Mothers always love every gift a child gives, but there is only so much room on the refrigerator door. This year help your students to create potted memories that will grow beyond Mother's Day!
Content Areas: Art, Fine Motor Skills, Science, Research, Computer Skills,
Materials: Craft foam in various colors, craft sticks, one package of kitchen herb seeds per child (parsley, basil, cilantro, dill, oregano, lavender, etc.), white glue, glue gun and glue sticks, a wallet sized picture of each child, terra cotta pots (one per student - 6'-12"), quality potting soil, tempera paint, wax paper, note cards, tissue wrapping paper, clear tape
Activities:
Note: This activity will take at least two class periods.
1. Make a Flower:
- Ask students to draw and cut out a daisy-style flower approximately 5" wide on colored craft foam.
- Then have students cut out a 3" circle from white or yellow craft foam (Classroom Management Tip: You might want to have stencils or compasses on hand for this activity).
- Glue the 3" circle onto the center of the 5" flower
- Take out the wallet sized pictures. Have students cut out a 1-1 1/2" circle around their face.
- Glue the photograph circle onto the middle of the 3" circle.
- Use a glue gun to attach each child's flower to a craft stick. Set aside.
- Students may want to put a "Happy Mother's Day Message" on craft foam leaves (also attached to the craft stick stem using the glue gun) or on the craft stick stem itself.
2. Make a Handprint Pot:
- Provide each child with a terracotta pot. (Class Management Tip: Ask various home and garden shops for a donation or a reduced rate for buying multiple pots)
- Provide each child with a piece of wax paper (approximately 12"X12")
- Pour tempera paint onto each piece of wax paper.
- Ask students to smear the paint around on the paper until their hands are evenly coated with the paint.
- Have each student make handprint decorations on his or her pot. Set pots aside to dry.
3. Plant Herb Seeds:
- Place potting soil in the handprint pots.
- Plant herb seeds in the pots according to the instructions on the seed packets.
- Ask each student to put his or her craft foam flower into the pot.
- Water and place in a sunny spot.
- Most herbs sprout within 7-14 days. Keep soil damp.
4. Add a Recipe Card:
- Ask students to use the internet to find a recipe that uses the herb that they have grown.
- Students should either type or neatly write the recipe onto a pretty note card (this could be home made).
- Gently wrap each pot with a couple of pieces of colored tissue paper secured with tape.
- Place the recipe card in an envelope.
Now each child's mother will have an herb in a special pot that can be used for a special recipe!
Classroom Tip: Use this activity in conjunction with a gardening unit complete with student-made compost and garden poetry
Susan Hyde - I am a college English instructor, freelance writer, and homeschool mom to two wonderful boys, ages nine and eleven. After graduating from ...
