Literacy can find it’s way into your garden learning in many ways. Today we have Lauren from Tutus and Tea Parties here to share with you her “spin” on garden markers. I just adore how it not only combines literacy, but also a little creativity and fine motor skills in the process of making garden signs as well. If you are a DIY kinda person, I recommend stopping by her site. She has a super cute D.I.Y. tutorial on making a wire necklace – perfect for Mothers’ Day coming up!
Kid Made Garden Signs
By Lauren
We love anything that takes learning outside of the classroom and makes it hands on. Including your children in gardening creates so many lessons to teach that are hands on, which is the best way kids learn. I’m going to share with you today how the kids can create some lovely garden signs while promoting literacy.
Creating these fun signs encourages writing practice in a fun & creative way!
Salt Dough (we used Rainy Day Mum’s Microwave Salt Dough recipe since we’re pretty impatient around here.)
Food Coloring (or paint if you’d like to paint it after it’s dry)
Cookie Cutters (we used a circle and rectangle)
Straw
Sharpie, paint marker or paint/paintbrush
Copper Wire (we got ours in the jewelry section of the craft store)
*Pliers (optional- you can totally shape the wire by hand, but I had a pair so I used it.)
How to make them:
Mix your salt dough.
Color sections of it with food coloring if desired.
Roll out your dough and cut your shapes.
Poke a straw toward the top to make a hole for hanging it.
Follow the microwave instructions found at Rainy Day Mum.
Once the shapes are dry, write the name of each plant on each shape with a sharpie. My daughter is 4 and can not spell so I wrote out the name of the plant for her to copy. Here’s where the learning comes in.
Before they write, talk about the plant, sound the name of it out together, name each letter, have them use their fingers to trace the word before writing. All these things promote literacy.
Don’t forget to add a protective coat of varnish to keep them safe in the rain.
Don’t forget to add a protective coat of varnish to keep them safe in the rain.
Now we’re ready to make the wire stand. It’s super simple. Shape the wire as shown below, cut off the excess wire and you’re set to stick it in some dirt!
Once you have your stand stuck in the dirt, hang on your salt dough sign and be proud of your garden and of your child who worked so hard!
Don’t let it stop there. As you watch your plants grow, read the signs together so they know what it is that’s growing!
For more kids in the garden, learning and growing, stop by here for more than 50 ideas to do with kids.
Join us by sharing pictures of your garden adventures all season by sharing pictures on your favorite social media sites, use the hashtag #plantaseed to connect with other like- minded families!
For more literacy in the garden articles, we recommend
Join us by sharing pictures of your garden adventures all season by sharing pictures on your favorite social media sites, use the hashtag #plantaseed to connect with other like- minded families!
For more literacy in the garden articles, we recommend
Building a Garden Book Collection by Amanda Boyarshinov
An Invitation to Read by Kimberly
Alphabet Garden Hunt by Growing Book by Book
So precious. Salt dough is awesome–very versatile! Have a lovely day.