Incorporating a spring nature study is a great way to teach children about the world around us–get them outside as much as possible and observe things in nature. Gardening is a wonderful way to teach children about plants and how they grow. Late winter and early spring is a great time to start planning a garden, but even though some days are warmer it is not quite time to be able to get things planted. You can however start planting seeds indoors that will later be moved outside.

This fun and easy Garden in a Glove Spring Nature Study activity will not only get your garden started indoors, it also gives children and up close view of the plants and the roots. They will have an opportunity to see differences in the way each plants grow and watch them as they change.

Garden in a Glove Spring Nature Study Supplies:

• Plastic Gloves (similar to what food service workers wear)
• 5 different kinds of seeds
• 10 Cotton Balls
• Twist Tie or Pipe Cleaner
• Marker
• Containers and dirt to plant in once the seeds outgrow the glove

Garden in a Glove Spring Nature Study Steps:

• Label each of the fingers of your glove with the name of the seeds you are putting in each glove
• Wet 5 cotton balls. You want them to be wet but not dripping.
• Place a cotton ball in each finger of the glove.
• Add 3-4 seeds in each finger. If you have trouble with this step, you can place the seeds on the cotton ball and then put in the finger of the glove pushing it gently down with a pencil.
• Wet 5 more cotton balls and place them over top of the seeds in each finger.
• Blow air into the glove and tie it shut with a twist tie or a pipe cleaner. Hang your glove in a sunny window.

Check your glove each day. You should be able to start seeing sprouts in 3-5 days. Your children can record in their nature journal what they see each day and draw pictures of what each of the plants look like. It is so interesting to see the different types of seeds growing and how each plant has it’s own rate of growth.

After 9-14 days, your seeds will be ready to be transplanted into a container. Gently tear open the gloves and remove the cotton. Plant the seeds in soil in disposable containers. Children can continue to journal the plants growth each day.

Keep your plants in a sunny spot and make sure they get enough water until it is warm enough to move them outside.

Do you garden with your children?

This is a great activity to help you get started!

Are you looking for other nature study ideas? Follow this Pinterest board: