Activity: "Eggcellent" Ideas!
Help your child explore how much fun it is to create a unique and "eggcellent" indoor grass garden!
Materials:
- white and brown eggshells
- potting soil
- various types of grass seeds (germinate in about 3 weeks) or bean seeds (germinate in several days)
- marker, water or acrylic paint with small brushes
- regular school glue or hot glue (with supervision)
- plastic can lid, metal jar lid, or small square of cardboard
Directions:
Collect tiny eggshell "flowerpots" by cleaning and drying the fat shell ends as you use eggs in your kitchen. Glue the ends upright to lid or cardboard surface. Paint or mark outside of eggshell and allow paint/marker to dry. Fill eggshell a little more than half-way full of potting soil. Add several seeds, cover with soil, and sprinkle with water. Place in lighted area during the day. Keep soil moist but not wet. Option: Use glitter, small ribbon, or tiny stickers for decorating eggshell.
Talk about It: Ask your child to share ideas about the seasons, especially spring. Then ask your child to name what he/she thinks grass and other plants needs to grow- (Possible answers: soil or dirt; water or rain; light or sun; and oxygen or air).
Take it Further: Encourage your child to create a shoe garden to enjoy and care for by first lining the inside of old sneakers with plastic. Fill sneakers with potting soil, seeds, and keep lightly watered. Place by a window or light source. When grass gets too tall, use the scissors to "mow" and keep grass neatly trimmed. Add a lady bug or two and enjoy!
With a Group: Use this "eggcellent" idea to encourage your group to make a mosaic work of art together! Dip two dozen (or more!) hard-boiled eggs into various colors of food coloring. Remove eggshells, separate by color, and break into small pieces. Make large or individual mosaics (pictures made from using small pieces of material) of birds, other animals, or by filling in bubble letters or Clifford coloring pages available on this Web site.
