Investigating Seeds in Preschool Farm Theme Science Center

Preschool farm activities include a lot of fun with learning about animals and tractors, fruits and vegetables but what about learning about the seeds that grow into the food we eat? It’s easy to add some seed packets to your preschool farm theme science center.

This post contains seven ways to learn about seeds in your farm science center.

LEARN ALL ABOUT SEEDS IN PRESCHOOL FARM THEME SCIENCE CENTER

One of my favorite farm theme activities is investigating seeds. It’s perfect for your farm science center, but works well for small groups and is an excellent farm circle time activity, too!

Have you ever seen the awe in a young child’s face when they see a real seed grow from being teeny tiny to big and tall, and then producing food we actually eat or plants we can visually enjoy? At first they seem to think it is magic as a seed grows into a plant right before their eyes, so using a farm science center is a great way to encourage that awe and maybe inspire curiosity.

SEED ACTIVITIES IN PRESCHOOL FARM THEME SCIENCE CENTER

While I typically include this science center in my farm theme, it is equally as appropriate for a plants and gardening preschool theme, too.

MATERIALS

• A variety of seed packets
• Snack size zip-top baggies
• Magnifying glass
• Tray (to keep the activities together)

THE SET-UP FOR THE SEED ACTIVITIES

The set-up is simple. Just open each seed packet and pour the contents into a snack size zip-top baggie. Seal the baggie, and if you have toddlers or young preschoolers who might open the baggies, then tape them closed. Be sure to put the seed packet itself in the baggie as well.

Be sure to select a wide variety of size, color, and textures for your seeds. Your preschoolers will take notice of all those attributes.

Place the seed packets on a tray with a few magnifying glasses and invite your preschoolers to observe and investigate.

LEARNING ABOUT SEEDS FARM ACTIVITY

The first time I offer this seed activity I like to do it during circle time. As I mentioned, it makes an engaging farm circle time activity.

Give each preschooler a seed packet and a magnifying glass. You might need to demonstrate how to use the magnifying glass because preschoolers tend to think it goes right against their eyes, and then invite your preschoolers to talk about what they see.

Encourage your preschoolers to describe what their seed looks like. After all, it’s probably different from their neighbors’ seeds. Seeds come in all sizes, textures, and colors, and you want your preschoolers to notice those differences.

At this point, I like to read any one (or several) of my favorite picture books about seeds and plant growth.

CONTINUING SEEDS INVESTIGATION IN PRESCHOOL FARM THEME SCIENCE CENTER

After an initial discussion in circle time, add all the seed packets to your farm theme science center. This activity can also be a stand-alone science center, but here are some other ways to dive a little deeper into learning about seeds during your farm theme.

1. Add non-fiction picture books about plant growth and farming to your science center.
2. Allow children to draw pictures of their observations.
3. Encourage the children to talk with one another about their seeds.
4. Sort the seed packets into groups by several different attributes. Color of fruit or vegetable, color of seeds, size, texture, etc. Your preschoolers will learn that the seeds can be sorted in many different ways.
5. Scatter some extra seeds on top of a shallow bin of soil and invite the preschoolers to use their magnifying glasses to look for the seeds. Ask them what kinds of seeds they think they see.
6. Invite your preschoolers to use the picture books to make matches to the seed packets.
7. Add some cut-up fruits and vegetables to the preschool science center so preschoolers can see the seeds in the foods they eat. Just be sure to cover each piece of food in cling wrap. The preschoolers touching the foods will make them go bad faster, and I like to put them in a paper bag in my fridge so we can use them for a few days.

There are so many fun ways for preschoolers to learn about seeds during their preschool farm theme. And remember, any of these seed activities would be equally appropriate for a plants and gardening theme, too!

Which seed activity did your preschoolers enjoy the most?

LOOKING FOR MORE FARM ACTIVITIES FOR PRESCHOOLERS?

I’ve put all my BEST farm activities in a single place, making it extra easy for you to do your preschool lesson planning. Be sure to grab all the free printables while you’re there, too. Click the link below!

>>> Best Farm Activities for Preschoolers! <<<

LOOKING FOR MORE LESSON PLANNING IDEAS?

I spent nearly three years developing The Complete Preschool Curriculum, and it has everything you need to teach your preschoolers literacy and math in a fun and engaging way, without all the boring worksheets!

THE COMPLETE PRESCHOOL CURRICULUM