The Water Cycle
October 25, 2013 - Brrrr! The weather felt a bit cool, so after snack and some playground time, the gardeners moved indoors to Gardner Hall. There, they learned about the water cycle. Be sure to ask your child about Mrs. Regina's demonstration using the pieces of paper, as well as about the puddle, and the cloud. To put the water cycle into perspective, each gardener worked in a small group to build his or her own terrarium. A pre-cut two liter bottle was filled with gravel and potting mix, and the children were given radish seeds to plant. If a child had time and the inclination, he or she added some other types of seeds, just to see what would sprout and when. The top half of the bottle was put in place, and a lid or cellophane was used to seal the neck of the bottle. If your child has not watered the terrarium, he or she may do so once by removing the lid and adding only a small quantity of water. Too much or too little water, and the seedlings will suffer. The terrarium should be placed in indirect sunlight indoors and should be observed carefully. If it seems too humid, you may open the lid to provide ventilation; too dry, and your child should add a bit more water. Ideally, the closed system works well to cycle the water through the soil and air, and then water vapor condenses on the inside walls of the bottle to form precipitation. Mrs. Regina says that by around Thanksgiving, there could be a radish or two growing in each terrarium.
Water Travels in a Cycle
Mrs. Regina used pieces of blue and white paper to depict water molecules. She described to the children the concepts and vocabulary associated with the water cycle, such as evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.
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Terrarium Building
What does a seed need in order to sprout? Enough water, at the least. The gardeners built terrariums in order to create a self-watering, contained system. If well-balanced, the seeds sprout and continue to grow until a small radish is produced.
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Do you know a business or an individual who could donate plants, seeds, or supplies to the Grymes Garden Club? Contact the school to let us know! We have raised beds for vegetables, as well as a divide and multiply garden.
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Thanks Southern States, Louisa, VA
Thanks for the vegetable plants!
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Thanks Lake Anna Nursery
Thank you for the seeds for our fall garden!
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Thanks Sarah's Pumpkin Patch
Thank you for the pumpkins!
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