Finding Seeds

Scout with her mason jar habitat & apple head carving.

Science Friday was a great big adventure! We hiked up to the watering hole, and found that many things had changed since we last were there. Black eyed susans had sprung up, the horsetail was shooting up new tendrils down the edge of the water, and some baby dill plants began pushing their heads up, thinking it was spring.

We brought mason jars up to the watering hole, and layered them with rocks, then soil, then moss. Maisie found dock seeds dried to the end of a long stock. We picked some off and gently put them into our jars, and tapped soil over them. We sealed them up to wait for magic to happen.

After making our jar habitats, we put on our Owl Eyes, and Deer Ears and hiked up to the pond. We were looking for signs of fall. Jack, our cartographer, ran up ahead. He yelled out, "signs of fall", as he kicked through layers of oak leaves. The littles came running up to join in the fun of kicking the leaves. Willa, called out "more signs of fall!" as she grabbed, plucking off the pink, red, and yellow round redbud leaves. "Let's sail boats", Grace said, and the children ran to the pond edge to glide their boats onto the water's surface.

On the bank of the pond, Scout noticed the wild grasses had seeds on their tips, and began sliding her fingers across the stem and flinging the grass seed into the breeze, watching them flutter across the pond. "The air is spreading the seeds for the grass, the water will carrying the seed to another part of the pond, to root and grow. What other ways can seeds spread?" I said.

Jack, quickly called out, by animals, on their fur, Maisie chimed in, by humans on their shoes, and Willa said, in bird poop! Giggles rose up from the group. Yes!  you are all correct.

​Children in nature, attuned to the beauty that surrounds them, no better learning environment. 

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