Gardening is a great way to connect kids with nature! One key part of gardening is understanding the roles that different types of garden helpers play in the garden’s ecosystem.
In addition, research has shown that exposure to nature and outdoor activities has many benefits for children, both physically and mentally. Encouraging kids to spend time outside, explore nature, and participate in outdoor activities can help promote their overall health and well-being, as well as foster a deeper appreciation for the environment.
3 Charming Types of Garden Helpers
Earthworms
Worms are one of the most important garden helpers when it comes to soil health. They help to break down organic matter, aerate the soil, and improve drainage. As they move through the soil, they create tunnels that allow air and water to penetrate deeper, which helps plant roots to grow stronger.
Additionally, their castings (worm poop) are rich in nutrients that plants need to thrive. By encouraging a healthy population of worms in your garden, you can improve the overall health and productivity of your plants.
Here are some fun and educational activities to help kids learn more about earthworms:
- Worm Observation: Collect some earthworms and place them in a clear container with some soil. Observe their movements and behavior over time. Kids can document their observations in a journal and draw pictures of the worms.
- Composting: Start a compost bin with food scraps and yard waste. As the materials break down, they will attract earthworms. Kids can observe the worms in action and learn about the process of decomposition.
- Writing prompt: Write a story about a group of earthworms who work together to create the perfect garden soil.
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Honey Bees
Bees are essential pollinators for many plants, including fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Without bees, many of our favorite foods would not exist. Bees transfer pollen from the male part of a flower to the female part, allowing the plant to produce fruit or seeds.
In addition to their important role in pollination, bees also produce honey, which has many health benefits and can be used in cooking and baking. By creating a bee-friendly garden with plants that provide nectar and pollen, you can help support these important garden helpers..
Here are some lesson ideas to help kids learn more about honeybees:
- Pollination Game: Set up a game where kids pretend to be bees and pollinate flowers. Provide different types of flowers and ask kids to match them with the correct type of bee.
- Honey Bee Friendly Garden: Plant a garden with flowers that attract bees. Kids can observe the bees as they visit the garden and make notes on how they work to help pollinate the other garden plants.
- Writing prompt: Write a poem about the busy life of a honeybee. Include vivid verbs, interesting vocabulary, and sensory words to describe the bee’s life.
Caterpillars
Caterpillars may not seem like garden helpers, but they play an important role in the ecosystem. They are the larval stage of butterflies and moths, and they help to pollinate plants and provide food for other animals.
While some caterpillars may eat your plants, others can help control pests that can damage your garden. For example, some caterpillars feed on tomato hornworms, which can destroy tomato plants. Ladybug larvae also feed on other insects that can damage many types of plants.
By encouraging the presence of caterpillars in your garden, you can help keep pests under control without the use of harmful chemicals.
Here are some lesson ideas to help kids learn more about caterpillars:
- Butterfly Life Cycle: Teach kids about the butterfly life cycle, from egg to larva to pupa to adult. Use pictures or videos to illustrate each stage.
- Caterpillar Scavenger Hunt: Hide plastic caterpillars around the garden and have kids find them. After each caterpillar is found, discuss the type of butterfly or moth it will become.
- Writing prompt: Imagine you are a caterpillar who is about to go through metamorphosis. Write a letter to your future butterfly self. Include details of how you’ll make the world a better place or where you might live.
Garden Helpers Learning Outline
Books– Diary of a Worm; The Very Hungry Caterpillar; Honey Bees (non-fiction).
If you love movies, the Bee Movie is family friendly and touches on the importance of bees in our world.
Craft– Bee-utiful Artwork
Create honey bee loving artwork using colorful tissue paper and watercolor paper. Tear off pieces of tissue paper and glue them to the paper. Create patterns of flowers or petals. Include green for stems and grass if you like. Then, trace around the petals with a black marker for more definition.
Snack– Honey and _____.
If you and your family eat honey, try it on different types of food. Some of my favorites are honey & greek yogurt, honey & peanut butter sandwich, and honey & graham crackers.
Writing– Choose a Prompt
Choose one of the writing prompts from the categories mentioned before: a story about a group of earthworms creating the best soil, a poem about the busy life of a honey bee, or a letter to your future butterfly self.
Create endless stories anywhere with Story Coins. Simply pull a coin from the bag and use the unique image to create a story, poem, illustration, and more!
STEM– Create a Wormery
Create an earthworm habitat using a clear plastic container, soil, and leaves. This is a fun and educational activity for kids that allows them to observe and learn about the life cycle of earthworms while also creating nutrient-rich compost for their garden. Here are the materials and steps to create a simple wormery:
Materials:
- Clear plastic container with a lid (e.g. a large plastic storage container)
- Shredded newspaper or cardboard
- Soil or compost
- Water
- Earthworms (you can order them online or collect them from your garden)
Instructions:
- Prepare the container: Cut several small holes in the lid of the container for ventilation. Fill the bottom of the container with a layer of shredded newspaper or cardboard.
- Add soil or compost: Add a layer of soil or compost on top of the shredded paper. The soil will provide the worms with a place to live and will also help to create compost.
- Add water: Spray the soil lightly with water to make it moist. The soil should be damp but not soaked.
- Add the worms: Place the earthworms on top of the soil. Cover the worms with a layer of shredded paper or cardboard.
- Feed the worms: Add small amounts of vegetable scraps, fruit peels, and other organic matter to the wormery. Avoid adding meat, dairy, or oily foods as they can attract pests and create unpleasant odors.
- Observe and maintain: Keep the wormery in a cool, dark place and check on it regularly. The worms will eat the organic matter and create nutrient-rich compost, which can be used to fertilize plants.
Outing– Local greenhouse or garden
Many towns and cities have a place considered a neighborhood garden, access to a local flower shop, or a nearby farm to visit. There, you’ll find a variety of plants to observe. Bring your notebook to take notes and draw pictures of all the helpful insects you see.
In conclusion, earthworms, honey bees, and caterpillars are all important garden helpers that play a crucial role in the ecosystem. By teaching kids about these creatures and their roles in the garden, we can help to foster a love of nature and a deeper understanding of the environment.
