Plant growing

Teaching children to grow plants
Basil plant - FIND project

  • }Target year group: 5–11 and SEND

  • cTime: 40 minutes

  • uLinks to literacy (writing instructions) and maths (measuring water) 

Learning objectives 

To understand how plants grow; to learn about the plant life cycle.

Resources needed

  • Egg box
  • Soil
  • Plant seeds
  • Water

Each step may take 10 minutes. Plant growing may take weeks.

 

Instructions

Step 1

  • Choose your seeds (we used radishes).
  • Make a shallow furrow in the soil. The soil can be in your container or your garden - check the seed pack for details as different plants need different temperatures and times of the year.

Seed packet and a furrow in the soil
Taking seeds and planting them

Step 2

  • Take a few seeds from the packet.
  • Plant seeds at the spacing recommended on the packet.

Step 3

  • Label your seeds.
  • Cover your seeds gently.

Labeling and covering seeds
Radishes after two weeks growth

Step 4

  • Wait for your plants to grow! Our radishes had grown small green leaves after two weeks.
  • Water the plants occasionally if they are indoors or there is no rain (the soil should feel damp). Ensure there is some space between the plants.

Step 5

  • Enjoy your home-grown veggies!

Fully-grown radishes
 

Ways to include all learners

Photographs. Short, simple sentences. Practical task.

How might this activity support social, emotional and mental health needs?

Connecting to nature improves wellbeing.

 
Research with Â鶹´«Ã½ Institute of Education