Sprouting Observations

Earlier this school year, Fay's family generously donated a sprout growing kit to the Tucker Room. Recently, the children have been very interested in digging for worms in the outdoor classroom and discussing their connection to soil and growing plants. Although this kit doesn't require soil to grow, it felt like an appropriate time to test out growing something of our own. 

Monday, April 8th, 2024

Whit: This box is to put the seeds in. Where’s the dirt? 
Bailee: I think the dirt is here (the mesh silicone mat).
Whit: Yes, it’s the dirt.
Ford: So what are those? 
Charlton: They’re seeds.

The kit came with instructions for "How To Grow" the sprouts, which, the children were able to read and follow using the images and numbers. 

Number one, use this box. Number two, take off the top. Number three, put on this (mesh silicone mat). Number four, put in the seeds. Charlton

The children each drew their observations on an envelope and then attached the drawings together to make an envelope book for Day 1 of growing sprouts. 

 Seeds are growing. Whit

 Those are the seeds. This is a spray with water. Charlton

I’m drawing the seeds. It’s raining and this is grass. It can rain on the seeds so it can grow. Bailee​

These are the seeds growing. This is the sky and the sun. They’re (the seeds) getting water and food. They’re being happy.  Ava 

What are they gonna grow into? Ava

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Friday, April 12th, 2024

Zari: I don’t know what those little white things are. 
Isabelle: Can we touch it? They feel weird. They feel like squishy beans. 
Jack: Somebody put the seeds in here. 
The children began using magnifying glasses to look closer at the seeds.
Zari: It’s pretty blurry 
Isabelle: I see seeds. It smells like grass. 
Zari: Everything is way more bigger when I get closer. It’s really really big. 
Rawls: It feels a little sticky. How do they grow? ​

Ellie: Why are they stuck? 
Ford: They growed. 
Charlton: Wait, they actually growed? 
Ava: It smells like peas. 
Charlton: It smells salty. 
Bailee: What are those red things? Bean sprouts? 
Ellie: I can’t pull it out, it’s stuck. 
Bailee: Because it’s still growing. 
Fay: What is this? Sprouts? 
Ellie: I think some of them need more time to grow
Zari: Maybe it’s the one that already started growing. 

I’m gonna draw these green things. I drew the white lines (the sprout stocks). It's almost gonna grow. Isabelle

These are the seeds growing. This is the box around them. These are lines that are attached. Ava

 They’re sprouting. They're going to pop up! Jack

 I’m drawing all different kinds of the seeds. They're little seeds sprouting. They're so tiny to be sprouting. They look like babies. Zari

​Purple and green seeds are growing. Ford

The children will have the opportunity to further apply their observation and research skills as they tend to our growing sprouts in the weeks ahead!

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A look at next week...

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