Unit 4 Summary

Objective:  Children will understand why drinking water is important to stay hydrated and to participate safely in physical activity.

Materials Needed

•       Celery experiment instructions

•       Celery experiment items (celery stick, water, jar, blue food coloring)

•       Session 4 discussion card

•       Large pictures of gardening activities

•       “Gardener Says” game instructions

•        Large picture of water content in human body

•        2 Liter bottle with water to fill to 1.2 liters

•        “Watering” game instructions

•        Pictures of dry, wilted plants (need water)

•        Pictures of healthy plants (don’t need water)

•        Watering cans

•        Picture of a sun

•        Tummy Mindfulness and Experiential Eating protocol

•        Fruit, vegetables, and napkins for tasting

•        Tummy dolls

•        “Seedling Song” lyrics

•        “Plant Splash Relay” game instructions

•        2 Baskets

•        Small blue balls for each child

•        Leaf drying experiment instructions

•       Measuring tape

Review [10 minutes—science experiment, discussion, game]

• Science experiment:  Start the Celery Experiment

• Discussion 4a:  Reinforce the importance of physical activity

  • • Show children pictures of physical and gardening activities

• Game: “Gardener Says” (played like Simon Says)

Classroom Activity [20 minutes—discussion, game]

• Discussion 4b:  Explain the importance of drinking water

  • • • Explain the poster with the water content of the body

      • Fill 2L bottle to 1.2L-explain the need to drink this daily

      • Ask the children how and where they can drink water at school (drinking fountain, from home)

• Game: “Watering” game

Mindful Eating [15 minutes—tummy mindfulness, experiential eating]

• Tummy Mindfulness and Experiential Eating Protocol

Garden Activity [20 minutes—garden maintenance, song, garden exploration, game, science experiment]

•  Garden Maintenance and Song

  • • • Have the children water the garden

      • Sing lyrics to the “Seedling Song” while watering

• Garden Exploration

  • • • • Point out the plants growing

        • Have the children identify characteristics of fruits and/or vegetables (color, shape, texture, if ready for harvesting)

• Game: “Plant Splash Relay” game

• Science Experiment:  Leaf Drying experiment

Wrap Up/Review [5 minutes—discussions]

• Mindfulness Activity: There are three (3) Mindfulness activities available as Bonus Materials; (1) Art Activity, (2) Guided Meditation, and (3) Yoga Activity. You have the option of selecting one of these mindfulness activities to perform along with the Wrap-up and Review of each unit. 

* (See Mindfulness Activities for Objectives, Key Learning Concepts, Materials, and Instructions)  

• The teacher measures the lima bean so that we can continue to chart its growth. Ask the children questions about what the lima bean needs to grow strong and healthy.

• Discussion 4c: In order to further review concepts covered about how plants store water, the teacher gathers the children around the celery experiment.

  • • • The children break it in half to see how far the food coloring has traveled up the celery.

      • Give the students the opportunity to pass the celery stick around.

• Discussion 4d: In order to further review concepts covered about the importance of water, the teacher transitions over to the drying leaf.

  • • • Ask the children questions about why water is important for them (prompt the children to answer that it helps keep them stay hydrated to be physically active).

      • Ask what happens if a plant becomes dehydrated.

      • The teacher asks the children what will happen to the leaf next time they check on it and asks for someone to SHOW what will happen to the leaf (act it out) the next time they see it.