Storytime: Gardens!

Spring and Summer means it’s time to garden! I love planting my garden and seeing things grow, and even more than that I love eating all the yummy produce it creates!

Introduction: I asked the kids if they or their grownups had a garden. Being in the Midwest, almost every kid said yes. Haha! But when I asked what they grew or what their garden was like, that’s where the major differences came out! Some had flowers, others veggies. Some had large gardens, some had small patio gardens. We talked about the differences and similarities and how all of the gardens were amazing. Then we led into our ECRR Hello Song.

ASL Sign of the Day: The sign for “Garden” is also the sign for “Spring” and “Grow” If you do the motion a single time, it means “Grow.” If you use the motion twice, it means “Spring.” To sign “Garden,” you do the single motion, move your hands 1-2 inches over, then sign again.

Book: Lola Plants a Garden by Anna McQuinn

Lola hears the rhyme “Mary, Mary Quite Contrary” and decides she’d like to grow a garden, too! Her parents help her research, buy, and plant the garden before having friends over to see it. I love that they actually RESEARCH their plants in this book! It’s definitely not something that is usually shown in children’s books on this topic, but so much work goes into a garden!

Rhyme: This is My Garden

Book: What Does Bunny See? by Linda Sue Park

Bunny hops through the garden, stopping to name colors and names of all that it sees! This one is a great guessing game of what color will come next as our funny bunny friend explores.

Scarf Activity W/ Song: I passed out the scarves and we did a little imagination activity. After the activity, we dance and blow in the wind to Peter, Paul, and Mary’s Garden Song.

“We’re going to pretend to be flowers, but before we can be flowers, what are we? Seeds! That’s right! So let’s crouch down as low as you can be and scrunch up your scarf in your hands all the way until you can’t see it!
Now breathe in, 1, 2, 3. hold your breathe. Now out 1, 2, 3. The sun is shining down, do you feel its warmth? Now breathe in, 1, 2, 3. hold your breathe. Now out 1, 2, 3. Rain is falling down, big, cool drops, plopping on your back. Now breathe in, 1, 2, 3. hold your breathe. Now out 1, 2, 3.
Ok, it’s time for the seed to sprout! Come on up, raise your face to the sky, feel the sun! And we’re growing even more because the sun and rain make us strong. Stand on your knees, we’re growing so tall! The bud is beginning to bloom, just a little so pull your scarf halfway out of your hands. Do you see that beautiful color?
Now breathe in, 1, 2, 3. hold your breathe. Now out 1, 2, 3. Sometimes the wind get strong and blows us to the right. Lean over, the wind is blowing us! And sometimes it blows us to the left! But we grow and grow and grow! Stand up, straight and tall on your tippy toes! And the bud blooms all the way into a flower! Look around, do you see our garden?”

Book: The Bear’s Garden by Marcie Colleen

I think it’s important to show preschoolers representation in as many ways as possible. This book is a great example of a non-traditional garden and the beauty it brings to a neighborhood.

Closing: We review our ASL sign of the day and sing our goodbye song, Tickle the Clouds.

More Books to Check Out: