This is a quick reference to gardening with preschoolers, the benefits of gardening, gardening theme ideas, and books to incorporate.

1. Gardening with Preschoolers
by amy n. beard 07.22.12

2. Some Benefits of Gardening
• Develops small/large motor skills
• Promotes growth in math and science
• Provides for open-ended questions
• Cultivates patience and responsibility
For more visit http://www.whitehutchinson.
com/children/articles/gardening.shtml.

3. Garden Themes
• Flower Garden
• Herb Garden
• Butterfly Garden
• Fruit Orchard
• Pizza Garden
• Vegetable Garden

4. Fruit Garden Pizza Fun

5. Gardening Tips
• Be patient
• Be flexible with time
• Garden in small groups
• Give all a chance to participate
• Encourage exploration & questions
For specifics visit
http://www.sunhatsandwellieboots.com/2012/04/12-top-
tips-for-gardening-with-young.html.

6. What You Need to Garden
• Plants or seeds
• Soil
• Small shovels
• Watering cans
• Containers/Area
• Gardening Gloves

7. Gardening Activities in Class
• Charting life cycles
• Cooking with harvest
• Painting with dirt
• Learning parts of a plant
• Playing with dirt & seeds sensory table
• Documenting garden creatures

8. Painting with Dirt
• Have each child bring a s
a bag of dirt from home.
• Mix dirt with water and paint
large pieces of paper.
• Hang paintings and discuss
makes the dirt different.

9. Provide Books that Support
Take books like
Woodsy Wonders
outside to help
children identify
garden creatures.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/jltstudioref=seller_info

10. Books for Gardening Units
• The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss
• Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert
• Butterflies in the Garden by Carol Lerner
• Jack’s Garden by Henry Cole
• What Lives in the Garden by J Woodward
• The Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin

11. References
Digital Camera Photo
Fruit Pizza: Used on p 4.
Graphics
Stock Photo: Flowerpot 4 (used on p 6). http://www.sxc.hu/: Image ID: 673517.
Stock Photo: Digging for Potatoes (used on p 3). http://www.sxc.hu/: Image ID: 1268332.
Stock Photo: Brush (used on p 8). http://www.sxc.hu/: Image ID: 1013063.
Scan
jlt studio (used on p 9). Woodsy Wonders, A Collector’s Journal. http://www.etsy.com/shop/jltstudio?ref=seller_info.
Books and Training Packages
Stevenson, Rhonda. (2006). Grow and Learn Gardening Activities for Children. Training Package.
Starbuck, S., Olthof, M., Midden, K. (2002). Hollyhocks and Honeybees: Garden Projects for Young Children (pp. 79-
89). St. Paul, MN: Redleaf Press.
Web Articles
Stoecklin, Vicki. “Developmentally Appropriate Gardening for Young Children."
http://www.whitehutchinson.com/children/articles/gardening.shtml. September 4, 2011. White Hutchinson
Leisure & Learning Group. Accessed 07.30.12. (used on p 2).
Catherine. “12 Top Tips for Gardening with Young Children.” Sun Hats and Wellie Boots.
http://www.sunhatsandwellieboots.com/2012/04/12-top-tips-for-gardening-with-young.html. April 19, 2012.
Accesed 07.30.12. (used on p 5).