Share God's Beauty

Activity Objective

To help the children appreciate the beauty of nature by creating a flower box to share with someone in need

Lesson Outcome

The children will recycle plastic milk jugs to create a planter to be given to homebound parishioners.

Materials

  • Half-gallon plastic milk jugs or drink bottles (square or round)
  • Potting soil
  • Purchase bedding plants, such as impatiens or begonias with 6-8 plants per pack (enough to put one or two flowers in each planter)
  • 3-4 small rocks (golf-ball size or smaller) per planter
  • Water
  • List of homebound parishioners

Directions

  • Check with the parish staff for a list of homebound parishioners who would enjoy receiving a small planter with spring flowers.
  • Purchase enough small bedding plants to be able to put 1-2 flowers in each planter your group wants to make.
  • Clean the plastic jugs or bottles. Cut off and discard the top half of the container, keeping about four inches of the bottom half of the bottle.
  • Put 3-4 small rocks in the bottom of each container and add 1-2" of potting soil.
  • Separate the bedding plants and gently add one or two flowers to each container. Add enough potting soil to completely cover the roots and yet leave about one inch of space between the soil and the top edge of the container.
  • Water the plants carefully.
  • Decide how to deliver the planters to those on the list of homebound parishioners who will receive them.

Learning Styles

Body Smart, Nature Smart

Approximate Time

15 minutes

Hints

If possible, recycle even the part of the bottle or jug that you didn't use.

Sensitivities

If there are children in your group with special needs (physical, visual, hearing, language, or behavioral disabilities), adapt the activity accordingly.