Underground Garden

Why

What plants and animals live above the ground? Which can you find under the soil? Imagine a garden teeming with life!


Steps

1. Above ground there is light, air, wind, people, sunshine, snow, and more. Below ground, there is darkness, moisture, shelter from some elements, pressure, and what else? Some plants and creatures live only above ground, some only below, and others in both areas. Would a seed grow if it didn’t have the Earth to protect it and nourish it? Would a plant flower if there were not the sun’s warm rays coaxing it to open?


2. Use Crayola® Erasable Colored Pencils to divide your paper in half lengthwise. Sketch plants and animals that live above and below ground.


3. Cover your art area with newspaper. Using Crayola Washable Paint, paint your garden. Air-dry your painting.


Safety Guidelines

Adult supervision is required for any arts & crafts project.

Crayola Washable Paints—Not for use as body/face paint.

Adaptations

  • Plant a terrarium to observe firsthand activities above and below ground.
  • Visit a farm, farmer’s market, or grocery store to find vegetables that have their tops, roots, and vines attached such as carrots, beets, lettuce, and tomatoes. Imagine the vegetable growing. Identify which parts are the roots, the flowers, and the stems. Which parts do we usually eat?
  • Assessment: Children list and describe the habitats of the plants and animals in their painting and explain the connections between them.

Related Lesson Plans

Lesson Plans

 

Supplies

crayola supplies
  • Paint Brushes
  • Erasable Colored Pencils
  • Washable Kid's Paint
  • Construction Paper
household supplies
  • recycled newspaper
  • paper towels
  • container(s) of water

Overview

grades

  • Pre-K and Kindergarten
  • Grades 1 to 3
  • Grades 4 to 6
  • Special Needs

subjects

  • Science
  • Visual Arts

time

  • 30 to 60 minutes

benefits

  • Children study life in a garden, above and below ground.

  • Students create a cross-section picture, identifying connections and continuity between the two adjacent spheres.

Cirriculum

Research Canada Standards
Research UK Standards
Research U.S. Standards