Seeds of Science

The most wonderful thing about a visit to the Michigan 4-H Children's Garden is the opportunity to interact with plants! Plants with eyeballs, plants that whisper secrets, plants that are ticklish, and even plants that explode, all contribute to create a unique environment to learn about plant science. The gardens are in a position to provide students with resources unavailable to them in school as well as our expertise. We have established numerous lessons that seek to engage the curiosity of students and encourage them in asking questions about the plant world. Teachers may choose to study plant parts, plants with problems, why plants are important or even decide to just take an interactive tour of the garden. Docents provide the spark in teaching these different lessons in collaboration with the garden education staff. Seeds of Science is a program that is often a multiple day field trip, a whole day field trip, or it might just be a 3 hour field trip. Docents also have the opportunity to stay connected with students that have visited through our online Wonder Wall. For more information on the specific lessons, visit our Seeds of Science website.

Seeds of Science Lessons:
'Garden Discoveries'
Listed below are short descriptions about the different programs.

To sign up, please RSVP to Jessica Albright,
517.355.5191 x 1-327 or garden4h@msu.edu

Seeds of Science Training
Date to be announced
Introductory training for new docents interested in leading Seeds of Science groups. We will cover educational philosophies, background information on the garden and work through the Important Plants program

Plant Problems
Plant Problems is a unique program that emphasizes the relationship between plants and other living things using an integrated approach of hands-on activities and technology. Students begin the exploration in the Children’s Garden collecting various plant problems (our garden always has many), observing their specimens using hand lens and dissecting microscopes and finally working through a computer program developed especially for the garden (aptly titled; Plant Problems) that enables students to identify their different plant problems, figure out solutions, and determine how those solutions affect living things in the garden.

Important Plants
In this discovery, students realize that plants are important in our everyday lives. Students explore the many uses of plants by doing hands-on lessons in the Cereal Bowl Garden, Perfume Garden, Cloth and Color Garden and Pizza Garden. Each lesson includes observation, sketching, journaling about the plants and then connecting the plants to the final products (lotions, shampoos, cloths, dyes, pizza, cereal, etc).

Plant Parts
Plant Parts begins by looking and thinking about the “whole plant.” Students are able to dissect a plant into the different parts and have opportunities to observe and collect various examples of plant parts in the garden. Students use “body thinking,” and sketching to act out and describe the parts and their associated functions. Plant Parts concludes by bringing the different parts back together to once again form the whole plant. Microscopes, magnifying glasses, stories, journaling, brainstorming and group conversation can be a part of the explorations. Other topics closely associated with plant parts (adaptations, etc.) are available too.

Inquiry with Plants (Plant Growth Experiments)
Plant Experiments starts with an interactive look at science process. Students briefly review the different steps of science process by figuring out the order and the shape in which science begins. They begin with a question (with their own- or one that we have formulated) and explore different ways to develop an experiment that will find an answer. Listed below are experiments that we do often (but are certainly not limited to).

Soils Experiment: The soils experiment charts the growth of a hyacinth bean (or another plant) in different soils. Students collect data in different ways including quantitatively (plant height, width, number of leaves, flowers etc) and qualitatively (observations, color, etc.)

Plant Germination Experiment: This experiment begins with students developing questions and hypotheses about germination. We then create an experiment based on what they want to find out and figure out how to collect data. Questions students have previously pursued include, “How fast will my seed germinate?” “Will my seeds smell when they germinate?” and “Will all my seeds germinate at the same time?

The Salad Bowl Experiment: The Salad Bowl Experiment challenges students to determine the “best” salad greens that should be grown in their classroom. Students begin the experiment at the garden using our recently developed “Individualized Growing Systems” that enable each student to grow their own plants. We create opportunities to connect up with students again using our online Wonder Wall to share observations and questions. Curriculum packet provided.

Science Inquiry: Science Inquiry is an experiment that begins in the classroom before students even visit the garden. They develop questions about plants that interest them and which they would like to know more about. During the garden visit, we will have gathered resources and materials the students will need in order to set up their experiment. Students will bring one set of their experiment back to school and leave another for the garden and we can connect and compare results from the data.

All classes participating in Plant Experiments have the possibility of sustaining a connection to the garden after their visit. We have numerous ways to connect and share data and talk about questions using the internet, including our online WonderWall.

Plant Life Cycles
A plant life cycle lesson can be approached in a couple of ways. The first begins by examining the life stages a plant completes, beginning from seed to growth and finally fruit— thereby incorporating concepts about plant parts. The plant growth experiment can be a part of this or another plant growth version that looks at the early stages of lentil germination and as it develops into seedlings. A plant’s life cycle can last for a few months up to hundreds of years. This second lesson compares the lengths of the life cycles of trees, annuals, perennials and biennials. Both lessons utilize the garden, hands-on activities and chance for reflection.

Seeds on the Go! (fall only)
From the hitchhiker burrs to the lazy, floating, flying seed of a dandelion, seeds travel in a variety of ways. Students will collect and examine different seeds, find out different ways they disperse and learn about their many uses. Students will plant a seed to take home.

Garden ABC's
This program is designed especially for pre-schoolers as an introduction to the Children’s Garden. Children will investigate the garden using all of their senses from rubbing the bumpy leaves of dinosaur kale, smelling the fragrant flowers of lavender and taste the tartness of a begonia! Students can listen to a story from the garden, sketch their favorite thing and plant something to take home with them. Other Garden ABC topics are available.

What other topics can we do?
Insect Life Cycles
Composting
Foods from the Garden: Creating delicious dishes fresh from the garden
Photosynthesis and Respiration
Pollination and Fertilization
Art in the Garden
Music in the Garden

For more information or any questions contact:

Jessica Albright
Education Coordinator,
Michigan 4-H Children's Gardens
B102 Plant & Soil Sciences
East Lansing, MI. 48824-1325
517.355.5191 x 1-327
garden4h@msu.edu

To sign up to volunteer please download an application and mail or fax it to the information listed above.