Shoe Planter

[20 Minutes]

Your child's feet are growing fast. Why not turn one of your child's outgrown shoes into a home for other things that grow?

You'll need:

• outgrown child's sneaker • potting soil • grass seed or other quick and easy-to-grow seeds • sharp scissors or knife (ADULT USE ONLY) • spoon • scissors

What to do:

1. The next time you get your child new sneakers, ask her what you might do with the old ones. Consider her suggestions.
2. Poke holes in the bottom of the old sneaker.
3. Let your child help you spoon potting soil into the shoe until it is 3/4 full. Count each spoonful.
4. Then let your child spoon the same number of spoonfuls of water into the shoe to moisten the soil.
5. Sprinkle grass seed on top of the soil.
6. Place in a sunny window and keep moist.
7. Each day, look with your child for green seedlings.
8. When the grass is several inches high, cut it back with a scissors.

Let's Talk: Ideas to Explore Together.

• What are we putting into the shoe to make grass?
• Look at the soil. What color is the soil? Can you see anything green in the soil? Show me.
• What else do you see in this room that is green?

Useful information:

While you are having fun together, this activity helps your child develop eye/hand coordination and observational skills.