Cloverbuds Get Down and Dirty

As soon as we started the day all the cloverbuds knew they were going to get the chance to play in dirt (for those serious gardeners I should say soil...but dirt translates so much better to 5-8 year olds) and most were excited about this opportunity. Of course there was lots of fun to happen before we got down to shoveling dirt.

We started the morning by splitting into groups to play lots of games that get us moving. They are all fun games we can play at home and will keep in motion and away from televisions and computers. We got to dance to High School Musical Music on a dance mat. We hopped around on our hopscotch rug. Then we fell all over ourselves to play twister, and had all sorts of fun rolling the fitness dice and following the instructions. It was all a sample of different ways to be entertained and maintain movement in our lives and help build the foundation for a healthier lifestyle.

After our morning snack we split into groups to work with Mrs. Christy and Mrs. Janice. We worked on recycling cans and offering a new purpose to them. Today we painted them, and other accessories (that will be magnetic) and will get to decorate them tomorrow. Mr.s Janice taught us how to make salsa. We got to stir and measure and find out all about cilantro. We will try the salsa on Friday after it sits and we make chips to go with it.

After lunch and story time Mrs. Kerrie came to visit. She told us all about plants and that it takes sun, water, air and nutrients (or food) for plants to grow. Miss. Shea Ann said love was also involved and Mrs. Kerrie said it might be five things it takes for a plant to grow. She read Jack and the Beanstalk to us and then she let us decorate our very own pots. After she showed us that a plant doesn't have to be in a pot to grow. We planted a bean seed in a wet paper towel and put it in a plastic bag. When it sprouts we will plant it in a pot and let it grow even bigger. She also let us plant beans in our decorated pots. We added our own soil to them and made the hole for the seed and watered them. It was lots of fun.

For snack we got to have sweet potato chips with yogurt dip. Mrs. Janice dehydrated thin slices of sweet potatoes until they were crispy and then we dipped them in a special dip we helped make on Tuesday. It was really good.

We ended the day by finding out that a hamburger could be a plant. Everything in and on a hamburger comes from plants. We even had the chance to design and draw our own hamburger plants and share them with everyone. Mrs. Kerrie drew one also and we had a contest to see who had the best drawing. Miss Shea Ann said it was a tie.

At the end of the day we had learned all about plants and had become official gardeners. We had recycled and learned some fun healthy cooking recipes. Just one more day to go. Can't wait to see what is in store.