Classroom Observation

Classroom #1’s unit is spring. Today’s discovery table activity is planting a seed into a plastic cup. The table is located on the linoleum, just across from the sink area. There is seating for 6 placed around the table; however, the teacher is working with 2 children at a time for this endeavor.
Retrieving an empty clear plastic 10-ounce cup from the table, Ms. Nicole uses a black sharpie marker to write a child’s name upon the first cup. Next, she repeats this process for the second child. On the table are 2 envelopes containing flower seeds. The idea is for the child to chose one type of seed to plant; however, based on the photos on the envelopes, the children want both types of seeds for their cup. The teacher is flexible to this idea.

The teacher scoops a cup of potting soil from the potting soil bag that is sitting on the floor and hands it to the first child. She dumps this soil into her cup. The teacher repeats this process with the second child. Following a verbal cue, the girls poke their pointer fingers into the soil of their respective cups making 3 indentions. Each girl selects 3 flower seeds and places them into the indentions they previously made. The next step is for the girls to cover these holes with soil from their cups. They achieve this by brushing the soil with their fingers and then gently tap the soil down. Finally, the girls water the soil in their cups with water from a pitcher that is sitting on the table. The girls are next directed to wash their hands while the teacher places their “flower pots” in the window seal. This procedure is repeated multiple times until all the children have planted seeds.