Begin the activity by having students imagine that they are a seed: what seed would they be and why? Next, have students find a comfortable space on the floor to “plant” themselves and then begin by reading the following out loud while the students act out the directions:

1. Plant yourself in a comfortable spot. What kind of seed are you?
2. It’s fall and seeds are getting ready for a long winter’s rest. Curl up into a tiny seed.
3. Each seed has its own supply of food inside to help start to grow in the spring. (Have students hold one hand out and place raisins (food) in their palm - don’t eat yet! Hold on to your food tight!)
4. In order to survive the long, cold winter, the seed must save its food until spring arrives once again.
5. Winter has come (turn off classroom lights).
6. The seed is tucked safely below the ground and snow, resting for the winter. (Have a quiet moment.)
7. Finally, the days are starting to get longer and warmer and now its spring! The soil is getting warmer and the seeds are slowly starting to wake up (begin to wiggle your toes and fingers, gently rock your body back and forth, but don’t get up yet!)
8. The warm spring rains are starting to fall which makes the seeds very happy. (Walk around and gently squirt each student with the squirt bottle. Once sprayed, students can poke out a little root, their leg or arm, to soak up the water and show a big smile.)
9. The days are getting warmer and warmer. The soil is getting warmer and the seeds get to use their food that they have been holding on to all winter long. (Students can uncurl and eat their raisins.)
10. Now the seeds have the energy to sprout and grow from the ground. (On the count of three, students can stretch their arms upward. Turn on the lights.)
11. The seeds have turned into baby plants and are starting to grow taller and taller each day. (Students can slowly rise to a standing position.)
12. Your leaves are stretching out to gather the sunlight, you begin to gently sway in the breeze and enjoy the sunlight. (Students can slowly rock back and forth, swaying in the breeze.)
13. The seasons have changed again, and it is finally summer! The plants begin to form flowers. (Students can make a circle above their heads and show off their flowers.)
14. The flowers need to be pollinated by bees and other insects. (Teacher will buzz around to each student and pretend to pollinate their flowers.)
15. Where there was a flower, a fruit begins to grow. (Students can widen their arms to show their fruit growing bigger and bigger.)
16. The seasons are changing yet again, and summer is coming to an end. Fall is in the air now – it is getting cooler. The leaves on the trees are changing and now the leaves on your plant are starting to fall off. (Students can flutter their arms to show their leaves falling to the ground.)
17. Your fruit also falls to the ground and breaks open. (Students can fall to the ground with a “plop”.)
18. What do we find inside your broken fruit? Seeds! What will happen to your seeds? They will get ready for a long winter’s rest and the cycle will start again.

1. If using 6-packs, make groups of six children. If using individual recycled containers (yogurt cups, paper cups, etc.) make sure to poke a pencil-sized diameter hole in the bottom first for drainage. Fill containers with soil mix; it’s ok to fill it to the top since the mix will settle over time and with watering. Each student should choose their seeds; bigger seeds like peas, beans or squash are easier to handle for little hands. Recommendation: give each group or table 2 to 3 choices only to facilitate the activity.

2. Children should poke a hole in the soil for planting the seed. The standard rule of thumb is that the hole should only be as deep as twice the size of the seed. So a large bean seed might be ½” – 1” deep, but a tiny lettuce or kale seed would be only just under the surface.

3. Cover up the seed with soil. Use a spray bottle to water. This will avoid spills and make it easier for young children to care for their plants.

4. Create labels with popsicle sticks immediately. Glue small pictures of vegetables to popsicle sticks and decorate using crayons.

1. Pour seeds into bottom of mason jar, just enough to cover the bottom (they expand to hundreds of times their size!) Fill jar with water and screw on screen top. Let it sit overnight.

2. In the morning, drain the water through the screen top into a sink. Then fill up with water again and immediately drain. Prop jar in drainage tray on a 2-3” tall block so it rests at a 45-degree angle and excess water drains into tray.

3. Continue to rinse 1 -2 times a day (morning and late afternoon). Jar and tray can be set in full or partial sun.

4. Observe with children as root starts to sprout and eventually first small leaves. When first 2 leaves have emerged, sprouts are ready to eat!

5. Remove from jar and place in bowl. Let soak in water briefly and gently agitate in water to remove seeds. Remove sprouts from water to drain in colander.

6. Serve on toast or wraps with cream cheese!