Observing Plant Growth

• Framework: IPC
• Unit: Flowers and Plants
• Learning area: General

Materials

• Plastic milk jugs (empty, pre-cut)
• Planting soil
• Fast-growing flower or vegetable seeds
• Water
• Small rulers
• Observation journals

Instructions

Prepare milk jugs before the lesson by cutting away the top half while leaving the handle and base intact to create planting containers. Gather children and explain that they will become plant scientists, growing their own seeds and recording what they observe.

Guide each child to fill their container with soil, making a small hole with their finger. Demonstrate how to place a seed in the hole and cover it gently with soil. Help children insert a small ruler into the soil beside the seed to measure future growth.

Establish a watering routine and discuss where to place containers for optimal sunlight. Create a simple observation schedule: children will check their plants daily for moisture and record observations weekly through drawings in their journals.

Over the following weeks, facilitate observation sessions where children draw their plants, measure growth against the ruler, and describe changes they notice. Conclude the unit by comparing initial and final observations, discussing what helped the plants grow.

Assessment

Observe each child's ability to follow planting steps and record growth observations over time.

More from Flowers and Plants

• Pine Cone Bird Feeder
• Garden Full of Hope
• Flower Power Story
• Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary
• Flower Word Book
• Flower Crown
• Tissue Paper Flower Bouquet
• Pop-Up Flower Card