Lakes & Rivers: Still vs. Moving
Summary: Water is a great way for tiny gardeners to explore the world. It provides a lot of sensory experiences and in the cool months, keeping our garden well watered is important preparation for winter.
Before Visiting the Garden:
Gather: Roll of tin foil, hose or watering can, bucket, things that float such as twigs you find in the garden, and a large map or globe
Explore: “The Tetons and Snake River” by Ansel Adams. Can you trace the water through this picture?
Read: Water Can Be… by Laurie Purdie Salas, Illustrations by Violeta Habija
In the Garden:
Some water moves while some water stays put. Take out your map/globe and work with your tiny gardener to find the rivers and lakes in your area or around the world.
Questions to Explore:
Can you trace the rivers and lakes on the map?
When you find a river, have your gardener wiggle and move like a rushing river. When you find a lake, pretend to float on the grass like a quiet lake.
Do you see any moving water in the garden? If not, can you see where the water has been in the garden?
Activity:
- Fold the tinfoil into a half tube creating a river along the roots of your plants.
- Prop the mouth of the river up slightly on the high side of a raised bed or with some light dirt pack.
- Place a bucket at the end of your river so you can capture and reuse any water from your river.
- Use your hose or watering can to fill the river and float some twigs and leaves down your river. Allow your gardener to run their hands in the water and float different items down the river.
- Which items sink? Which float? Does one move faster? At the end of your river play, pour the water onto the roots of your thirsty plants.
Beyond the Garden | Water Play:
As the seasons change and it gets cooler, leaves begin to turn color. Watching them float in lakes and down rivers can be a great activity for little people. Pack a picnic lunch, find a local park, and spend some time watching the leaves move and dance on the water. Can you race twigs and branches down a real river?
Continue Exploring | Supporting Materials:
Find a park and perhaps it will lead you to more water: http://www.americasstateparks.org/
