Collecting Seeds!

Children have had many experiences with seeds before they come to school. They have eaten seeds in fruits and vegetables, and picked up seeds from the ground, removed seeds from fruit, helped in planting seeds themselves. Most children are familiar with some common seeds such as bean, corn, apple and watermelon. Many children eat foods without realizing they are eating seeds. Peanuts, pecans, rice, and peas are seeds, but how many children realize this? How many children know they are eating fruits that contain seeds when they eat tomatoes, strawberries, squash, blackberries,or bananas? First-hand experience with a variety of seeds in a classroom setting will help expand the children's awareness of seeds and interest them in growing things.

One thing is for sure.  The Tel Aviv All Stars love apples! Most days apples are a choice for snack, and many of the children choose to bring an apple for lunch. The teachers have been listening and observing the children during open snack and lunchtime and noticed they were opening their apple cores and searching for the seeds. The children are very exited each and every time they discover a seed! The teachers suggested we start collecting seeds from the apples we eat. They also invited the children to collect seeds from the fruits they eat at home. They thought it was a great idea!

Sam suggested we take the seed collecting a step further, " After we collect the seeds we can plant them. I plant seeds in my garden at home!" All the children thought planting the seeds was a fantastic idea! Every day at snack we put the seeds we find from the apples we eat in a clear glass container. Once the children think we have enough seeds, we plan on planting the seeds.

Feel free to have your children collect seeds from the fruits you eat at home and bring them in to school, to add to our seed collection. Thank you!