To continue the theme from last month, "April showers bring May Flowers" I would like to present three flower themed ideas for your family to enjoy. Spring weather doesn't always cooperate so kids can spend a rainy afternoon making flowers for a Mother's day gift. If they are more interested in science they may enjoy making a white carnation turn colors. If the weather is nice outside have a watering can relay race to practice watering flowers in the garden.

Mother's Day Flowers

I love any craft that involves my kids' handprints. My youngest gave me this easy craft when she was 4 and I still have them on my kitchen windowsill.

Items Needed

• Colored card stock paper
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Craft sticks
• Clay
• Glue
• Markers
• Paper cup

Steps

1. Place the colored card stock paper on a flat surface and have the children trace their hands on several colors.
2. Cut out each hand. These will be the flowers, so they can decorate them if they want with stickers, crayons, markers or glitter.
3. Decorate the paper cup, as this is the "pot" the flowers will "grow" in.
4. Glue one end of a craft stick to the bottom of each handprint and allow it to dry.
5. Roll a ball of clay and insert it into the bottom of the cup. Glue in place.
6. Insert the end of each craft stick to create a bouquet of flowers in a pot.

This is an easy Mother's Day gift that will be cherished for many years.

Carnation Colors

Carnation flowers are used in this experiment to show how flowers drink water. White Daisies can also be used. This demonstration will illustrate how plants use their roots to drink water and gather nutrients as the color can be seen moving up the stem and into the petals.

Items Needed

• White carnations or daisies
• Scissors
• Tall glass or vase
• Food coloring

Steps

1. Fill one glass or vase ½ full with water.
2. Add 25 – 30 drops of food coloring — the more the better. Darker colors work better than yellow.
3. Cut the stem off a fresh carnation or daisy and quickly put into the colored water.
4. Repeat with other colors of water and other carnations.

The color may not reach the flower petals until the next day so leave the flowers in their water overnight and check them in the morning.

Watering Can Relay Race

As was illustrated with the carnation experiment plants and flowers need water to live. This relay race will help kids run off some energy and practice watering the garden.

Items Needed

• Water Tight containers such as cups, pails or small buckets
• Water
• Kiddie pool or large pail
• Watering can

The object of this race is to use the watering can to fill the containers with water from the kiddie pool. Spread the cups, pails and buckets along a line in the yard. These represent the "flowers." Divide the players into 2 teams and give each team a small watering can. Make sure that even when it is full of water the smallest player can carry it. When the race starts the first player must run to the kiddie pool and fill the watering can, then they run down the line of "flowers" pouring water into each one. Once they have emptied their can they should hand it off to the next person in line. The race continues until everyone has emptied their watering can and filled all of the "flower" containers. Depending on how many containers there are to be filled some players may need to take more than one turn with the watering can. Those players who take their time and water more carefully, without spilling, may find their team wins.

Enjoy these flower themed activities and have some fun this spring.

Photo by Steve Pangler Science