What a wonderful way for kids K-3 to learn about and share in the excitement of gardens ... even in those cold winter months. This lesson incorporates Art, Reading, Writing and Science.

What You Need:

• A large sheet of thick paper eg: poster board or Bristol board.
• Construction paper or felt --- many colors.
• Scissors, glue and a hole punch.
• String, heavy yarn or raffia.
• Pencils and regular printing paper

What You Do:

• Cut the thick poster paper into 2 equal pieces. These will be the front and back covers of your journal. Punch three holes on the edges of your paper.
• Next, draw and cut out all kinds of things found in gardens. Use your colored construction paper. Flowers, plants, butterflies, bean stalks, blades of grass and yes, even weeds! Be sure to draw and cut out a sunshine ... gardens depend on the sun after all! Visit KinderGARDEN for inspiration
• Glue your garden images onto your front cover.
• Write on your front cover in BIG BOLD LETTERS The Grow Zone
• Punch holes into your plain printing paper and put your book together using the string or raffia to tie it together.
• Inside the journal you could write all sorts of things. Here are some ideas:

1. Descriptions of plants. red roses; tall corn stalks; tasty peas
2. Animals and insects found in gardens.
3. Types of gardens (water, vegetable, flower)

• You could also do some planting in the classroom and keep a journal of what seeds were planted, when and how many. Also you could write down how much water the seeds get. When the growth started and how much the plant grows every week.