Vibrant Letter V (Alphabet ~ Single Stem Post)

Vibrant V week was tons of fun! We did some vinegar experiments, blew up some volcanoes and had fun with vegetables. It was a very science-based letter so that made my day (wait, who is this for? Oh yeah the boys loved it too)!

 For the rest of the Alphabet, go HERE!

Enjoy this
Vibrant V for
(Seedlings ~ preschool age)...

What we did for the Vibrant Letter V?...

Window Cold Frame (Single Stem Post)

Here in CO we often get snow in April and May but I start getting excited about warmer weather and gardening in March so I usually have starter plants throughout the house for a couple months and they usually don't do well because I struggle with the last step of hardening them off before planting. Anyhow, this year I asked my hubby if he would prefer if I built a small seed starter house or a cold frame to solve my dilemma of starting plants early. He opted for the cold frame (don't tell him but I probably will build a little seed starter house some day as well - just can't get it out of my mind). I am very excited for the Cold Frame - easy to build and great benefits to the garden! A cold frame lets gardeners start plants a few weeks earlier in the spring and they can be planted right in the ground because the cold frame sits over them, so no transplanting! Plants that have been started in the fall can also last longer in colder weather - a freeze won't knock them out because they will have protection in their little home! Now when I say this is easy to build I am serious. It is a great project for beginning builders. Check out the easy directions below.

Enjoy this single stem idea of Window Cold Frame

1. Get a window. I bought mine off of Craigslist for $15. It's size is 28" by 56 1/2". If you can't find an old window you can get a piece of glass or plexiglass at a home improvement store.

2. Buy or scrounge up some wood (see drawing below to figure how much wood you will need). I got my end piece in the clearance section of Home Depot for 51 cents! For the front and back I bought a 16 foot 1x6" piece of lumber. To fit it into my car I had the guy at HD cut it for me into three 56 1/2" pieces and then I was left with a little scrap to attach my 2 back pieces (saved me some cutting also).

3. Cut wood (see drawing below).

 

4. Screw end pieces to front and back pieces. I used deck screws.

 

5. Screw hinges on window and then on back of cold frame. You can also add a handle (I bought a little birdie door knob from Hobby Lobby but haven't put it on yet).

 

6. Paint. I painted it an off white that we had for our house trim. The kids painted with acrylic paints after the off white dried.

 

7. Set in your garden and begin planting! (we planted some spinach, carrots, broccoli and lettuce).
*I also have a little stick out there that I can use to prop up when we water or when we want to let air in if it gets too hot.

Change dimensions to fit your window

Please BRAINSTORM your ideas/suggestions in the COMMENTS below for the Window Cold Frame!
Happy Gardening
~Sara

In the Garden (Bouquet Theme)

Working in the garden with the seeds, dirt, flowers, vegetables and little critters is one of my favorite things to do. Kids love it as well so it was a fun theme!

Here are a few ideas and details for a
In the Garden Themed Event for
Sprouts and Seedlings (toddler/preschool and elementary age)...

We started out reading the book The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle – the kids had fun looking for the tiny seed on each page. Then we divided up into three craft stations. We then had snack, ran through the sprinkler and finished up one of the crafts. It was a great morning for in the garden!
The Tiny Seed BOOK

The Stuff	The Prep	The FUN!
The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle	Check out the book from the library, buy it from your favorite book store or my favorite online bookstore of www.half.com	1. Read the book and discuss the journey of the seed!

We did the next three crafts in centers with and a helper at each one. The kids rotated through each of the three stations and played and read books a little in between.

Basil in a Bottle
Most herbs, flowers or veggies will do for the planter.

The Stuff	The Prep	The FUN!
Empty soda bottle w/ lid (we used 2 liters) Marker Exacto knife Scissors Soil Plant or seed (we used basil) water	Mark a line around the bottle 5 inches up from the bottom Cut a small slit with the exacto knife along the marker line so the kids can keep cutting around the bottle	1. Kids use the slit to start their scissors and cut along the marker line. Some kids may need help with this. 2. Flip the top of the bottle upside down into the bottom of the bottle. 3. Fill the top of the bottle with soil. 4. Add a plant or seed to the soil. 5. Pull the top of the bottle out and unscrew the lid. Add water in the bottom of the bottle. *We also sprinkled some water of the newly transplanted basil. 6. Put the top of the bottle back on top of the bottom and discuss how the water will seep up to the roots first.

Tissue Box Vase
This craft was from Creme de la Craft blog ~ check out the blog for great pictures and directions. She made hers with a larger tissue box which looked amazing but we used the smaller cube like ones. It was intended for a much older crafter but we thought it would be fun to try with the younger kids. I like crafts that have several stages and this one certainly did. They turned out beautiful! We used artificial flowers but fresh cut flowers would look even better!

The Stuff	The Prep	The FUN!
Tissue box Newspaper strips Plastic disposable cups Modge podge Paint Foam brushes Raffia or ribbon (optional)	Prep newspaper so it is in strips or have kids do this Pell off plastic strip from tissue box hole	1. Use foam brush to apply a layer of Modge podge. 2. Apply a layer of newspaper strip over the Modge podge and repeat until tissue box is covered. Let dry. 3. Apply a layer of paint over the tissue box. Let dry. 4. Tie a ribbon or raffia around the tissue box. 5. Insert plastic cup into the hole of the tissue box. 6. Add flowers (and water if the flowers are real)!

Veggie Prints
This is a type of print that I have been wanting to try and the results were lovely! We laminated ours and made them into place mats but they would also look great as cards!

The Stuff	The Prep	The FUN!
Paper Paint Plates for paint Veggies (we used lettuce, celery, carrots and corn on the cob)	Cut the ends off the veggies Put paint on plates	1. Dip veggies in paint and press on paper. 2. Repeat until picture looks great!

Flower and Veggie SNACK

The Stuff	The Prep	The FUN!
Sugar cookie dough Life savers Flower cookie cutter (optional) Veggies	Bake sugar cookies with a life saver in the middle Cut up veggies	1. Kids can use the veggies to add to the flower by making a stem and leaves. 2. Then they can just gobble it up.

More ideas…

 

We also read
the book
My Garden

 

Please BRAINSTORM your ideas/suggestions in the COMMENTS below for the In the Garden Event!
Happy Crafting
~Sara, Becky and Keri