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Materials:

1. Calendar
2. Science scrapbook
3. Beeswax crayons- preferably stick
4. Seeds you have collected
5. Glue
6. Seed saving materials:
• plants with seed pods
• flowers with seed pods
• Paper
• Envelopes
• Pencil or pen

Steps:

1. Continue working with moon phases in your child’s calendar.
2. Read “The Life Cycle of a Seed” to your child. This story should help him to understand the cycle of a seed. You will need to read this story again in the spring.
3. Have your child draw a picture of a plant with roots, stem, leaves, and seeds. Explain to him that the plant needs food, water, air, sunlight, and a place to live.
4. Now you are ready to begin your collection of the various seeds available in your area (acorns, pine cones, holly and juniper berries). The evergreen cones are hard, in order to protect the seeds growing inside. Three kinds of evergreens that have cones are the fir, the pine and the spruce. However, some evergreens do not have cones, and instead, seeds grow inside berries, such as with the holly and juniper berries. When you have collected some cones and berries, you may have your child draw pictures of the cones in his book, or glue individual seeds onto the page, with labels of tree names.
5. Seed saving: We have discovered that everything a plant needs to start new life is contained in each seed. This activity will allow you to follow the process of growth from its inception. To begin, watch the plants in your area closely as the blooms turn to seedpods. Wait until they are dry and crisp, then pick a pod and open it gently. If the seeds are green and soft, wait until they are brown and dry. Spread the contents of the seed pod on a piece of paper and separate the seeds. Put the seeds into an envelope and write the kind of seed on it. Draw a picture of the plant from whence it came. Save until it is planting time in your area. Then, plant the seeds, water and watch what happens!

Further study:

This is a perfect opportunity to visit a working orchard, if possible, in your area. Often, they will give tours and discuss the development of a garden. If you choose to follow this activity, make sure that it is as experiential as possible. Children at this age do not follow didactic learning exercises for long!