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Energy in the Garden
     

 

What is the best bed for baby seeds?

      Pre Kindergarten children   worked with a teaching assistant  to investigate the best bed for baby seeds.  They were  offered  several choices for constructing  the best possible bed for their baby seeds:  brown bags, plastic bags,  paper towel,  kleenex, foil, soil and water.  

    Recommended Children's Literature:   I am a seed by Jean Marzollo.

Planting

  

Colby planted his five seeds in soil inside a plastic bag inside the brown bag..

Darin planted his four seeds inside a plastic bag on a moist tissue inside the brown bag.

Rehana planted her four seeds in soil inside the bag and the bag sat on top of a moist cloth.

Alyssia's four seeds in soil in a plastic baggie.

Briana's seeds in a plastic baggie with water.

Autumn's four seeds were planted in soil inside the foil.

Observations

Colby: "I see moisture on the bag and bubbles on top of the soil."
Darin: "I see roots.  They are white.  There is a green stem and the bean is open at the top."
Rehana: "I see white mold, and the bean is growing through the bag and the mold."
Alyssia: "The beans are growing, just a little.  We left the bag open because my soil was too wet.  I see bubbles in my bag and water on the plastic bag.  Ms. Joe said that the bubbles were air bubbles."
Briana: "The water was white like milk and stinky.  I don't see anything.  I think there is too much water.  I will leave the bag open to dry up some of the water."
Autumn: "I can't see my seeds."

 

   In addition to verbal descriptions, observations were structured by using a seed germination chart.  Every time a change in the seed growth was observed, the children would move a picture of the change from a "pocket" on the board to the appropriate place on the board.

 

Evaluation:

   The children were asked what they thought caused the seed bed to turn out the way it did:

Colby: "There was too much moisture and no sun to dry up the water in the soil.  There was funny green stuff on top."
Briana: "There wasn't enough water and soil for the seed to grow.  Seeds turned dark and they smell funny"
Autumn: "The aluminum foil blocked out the sun completely."

 

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