Health/Nutrition Experience

Class average age (in months)

● Twenty-Two Months

Primary Objective & Infant Toddler Standards (You must list specific guidelines or content

standards and which domain: See above Example)

● Nineteen to Twenty Four Months, Scientific Exploration and Learning, demonstrate own

need for food and water

Secondary Objective & Infant/Toddler Standards:

● Nineteen to Twenty Four Months, Scientific Exploration and Learning, integrate the use

of 5 senses to explore the natural world

Experience description:

● Children will be given the opportunity to plant and grow plants while being able to eat

the fruits of their labor.

Materials

● Pots, soil, water, cherry tomato seeds (or any other types like strawberry)

Scaffolding (child’s prior knowledge to build on):

● Children may already have the knowledge that plants are also living things and with this

activity, I hope to teach them the different components that go into a growing healthy

plant, which can be compared to how we should treat out own bodies.
Plan for carrying out experience (what caregiver will do):

● I will invite the children to plant seeds with me in multiple pots to be able to raise a

cherry tomato plant as a class. I will first explain that the seed we will be planting is

similar to our own bodies, which need certain things to be able to grow properly. The

children will each have a turn every week to water the plant with my guidance and we

will all monitor any growth that we see. I will explain that like a plant needs to grow with

sunlight, the right environment, and water, we also need good food to make us grow

healthy and strong like vegetables, fruits, and more. This activity also gives them a

first-hand encounter with life and being able to practice patience. When the cherry tomato

plant has matured, I will explain that because the plant was able to grow up healthy with

our help, it was able to produce bright red cherry tomatoes that they can pick themselves

and have during lunch. Because of their hard work put into growing the plant, they will

be more inclined and excited to try the tomatoes and a great way to integrate more fruit

into their diets. This activity may even encourage them to grow their own vegetables or

fruits at home.

Assessment

A. How would you be able to determine the success of this activity?

● I would be able to determine the success of this activity once the children have gained an

understanding that our bodies, just like the seed, needs the proper nutrients to grow

healthy and strong. I will also find it successful when they are engaged and interested in

the growth of the plant and are excited to plant, water, or pick cherry tomatoes and try

them.
B. Did you feel children's knowledge base will change after this experience? (Do I see this new

knowledge being learned in other areas?

● I believe that the children will gain a better understanding that our bodies need the proper

food to be able to grow strong as they give the plant the proper nutrients it needs and see

its growth. Because we will be planting multiple seeds in different pots, they will begin to

see the development of the growth from the plants and understand that everyone also

grows differently. They will get a better understanding and first-hand experience with the

natural world and the conditions that are needed to get bigger.