Growing a Plant
Learning about plants by growing a sweet potato vine
Instructions
- You will need a small/medium size sweet potato, a glass jar to hold the sweet potato, four or five toothpicks
- Fill the jar with water so the bottom of the potato is in the water
- Insert the toothpicks to hold the sweet potato a few inches from the bottom of glass jar but submerged in the water
- Place the potato jar in a sunny spot
- Let child check the water level and add water when needed every day
- Look for roots on the bottom of the potato
- In one or two weeks leaves should be sprouting from the top
- Continue to water as the vines grow
- Review vocabulary of plant, roots, vines, and leaves
- Optional: transplant into a pot
Extend
Share some sweet potatoes facts: Sweet potatoes are healthy as they are high in beta carotene, vitamins E, B-6 and C, potassium, and fiber. Have fun tasting a sweet potato - they can be baked, steamed, boiled, microwaved, fried, juiced, pureed, or eaten raw. Our first president, George Washington, grew sweet potatoes on his farm in Mount Vernon, Virginia.
QUESTIONS FOR CHILD
How long do you think it will take for the sweet potato to grow? Let's keep track and compare it to your estimate.
Can you tell me the name of your favorite flower and plant? Why do you like it?
What do plants need to grow?
Materials
- small/medium size sweet potato
- a glass jar to hold the sweet potato
- four or five toothpicks
- water
- light
Share This Activity
Curriculum Plan Resources
Skills Focus
- Shape - Circle, Square
- Color - Red
- Number - Three, 3
- Alphabet Letters - C, R
- Senses - Smell
- Character Trait - Manners
- Target Words - On, Top, High, Low
Monthly Proverb
Golden Rule - Do unto others as you would have them do to you
Did You Know?
“The human brain is 90% developed by age 5." Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University
Books to Read
"Do Unto Otters: A Book About Manners"
by Laurie Kelly (Activity 12)
"The Alphabet Book"
by P.D. Eastman (Activity 4)
"Goldilocks and the Three Bears"
by Jim Aylesworth (Activity 13)
"The Alphabet Book". VIDEO
by P.D. Eastman (Activity 4)
"Do Unto Otters: A Book About Manners" VIDEO
by Laurie Kelly (Activity 12)
"Goldilocks and the Three Bears" VIDEO
by Jan Brett (Activity 13)
Music Playlist
"Three Little Birds"
by Bob Marley Album Legend (Reggae) (Activity 6)
"Race: The Final Starlight Express"
Album Starlight Express Original Cast (Broadway - Pop) (Activity 18)
"Clap Your Hands Now"
by Pam Donkin Album A Hop, Skip, and a Jump (Children) (Activity 15)
"Three Little Birds" VIDEO
by Bob Marley (Activity 6)
"Clap Your Hands Now" VIDEO
by Pam Donkin (Activity 15)
"Race: The Final Starlight Express" VIDEO
by Starlight Express Original Cast (Activity 18)
Monthly Materials List
Click Here to view the list!
Fingerplay / Poems / Songs
Way Up High In An Apple Tree
(Activity 26 Month 3)
Way up high in the apple tree
Two little apples smiled at me
I shook that tree as hard as I could
Down came the apples
Mmmmmm they were good.
Peter (child’s name) Uses One Hammer
(Activity 21 Month 3)
Peter (use child’s name) hammers with one hammer one hammer one hammer
Peter hammers with one hammer all day long (tap fist on the floor)
Pater hammers with two hammers, two hammers two hammers (tap other fist too) Peter hammers with two hammers all day long.
Peter hammers with three hammers, three hammers three hammers (add one foot) Peter hammers with three hammers all day long.
Peter hammers with four hammers four hammers four hammers (tap other foot too along with fists) Peter hammers with four hammers all day long.
Peter hammers with five hammers five hammers five hammers (use your head) Peter hammers with five hammers And then he goes to sleep!