Spring | Water: Infants & Toddlers

Drip, Drip, Drip: Where Does the Water Go?

Summary: Today, we’re going to practice a little measuring, explore some ways of watering our garden, and do a little mud puddle jumping!

Pre-Visit Planning: 

  • Gather: Watering can, measuring tape, paper, and pencil 
  • Explore: “Summertime Number 9A” by Jackson Pollack: Do you see some water in there? 
  • Read: Raindrops Roll by April Pulley Sayre

In the Garden: 

Water is essential for growing plants and growing bodies. Plants absorb water through their roots while we get our water through our mouths from the water we drink and the foods we eat! Gardeners use different types of containers for watering––hoses, watering cans, etc. Take some time to explore these different tools. 

Questions to Explore:

-How do you put water in your body? 

-What do you see in the garden that could be used to water plants? 

-If there is a hose, can you measure how long it is? 

-Are there any other ways that plants might get water? (Hint, look up at the clouds!)

Activity:

We’re going to measure how far water travels from the roots of the plant after we water it! 

  • Grab your watering can or hose and water the base of one plant for 30 seconds (count slowly). 
  • Now, take out your measuring tape. Starting from the base of the plant can you measure how far the water travelled? Can you say the number? Maybe try writing it? 
  • Experiment with a few other plants, maybe one that is higher on a hill and another that is in a trench. What do you notice? Which plant had water that travelled the farthest? Why do you think it went the farthest? 
  • After you finish measuring, find a spot in the garden to make a few mud puddles and get out some of your wiggles! 

Beyond the Garden | Drip Paintings in the Driveway

On a hot dry day, we can turn a driveway or sidewalk into a canvas! 

  • Fill four or five water balloons and take them outside with a chair. 
  • Help your child stand on the chair and drop the balloons.
  • Use chalk to trace the outlines of the water drips. Does art emerge? 

Continue Exploring | Supporting Materials


Note for Parents:
Each lesson suggests you explore a piece of artwork and read a specific book with your child. The artwork and books are easily available for view with an online search. However, these suggestions are not necessary to complete the lessons.

Guiding Principles

1

Learning, though not always visible, is always happening. The lessons are designed using inquiry as a base. Rather than “right answers” be more concerned with asking good questions.

2

Things may not go as planned. The lessons are designed to be used in whatever way works best for you. You can use all of the lesson or just pull a piece out of it.

3

Planting and cultivating a garden is believing in possibility. The lessons are designed to generate excitement about the future.

4

Each lesson includes a way to take the learning out into the community for more learning and more connection.

5

When a young child’s innate curiosity is unleashed in a garden the possibilities are endless. Any topic is open for exploration.

6

You will get dirty. There will be bugs.