds 
 
The rain clouds give them water 
The rain clouds give them water 
Seeds need some water to drink 
The rain clouds give them water 
The sun gives heat and light 
The sun gives heat and light 
Seeds like it warm and bright 
The sun gives heat and light 
 
The gardener pulls the weeds 
The gardener pulls the weeds 
Seeds need the room to grow 
The gardener pulls the weeds 
 
The seeds grow into flowers 
The seeds grow into flowers 
Flowers that are beautiful 
The seeds grow into flowers 

#EXPLORE: Garden Sensory Bin 

Young child holding a leaf

Materials 

  • Plastic bin
  • Soil
  • Real or artificial leaves, twigs, or flowers 
  • Optional: plastic garden tools or beach shovel from your little one's playset 

Instructions 

  1. Place bin outside and fill it with bagged soil or encourage your little one to use their hands or plastic shovel to dig and scoop dirt directly from the ground into the bin. 
  2. Put artificial leaves, twigs, or flowers in the bin or search all around with your little one for leaves and flowers. 
  3. Pretend to be gardeners. Talk to your little one about what is in their garden. If their garden is full of vegetables, ask about the types of vegetables. If it is a flower garden, ask about the colors of the flowers.  

#JOIN: Let's go up, down, and all around gardens when you join us for a virtual or in-person program! 

View all early childhood programs and events offered this week.

For virtual programs, registration is required to receive the Zoom link; use the link in the program information to register.

For in person programs, registration is required; if space allows, walk-ins will be admitted. Use the link in the program information to register.

#KEEP READING: Explore different types of gardens in these books.  

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