Sorting Seeds Is Fun

[20 Minutes]

The ability to sort and separate is a valuable math skill. Bring this activity into the kitchen so that your child can keep you company while you prepare dinner.

You'll need:

• seeds • egg carton

What to do:

1. Give your child a pile of different kinds of seeds; for example, corn kernels, soy beans, pumpkin seeds, and wheat seeds. Say: "Can you put each kind of seed into a pile?" Demonstrate putting each kind of a seed in a section of an egg carton.
2. Talk about the seeds. Ask, "Are the seeds big, little, hard, soft? What colors do you see?" Identify them if possible. Look in nursery catalogs to find pictures of the grown plant or products from the plant.
3. While playing with seeds, invite your child to sing this song with you. (Tune: "Farmer In The Dell.")

   The farmer plants a seed,
   The farmer plants a seed,
   Hi, ho, the derry-o
   The farmer plants a seed.

   Make up as many verses as you can:

   The little seed wakes up...
   The sunshine warms the plant...
   The rain gives plants a drink...
   The carrot (or other plants) grows and grows...

Let's Talk: Ideas to Explore Together.

• Pick up a seed. What do you think will grow from this seed?
• What is your favorite vegetable? Fruit?

Useful information:

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