Heart-Shaped African Violets

DAY 5

I always loved when my first grade class and I planted flowers/plants together. It was a great hands-on learning experience. We always learned SO MUCH about plants. They also learned about responsibility, as they were in charge of keeping their plant alive (no I did not water them after school for them!). They learned about the parts of the plant and what a plant needs in order to stay alive. In addition they learned about the materials plants make in our world and how they keep us ALIVE. This activity was always a huge hit in Room 26.

Here is a fun way to bring science into your home while celebrating Valentine's Day.

All it takes to create African violets is a large healthy leaf, cut in half. To turn the leaf into a pretty gift, snip it into the shape of a heart. Using clean, sharp scissors, remove a leaf with 1 inch of stem from a plant, and shape the leaf (it was always fun to take a little field trip outside to find our leaves). Next, fill a small pot with fresh potting soil, and poke a hole in the soil with a pencil. Insert 3/4 inch of the stem, pack soil firmly around it, and water well. No sun needed!

(While rooting, the leaf should be covered with a glass jar or a plastic bag and removed from bright light to keep it moist.) 

A new "plantlet" should emerge in 6 to 8 weeks.

I love how these plants have little tags on them to indicate who's plant is who's. You could also add a little tag to it and give it away as a gift. Your child/children will absolutely love this activity and especially the responsibility that comes with it.

Happy Planting!

P.S. If you haven't already entered our first GIVEAWAY, you can find that post on the side bar of this blog under "Topics of Interest" or you can click HERE.