- Use a cookie sheet as the base and have the child build a border around the outer edge of the pan. She can stack blocks up two or three high creating an area that can be filled with dirt for the garden. Plant small vegetable seeds, such as carrots, peppers and tomatoes in the dirt. If desired, have her build up the back side of the garden box and tape the seed packets to the wall for easy vegetable identification.
- Using a shallow plastic bin filled with sand, let your preschool class design and create a Zen garden using blocks, plastic trees and rocks. Have your students place the items throughout the garden, making small houses and mazes. Using a plastic fork, let the students draw designs in the sand of the garden.
- Find a section in the block area where your entire class can work on building a bean teepee out of blocks and bamboo sticks. Tape off a 4-foot-by-4-foot section in the corner of the block area and have kids place larger blocks creating a wall approximately 2 feet tall. Tape four bamboo sticks approximately 5 feet long together at one end and spread out forming a four-sided teepee. Place the un-taped ends of each bamboo stick in a corner of the block box the kids made. Soak the bean seeds overnight in water. Place dirt in the bottom of the block box and plant the bean seeds. As the beans grow, attach the plants to the bamboo sticks using wire, twist ties or fishing line.
- Have each preschooler design his own green house using the items in the block area. Once his greenhouse is built, help him line the floor and walls with plastic wrap. Fill the bottom with dirt and plant small plant seeds, such as onions, peppers or tomatoes in the dirt. Top off the building with a clear plastic sheet so he can watch his greenhouse garden grow.
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