*  As our Center runs through the summer, we did a lot with gardening;
 planting flowers as well as vegetables.  Here are some of our garden songs
 & fingerplays:
 
 Here is my Garden
 Here is my garden
 I'll rake it with care
 And then some seeds I'll plant in there.
 The sun will shine,
 The rain will fall,
 And then my flowers will grow up tall!
 
 
 
 This is the Way we Rake the Garden
 (to the tune of Here we go Round the Mulberry Bush)
 
 This is the way we rake the garden,
 Rake the garden, rake the garden.
 This is the way we rake the garden
 So early in the morning!
 
 Other verses:
 This is the way we plant the seeds...
 This is the way the rain comes down...
 This is the way we pull the weeds...
 This is the way we pick the veggies...
 etc.
 **my kids love acting this out while we sing.
 
 The Seed Cycle
 (to the tune of Farmer in the Dell)
 
 The farmer sows his seeds.
 The farmer sows his seeds.
 Hi Ho the dairy-o,
 The farmer sows his seeds.
 
 other verses:
 The rain begins to fall...
 The sun begins to shine...
 The seeds begin to grow..
 The plants grow big and tall...
 The farmer cuts his corn...
 And now the harvest is in...

*  Monster Mulch
 While we're talking about gardening--this ties in perfectly especially if
you have some fresh veggies growing-
 
 you'll need:
 a green pepper or cucumber for each monster
 toothpicks-(naturally be VERY careful--when using these around small
children)
 pieces of carrot, celery, turnip, etc.
 
 Have each child make a monster by using the pepper for the head or body.
 With the toothpicks attach other veggies to make arms, legs, eyes, horns,
etc. (spiral sliced things are wonderful too)The children come up with
amazing little creatures--When the are finished--say" your monster is
finished, now lets munch him/her up!!" ( i gave the kids some dip to to make
it a little more tasty) They had a blast making and especially "munching"
them.
 
                                      Cucumber Canoes
 
 you'll need:
 
 cucumbers
 carrot
 low fat yogurt/ dip ( or regular "fat" is fine too)
 tomato
 radishes
 lemon juice
 
 Wash and peel cuc's.  Cut in half lenghtwise.  Hollow out the pulp from each
half.  Wash the other veggies.  Peel carrot, and trim greens fron the
radishes.  Chop the tomato, carrot, and radishes on a cutting board --as
finely as possible.  Mix the chopped veggies with the yogurt add a little
lemon juice and mix-- spoon the mixture into the canoe and away u go I used
the extra veggies to dip into the mixture also good w/ chips/crackers --
These are also great for picnic's camp etc.