While many places are still covered in snow, the time for planning the garden is here. . .
. . . from sourcing seeds and starting seedlings indoors. . .
. . . to making calendars. . .
. . . for the coming days when green shoots will thrive in the dirt outside. . .
. . . yes, the magic of the growing season is here!
Planning the Garden: Free Activities + Downloads
1. A great way to get the garden ball rolling is with a simple calendar. This simple printable calendar incorporates the seeds themselves as a visual reminder of when to start seedlings and when to put them in the ground.
2. If you prefer a more three dimensional calendar, this sweet cloth garden calendar includes tiny cloth veggies that can be put into pockets. So much fun for little ones learning about plants and the growing season.
3. Looking for an eco-friendly way to start those seeds? Try your hand at these sweet little eggshell seedlings!
4. Plants aren't the only things that are growing like weeds! Check out this cute cloth growth chart tutorial and talk about how things grow with your kiddos by measuring their height.
5. Once plants start to grow outdoors, make a Spring Theater to observe the magic of the season up close.
6. And finally, get to know your seeds with a game of Seed Swap! We made these printable cards to play a game of Seed Go Fish and more:
To make the game simply click on the image above for a full size printable download. Drag the image to your desktop or print from the page directly. Each page will print templates for 4 playing cards.
To start off, pick four different seeds (whatever interests your little gardeners). Make those seeds into the different card suits by drawing pictures of them in the center of the blank side of the cards numbering them like a regular card set up to the number 13 (we used the numbers 11,12, and 13 instead of Jack, Queen, and King). You would then have four groups of 13 cards, with cards like a "4 of carrot" or a "6 of tomato".
Use these cards to play a standard game of go fish like you would with any other card deck.
Alternately you could also play seed trivia by making many different cards with the seed drawn or glued on one side and the description on the other. Players would then choose a card and have to guess the seed's name from the drawing/real seed on the front of the card.
Additional Resources:
Check out our gardening category in the shop for loads of lovely gardening tools and seeds!
Happy Early Spring!
~ Sarah
*Last time in Crafts and Activities: Marching In
