Activity 7:

Grow It!

Objective:

Students will plant zinnia seeds and observe their growth.

Materials:

Small clay pot for each child or each work group
Acrylic paint
Paintbrushes
Potting soil
Packets of zinnia seeds, one for each child or work group
Squirt bottles filled with water
Growth record chart

Motivational Link:

Explain to the students that Clementine Hunter loved zinnias and always had a zinnia garden. Remind them that she painted on anything -- even clay pots. Tell them that they will decorate their own pots, then plant a zinnia garden to remind them of Clementine Hunter. Thell them they will record the growth of the flowers for several weeks.

Activity:

Have the students paint a picture or design on their flower pot.
When dry, have them put the potting soil in the pot and dampen it with water.
Allow the students to plant the zinnia seeds in the soil and cover them. Place the flower pots in a window to grow.
Remind the students to water the zinnias every other day or so.
Weekly, have the students check the zinnias and record their growth on the Growth Record chart. You can determine how long this activity will take place: until sprouts shoot through the earth, until leaves form, until a small plant forms, or until they bloom.