Mortimer’s First Garden

Planting a garden is a great way to celebrate Earth Day. I absolutely loved this book the first time we read it. This is the same mouse from Mortimer’s Christmas Manger. My kids love Mortimer Mouse.

• Read “Mortimer's First Garden” by Karma Wilson … Mortimer hears the big people talking about planting seeds in the dirt. He has one sunflower seed left and decides to see if this miracle is true!

 

• Match the seeds … we can grow so many delicious foods. This fun matching game from Montessori for Everyone shows the inside and outsides of several fruits we eat.
1. Print these wonderful, free matching cards here.
2. Click on the “Whole and Half Fruit” link
3. Cut the cards apart and laminate.
4. Lay all of the whole fruits on the ground.
5. Choose a half fruit and make a match! Be sure to examine the different seeds inside!
6. OPTIONAL: Have a real piece of each of these fruits. When you find a match, cut open the real fruit, examine it, and try a slice!
• Let’s Plant a Garden Fingerplay … a fun fingerplay from The Friend magazine!

photo source: simple kids

• Plant a mini garden … just like Mortimer, let the kids plant a few seeds and watch them grow!
  1. Carefully remove the lid from an empty egg carton. 
  2. Lay newspaper out on the table (or do this outside!)
  3. Use a spoon to fill each section 1/2 full with soil.
  4. Plant a seed in each section. We will plant sunflower seeds!
  5. You may want to label the sections if you plant a variety of seeds.
  6. Top with more soil and spritz with water (use a squirt bottle)
  7. Place in a sunny window.
• Snack Idea: Fruit & Sunflower Seeds!

Vegetable Seed Packets

Okay, these are seriously cute. I can’t believe how amazingly creative some people are! These free, printable seed packets are available at Keeping Life Creative.

   

I wanted to post this now so that all of you with vegetable gardens producing this summer can start saving and drying your seeds. We usually don’t make it to V week until the beginning of March … which is PERFECT to start thinking about your garden and wah-lah! You’ll already have several seeds to plant!

1. Go here to download these seed packets (she has more than just carrots, peas and tomatoes)
2. Unzip and print on cardstock or regular paper.
3. Fold and glue the flaps together. Leaving the top flap open.
4. Add googly to your veggies (probably my favorite part!)
5. Once your seeds are dry, slip them inside the packets and save until next spring!

I also love this idea to make additional packets from Mama Jenn…

1. Trace the packet pattern onto scrapbook paper
2. Add a blank, white rectangle to the front.
3. Have the kids draw a picture and label other seeds you will be saving!

TIP: Check out this website to find great information on saving different types of seeds.