Weekly Activity
Our activities section suggests things for you to do with your children. Most of these will have educational value, which we'll point out. However, the main idea is just to have fun with them. We'll also suggest ways you can extend them.
Flowers for Christmas
| Gardening is a great way to get children away from the tv and the computer, but opportunities for kid-friendly gardening are in short supply at this time of year - unless you plant specially prepared bulbs and grow them indoors. Better yet, they'll provide a lovely splash of colour at Christmas. Choose from hyacinths, tulips, miniature daffodils and narcissi. Oh, and by the way, pots of bulbs make lovely presents for your children to give at Christmas. Later on, we'll explain how to decorate plantpots and plantpot holders. |
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You will need:
- Prepared bulbs
- Bulb Fibre
- Gravel or small stones for drainage (if
you have used a bowl without drainage holes)
- Water
- Containers such as bowls or plantpots
What to do:
1) If you're using a container without
holes in it, put a layer of stones or gravel in the bottom.
2) Fill the container with bulb fibre to within an inch of the
rim.
3) Make a hole in the fibre for each bulb. Plant the bulbs, and
cover them with fibre so you can just see them peeking out.
4) Water well, but not so much that the fibre is soggy.
5) Put the container away in a cool, dark, well ventilated place.
6) Check every few days to make sure that the fibre hasn't dried
out - if it has, water it.
7) Bring the bulbs into the light three weeks to a month before
you want them to flower.
Extend this by:
Giving your child a section of garden -
or if you don't have a garden, a window box or row of pots on
a windowsill - to look after. You'll need to help them plan it
- you might want to concentrate on flowering plants that are
easy to tend and which bring fast results. Don't overlook vegetables.
Making an indoor garden in a large bottle.
Educational Insights
Language
Talk about what you are doing. What words describe the way the
bulb fibre feels when it is dry? When it is wet? What about the
bulbs? Think of words to describe the way the flowers will look.
Describe (in talk or writing) the bulbs, exploring not only the way they look, but what they're like to touch and smell (if any).
Get your child to explain what they did to a friend or another member of the family. Can they explain clearly, keeping the steps in order? Can they answer questions about what they did and what they expect to happen next?
Maths
Count the bulbs before you plant them. Get your child to match
them with their holes. Ask questions like: "We've got five
bulbs and you've made three holes - how many more holes do you
need to make?"
Science
Talk about what the bulbs will need in order to grow, and discuss
what your child thinks will happen.
Explain what a bulb is. Cut a bulb in half and talk about what
you see.
Talk about the differences between flowers and trees.
Draw pictures of the bulb now and as it grows shoots and develops.
Art
Draw or paint the bulbs (think still life!)
Make big, gaudy paintings (or collages using tissue paper and
pages torn from magazines) of real and fantasy flowers.
A bulb is the undeveloped bud of the plant, surrounded by fleshy leaves that contain food which nourishes the plant as it grows.