The Garden Challenge

When I first announced to my family that I had adopted a black lab puppy, I saw fear in their eyes. This is mainly because throughout my younger years, I tried my hand at “raising” fish, frogs, guinea pigs, hamsters, and even just prior to my doggie adoption, somehow even wound up with a corn snake in my classroom. None of them made it very long… I either “loved them too much” (squeezed too hard), forgot to clean their cages or forgot to feed them. The snake was just gross, so he found a new home in a science teacher’s room. I’m glad to say he’s thriving! And, p.s. my black lab (Banjo) is all kinds of fat and happy! Yep. Still alive 4 years later. He even has a friend, a gigantic St Bernard!

Now. All of that (except the snake) was during my youth, but as a college kid and young apartment dweller, I also killed every. single. plant. possible. SO – when I saw this challenge, I laughed. “Yeah stinking right”. But I figured … if I try and fail (again), it’s not as though I have tarnished an amazing gardening reputation, and if I win? I get vegetables! Plus, and most important, I get to teach my little gal all about gardening along the way. We can learn together, and if the plants die, well … maybe (this time) it’s because she “feeds” it her milk or juice! We’ll just say that anyway.

Okay. So …. here’s the scoop!

The Homeschool Village is hosting this challenge and supporting gardening with kids, which is AWESOME! Sometimes we all need a little incentive, right? If you click on the picture above it should take you to the site of the challenge and you can read all the “juicy” details!

Part of the challenge is to post an update of your gardening adventures with your kids once a month between March and June! There are prizes to be won, so make sure you check it out!

To be honest, we just heard about this a few days ago, so our “adventure” is in the planning stages – no pictures yet!

BUT …

I have a surprise for you! Ready?

I did get the first part of my Garden Printables completed! AND I’m going to share them with you! Download your Garden Printables to use with your preschooler, and join us in this attempt at a green thumb!

***We apologize but these have now expired. You can find our printables in our Etsy shop! ***

Part 1 Includes: 3 part vocabulary cards, picture/shadow match, number clip cards, tracing and cutting practice pages, flower graphing, 10 piece puzzle, flower patterns, sequencing cards, a lacing card and more!

This is just the beginning! We will update you with our garden goodies and great activities we have planned throughout the next few months! A few of our plans?

Nature Journals, recording the changes we see in our garden

Fish tank plant boxes, to see the roots grow along the side of the tank

“Planing a Rainbow” of beautiful flowers in a plastic kiddie pool

and more! We’re even going to attempt fruits and veggies. There is so much for these little minds to learn from a simple garden in your backyard! This, of course, will be a new addition to our daily tot school routine, and we hope you’ll join us! Even better, join the challenge and leave your link on their site, too!

We’ll keep you updated as we go along! In May we will share a “Garden Friends” printable set, complete with ladybugs, butterflies, caterpillars and more! In June, be looking for our 3rd and final Garden Printable set themed around fruits and vegetables! Thanks for joining us in this new and exciting adventure!

P.S. If you’re just joining, visit UCreate with Kids to enter for a chance at our Gorilla Learning Kit!