The Importance of Hands

In Sustainable Science, students made pots from newspaper, filled them with seed-starting soil, and planted seeds for growing indoors. Mr Baumgarten will nurture these seeds under grow lights, and when big enough, Mrs Baumgarten will bring them back to TMS for transplanting in the warmer weather.

We experimented with different seeds, and wondered which ones would grow the best and be ready at the right time. Choices of seeds included: eggplant, sweet banana pepper, sweet cherry pepper, sweetie tomatoes, sweet pear tomatoes, roma tomatoes, cat grass (for inside cats), parsley, cone flowers, and other seeds. Children learned that we can't start cucumbers inside just yet, and that we will start lettuce and peas outside only when the weather is warmer.

By making the pots from newspaper, children's hands become involved with every process of planting: pots, soil, and seed.