Fun Garden Activities for Kids, Part 1
Homemade Plant Pots for Starting Seedlings
Newspaper Plant Pots for Starting Seedlings
The time has come. Winter is in full force but gardeners everywhere are scouring seed catalogues to buy seeds for this year's crops. Get kids involved in the process - let them pick some of the varieties you will be growing. For older kids, you can put them in charge of those plants.
When your seeds arrive, continue the excitement by making these easy newspaper plant pots to start the seeds in. Round or square, tall or short, decorated or not, these plant pots are a cheap and easy way to get kids involved in gardening. And, when the time comes, you can plant these pots directly in the ground, letting the newspaper decompose naturally.
What you need:
* Newspaper
* Soil
* Seeds
* Water
* Scissors
* 2-4 inch Jar
* Markers for decorating
How to make them:
* Take four to five sheets of newspaper layered together and cut out a rectangle long enough to wrap all the way around your bottle.
* Take a jar about 2-4 inches in diameter and roll the newspaper around it. Secure with a piece of tape.
* Turn the bottle upside down (be sure the lid is screwed on tight if it still contains liquids) and pull the newspaper up until you can fold it over the bottom of the bottle.
* Fold two sides over and secure with tape before folding the other two sides over. Place one more piece of tape on the bottom.
* Remove the newspaper from the bottle and voila! If you want a shorter pot, go around the top edge, folding the newspaper inward.
* Now you're ready to begin decorating! (Remember to label your pots).
* Fill each pot with soil, place your seed in the soil 1/2 to 1 inch down, and water. Place pots on a tray and set in a sunny spot inside your home. Let your kids know how and when to water the seedlings. You could even put a schedule up on the wall or fridge as a reminder.
* Take pictures and showcase your kids' amazing creations on your garden page on YourGardenShow. You can tag the plants the kids are growing, chart their progress (the seedlings that is) and share with friends and family on Facebook or by email. Don't have an account? It's easy and it's free! Just visit YourGardenShow.
Bio: A native Kansan with Okie roots, Kate Hoppe’s background has informed her contributions to environmental and social organizations over the last 15 years - from farm apprentice and public relations associate for Backpacker magazine to youth educator. She currently works with YourGardenShow as a creative marketing and social media guru.
- Categories // : Garden Resources
- Tags: activities for kids, garden, Kate Hoppe, kids, kids gardening, newspaper plant pots, newspaper pots, planting seeds
Comments (1)
Really a good activity for those fun loving kids. You can add another fun project of building a scarecrow. Teach them that bees, butterflies and insects visit the plants, show kids that these too belong in the garden. Insects pollinate flowers and are food for birds and other animals; even pests are interesting to watch and learn from.