Poetry Break with a Spring Poem

“Spring Seeds” by Douglas Florian

Florian, Douglas. 2006. Handsprings: Poems and Paintings. Ill. by Douglas Florian. Greenwillow Books: New York.

Introduction: Bring in at least one package of flower or grass seeds for each student in the class, making sure that there is an assortment of small and large seeds for variety (if you have a younger or more juvenile older class you might want to only bring seeds of plants that are non-toxic). Give a disposable bowl to each student and have the students empty the seeds into them, making sure to keep the package with the bowl. Allow students to walk around the room and observe and touch each seed, and draw/document what each seed looks like in a personal journal. Read “Spring Seeds”.

Spring Seeds

We tilled the earth,
Took out the weeds,
Then in the soil
Planted seeds:
Pumpkin,
Parsley,
Carrot,
Pea.
Spring succeeds ex-seed-ing-ly.

Extension: This can be extended in several ways, depending on the age of the class and/or the availability of an outside planting area.
1) Give each student a small Styrofoam cup. Fill with potting soil and plant grass seeds; or
2) Use three or four large pots to plant a variety of seeds. Divide the class into groups – one for each pot, and allow each group to choose from the seeds provided. Have the groups document which seeds they chose; or
3) If possible, allow the students to choose two or three types of flowers/grasses to plant and take the class outside to a predetermined area to plant the seeds.

No matter which extension you choose, have students keep a chart of information such as how many of the seeds sprouted; how high each plant was on any certain day(s); how long each type of plant should take to grow; and whether or not the flower and/or grasses bloomed (if a blooming type was planted).

Note: if no outside ground is available, fluorescent lights or a window will work well for growing plants.