Make and Plant Seed Paper Hearts

Thank you to Johanna Lee (johanadesign@yahoo.com) and Brigid Finucane for helping put together this fun activity!

Grade: PreK-3
Concept: Sequencing, Cause and Effect, Handwriting

Materials Needed:

photo

1. Scrap Paper

2. Water

3. Blender

4. Measuring Cup, Bucket, Large Bowl, Colander or Strainer

5. Wildflower seeds

6. Heart Shaped Cookie Cutters, or Heart Shaped Paper forms,

7. Blanket or Towel

 Activity:

• 1. Tear paper into small pieces, separate colors so you have warm and cool colors together with the white paper, i.e. cool: green, purple, blue, warm: red, orange, yellow.

If you put all color together your paper will be brown!

• 2. Place 2 cups of torn paper in the bucket and cover with hot water, allow to sit 30 minutes or longer. Scoop wet paper into the blender and blend until smooth.

• 3. Pour the blended the paper into a bowl and sprinkle with wildflower seeds and stir.

• 4. Pour the seeded paper pulp into a colander and press out the water.

• 5. Press paper pulp into the heart form. Forms need to be placed on a towel. The pulp

needs to be left to dry out. The forms can be removed carefully.

• 6. Sing Planting Seeds of Love and have the children write the word LOVE or another quality word

on their seed paper heart.

• 7. The seed hearts can be planted in potting soil or in a Planting Seeds of Love flower bed covered with
soil.

Extensions:

Second and Third Grade Alternatives

• Second and third graders can make paper on screens and then cut the heart. This will

require a screen and wax paper and 2 dishpans.

• Step 3, paper is poured into a dishpan and water is added to make the pulp runny.

• Step 4, the screen is dipped into the pulp and and then place a piece of wax paper over the pulp and press with a sponge to remove the excess water.

• Step 5, Remove the wax paper and invert screen onto a towel, press the paper fibers into the towel, couching the fibers and gently lift the screen. It will tear if it is too wet.

Additional Resources

• YouTube: Preschoolers Making Seed Paper by Jackie Saggio *Paper pulp can be used

instead of foam just squeeze out the water so it is solid, then add the tissue and water and

• YouTube: Paper Making At Home by Roger Wilk. This includes a paper press but it is not necessary. Just do not forget to add the Wildflower seeds and cut into a heart.

• Ready made seed paper @ http://www.botanicalpaperworks.com/catalog/seed-paper.

Make and Plant Seed Paper Hearts
Make and Plant Seed Paper Hearts

Same as above in JPG format

Planting Seeds of Love: A Process Art Project

Submitted by: Gari Stein-Music For Little Folks

www.little-folks-music.com

Please note. Provide a good amount of time for children to explore and experiment with materials. Children might not use materials as anticipated and that is always ok. Do not demonstrate. There is no right or wrong approach.
Resource: Gari Steinwww.little-folks-music.com

Nature Walk: Provide a small brown paper lunch bag for each child. Decorate or leave plain. Collect sticks, leaves, branches, seeds, grass, dirt, flowers, etc.

If walk is not possible, provide listed materials both small and large.

1: Collage

Materials:
Glue in jars with brushes, crayons, scissors, collected items.

Activity:
Invite children to make a group mural or an individual collage of collected items.

2: Paint with Garden Tools

Materials:
Tempera paint, various colors (use the best washable paint) small paper plates for each color paint, small garden tools,  large sheet of butcher block paper (for group) and/or large individual sheets of paper or newspaper, glue, seeds & other items listed above

Activity:
1st experience-children paint with the tools.
2nd experience-add glue and collected materials, to the tools.

 

Submitted by: Gari Stein-Music For Little Folks
www.little-folks-music.com

Process Art Activity PSOL
Process Art Activity PSOL

Same as above in JPG format

Plant a Seed of Love, In A Cup

By Sammie Haynes

I was invited to perform a Spring program at the Auburn, ME public library.  I have lots of songs about spring but knew the highlight would be closing the show with Pam Donkin’s “Planting Seeds of Love”.

The librarian and I planned this little project:

She brought small paper cups and potting soil and I brought 2 packets of sunflower seeds.

After the show all the children were able to plant their “seeds of love” and bring them home. There was one seed left from the packets which the librarian planted for the library. I was as thrilled as she when she wrote to tell me it had sprouted and the children who had come to the show were able to watch its growth whenever they visited the library. Soon they moved it outside and enjoyed the beautiful sunflower!

Materials and instructions – this should be a supervised activity:

Cover several tables with newspaper. Dump the potting soil into shallow containers and add several spoons.  Help the children fill the cups about 2/3 full with soil. Have them take one seed and place it in the cup. Cover the seed with soil. Tell the children they should water it when they get home – but not too much! In fact it’s best if they can use a spray bottle to water. If they don’t have a spray bottle tell the parents to make a small drainage hole with a pencil or fork in the cup when they get home and place in a bowl and lightly water as needed. Keep in sunny window. Seeds should sprout in 3-10 days.

For another idea: http://earthsbirthday.org/growing

Sammie Haynes
Award-Winning Children’s Music

www.treetopsmusic.com

207.384.3234

POB 464
South Berwick, ME 03908

Plant a Seeds of Love Garden (Memory Garden)

By Sammie Haynes

My son was just 4 when his Grandmama passed away and 5 when his Nana died. To honor them we made a Mother’s Day Garden. Each year we selected a beautiful plant for each of them and added it to our garden. It grown so big. We also added plants for Grandpa and aunties.

You can create a Mother’s Day Garden, a Father’s Day Garden, a Children’s Garden, a Peace Garden, a Memory Garden, and/or a Seeds of Love Garden.

Have fun making something beautiful and meaningful – let the song inspire you!

Sammie Haynes
Award-Winning Children’s Music

www.treetopsmusic.com

207.384.3234

POB 464
South Berwick, ME 03908