Are you looking for some new ideas to add to your list of spring activities for preschoolers? Try incorporating a garden theme into your lesson plans this year!
A garden theme can include everything from flowers and crops to insects and pollinators. And the children can study early math skills, early literacy skills, art, sensory activities, and so much more within each of these topics. A garden theme can last well over a week in the preschool classroom because the options really are endless.
Check out some the activities listed below. They’re the perfect start for a preschool gardening theme!
Related: Garden Messy Play
Spring is one of my favorite times of year. And it’s the most opportune time to plant a garden. So get outside and start gardening with the kids! Then add some of these activities to your lesson plans to round out the theme.
Activities for a Preschool Garden Theme
Merge science and art with these beautiful coffee filter flowers. We probably made thousands of these during the last months of school – they were that much of a hit!
Set up a pretend play garden and farm stand. My preschoolers always love a great dramatic play set up in our home center!
Use flowers to paint! Let children explore different textures and designs as they get creative with flowers and paint.
Challenge kiddos to make flowers using cupcake liners. It’s always fun to see the different ways children can create with simple materials.
Try out some flower yoga poses. I think this sounds like a fun way to integrate movement into a garden theme.
Grab some seeds and make a homemade sound matching game. It’s interesting to see which children can differentiate the different sounds. Plus, the game doubles as homemade musical instruments.
Do an experiment to show how leaves breath. My son’s been into the concept of photosynthesis this month, so I know he’ll enjoy trying this experiment soon.
Set up a gardening sensory bin for the preschoolers. The kids can literally get their hands dirty as they learn more about gardens!
Dissect a bean seed with the kids. What a great way to explore the beginnings of a plant!
Use old flower petals as part of an early Montessori lesson. Young children will love touching and transferring the petals!
Preschool Gardening tools
With so many activities to do in the garden this spring, you might want to invest in some gardening tools and other supplies for your preschoolers to use. Here are some suggestions (I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post):
- Children’s aprons
- Kid’s gardening tools
- Children’s gardening gloves
- Plastic watering cans
- Potting soil
- Mini flower pots
- Flower pots
- Plant seeds
- Kid-friendly magnifying glasses
- Children’s shovels
- Plastic buckets
If you don’t have all of these materials, don’t worry! Use whatever you have on-hand. The children are sure to have a blast getting their hands dirty either way!
Preschool Garden Lesson Plans
Save time and get right to the playful learning with our printable lesson plan sets. Each set includes over 30 playful learning activities related to the theme, book suggestions, printable plans and explanations, and coordinating printables.
Grab your preschool garden lesson plans now
You can also find us on Teachers Pay Teachers
Even More Preschool Garden Theme Ideas
Fun and Educational Garden Activities for Kids
Flower Garden Crafts and Activities
Originally published May 30, 2015
Ana Rodriguez says
Do you have any examples of the coffee filter flowers!!
Mary Catherine says
Here’s the link to our coffee filter flowers — https://fun-a-day.com/colorful-science-and-art-experiment-for-spring/. I’ve made them with various kiddos, always with great success!
Jennifer Grossi says
Thank you for including our flower yoga post! I just love how that flower window looks!
Mary Catherine says
That yoga is just plain fun! Thank you — the flower window is still a favorite activity with the kids. 🙂