Learning about plants and gardening can help preschoolers develop an empathy for the environment. Gardening is also a fun, healthy activity that most preschoolers are likely to enjoy. The preschoolers learn about different plants and what goes into making a garden.

If gardening considered as a part of the curriculum, preschoolers will learn how plants need to be nurtured and how to tend to a garden. They will learn to recognize different gardening tools and implements. They will learn the importance of water, sunlight, and soil for plant growth. They will develop:

• Speaking skills by talking about what they have done or are doing.
• Reading skills by perusing picture books.
• Art skills by drawing pictures of plants and gardens.
• Math skills by sorting plants and non-plants, and counting number of plants, leaves, flowers, and flower petals.

Ipsaa’s centre at Gurgaon W – 50 took the initiative to inculcate gardening as a part of their curriculum. They called it “The Winter Project” for their preschoolers which was designed to introduce the little ones to kitchen gardening. They started by showing kids flashcards of plants, photographs & videos of gardens, picture books on the plant and gardening theme, chart showing plant growth, etc. To create further eagerness, colorful gardening tools were purchased.

The centre gardener got Potato bulbs, and helped the children with the planting. The children took care of their potato field, nurturing it with Organic Fertilizer and ensured the same was watered at regular intervals. The final motive was to harvest the potatoes and prepare ALOO CHAAT (Fireless Cooking) for their parents and serving it to them at the PTM.

This theme on plants and gardening acquainted the preschoolers with some plant and gardening basics. Sangeeta teacher who planned this activity says “Gardening engaged all sorts of senses in my little ones and helped them to develop and recognize them without even realizing. The thought behind this was if you engage children in growing their own vegetables, they gain a keen interest in eating them too. And they learnt the art of patience when waiting for their vegetables to grow. Our parents were happy eating aloo chat made by their little ones, & for us it was a great activity.”

For more information on Ipsaa Centers, please register here.