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Rock Garden!
By Sharon Katz Cooper
April showers may bring May flowers, but the slightly warmer air
brings an urge to get outside once again! Creating a rock garden is
a simple, fun activity that can involve kids of all ages. It’s a
great way to get outside, learn about collecting, and discover a
little about how nature works.
Collecting rocks can create adventure for young children. Ask them
to try to find rocks of different colors, shapes, and sizes.
Encourage them to think of places where they might find interesting
rocks. Is there a stream near your house? A park? A playground with
a gravel area? These are all places where interesting rocks may be
found.
Creating collections is a great way for children to begin thinking
about comparisons and contrasts. They can gather rocks that look
alike, and those that are quite different. They can also experiment
with texture and shape. Ask your child what a particular rock feels
like. Encourage her to describe it with questions like - What do you
feel? Is it smooth or rough? Round or with sharp edges? Is this rock
the same on all sides?
Collecting also gives children a sense of ownership and pride.
Collecting rocks for a garden gives children a chance to gather
items that they chose themselves, and that represent colors, shapes
or other characteristics that they personally like. Rocks are
abundant and varied in most areas, can be small, and are usually
free in nature, making them excellent objects for a child’s
collection.
Starting a child on the path to gardening is also a wonderful
introduction to the way nature works. Watching seeds grow from tiny
pods into real, live plants provides an opportunity to build
appreciation for what plants need from nature (sunlight, water,
soil, nutrients), and can lead to interesting discussions about the
world around you.
Grab a few moments, a paper bag or box for collecting, and don’t be
afraid to get a little dirty!
Here’s What You Need:
• 8-10 small to medium sized rocks, depending on the space you have
available
• Several seeds or small plants
• Some potting soil
• A good spot for a garden in a yard, or a ceramic planter for use
on a balcony or even indoors
Directions:
1. Have your child arrange his or her rocks in a circle in a spot in
your yard (or balcony) that gets at least partial sunshine. If you
don’t have a yard, you can build your rock garden in a large ceramic
platter, or even use a large, but sturdy paper plate for a small
one. The circle of rocks should be large enough to leave an open
space for soil in the middle.
2. Help your child place the rocks close together, so they will hold
the soil between them.
3. Scoop out some potting soil and help your child fill the circle
in the middle of the rock circle with the soil. Cover the rocks up
at least halfway, so they’ll stay in place and look like a part of
the garden. Pat the soil down gently.
4. Plant seeds or small seedlings in your soil. Help your child to
water his garden enough to get the soil damp.
5. Water the soil at least a couple of times per week and watch how
it grows!
This Helps Develop:
Creating collections helps to develop cognitive skills by
stimulating awareness, observation, and reasoning. Comparing and
contrasting items encourages the development of skills that will be
useful for science, art, and mathematics.
This activity also develops fine motor skills – the use of small
muscle movements in the hands that occur in coordination with the
eyes. Fine motor skills are built when parents encourage children to
pick up rocks with their hands, examine them carefully and place
them into a pattern. Selecting and planting seeds, patting down
soil, and watering also develop fine motor skills.
Social emotional development involves a child’s feelings of self
worth, confidence, and pride as well as their ability to get along
with others in a group setting. Children love to create something
that belongs to them and enjoy sharing it with others. As your
garden grows, your child will develop a sense of achievement.
Encouraging your child to describe what he or she finds and
collects, why she chooses each particular rock, and how she takes
care of the garden will also enhance your child’s communication
skills.
This monthly family activity series, "Hands-on-Kids!" is brought to
you by a
partnership between the Children's Museum of Northern Virginia (CMNOVA)
and
FAMILIES Magazine. For more activities you can do with your children
to
spark their love of learning, visit the CMNOVA web site,
www.cmnova.org . On
their web site you will also find information about the Children's
Museum of
Northern Virginia and how you can become involved. CMNOVA is
committed to
building a place where our children can freely explore and develop a
lifelong love of learning. Sharon Katz Cooper is a museum educator
and
freelance writer in Fairfax. She is a volunteer with CMNOVA.
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