Dig Into Soil!
Dig Into Soil! Scoop, sprinkle, and explore soil layers to discover what lives underground. Children use their senses to compare textures, colors, and materials while learning how soil supports life. #FitandHealthyKids
Book suggestion: Dirt: The Scoop on Soil by Natalie Rosinsky helps children understand why soil matters.
Download the guide at – go.unl.edu/lgo_soil
Seed Tape Fun!
Seed Tape Fun! Create seed tape by carefully placing seeds on paper towels. This simple planting activity builds fine motor skills while teaching children how seeds need space and care to grow. #FitandHealthyKids
Book suggestion: A Seed Grows by Antoinette Portis pairs perfectly with planting together.
Download the guide at – go.unl.edu/lgo_seed
Alternative Text: A hand is holding small orange pellets over a young plant growing in dark soil.
Water Wonders!
Water Wonders! Drip, pour, and watch water move across dirt, rocks, and leaves. Children explore absorption, flow, and sound while learning how water supports plants and nature. #FitandHealthyKids
Book suggestion: Water Is Water by Miranda Paul beautifully connects water play to the natural world.
Download the guide at – go.unl.edu/lgo_water
Alternative Text: Watering young green seedlings growing in dark soil.
Sun & Shadows!
Sun & Shadows! Trace shadows and return later to see how they move. Children explore how sunlight creates shadows and helps plants grow. #FitandHealthyKids
Book suggestion: What Makes a Shadow? by Clyde Bulla is a great science connection.
Download the guide at – go.unl.edu/lgo_sun
Alternative Text: Bright sunlight streams through vibrant green leaves on a tree branch, creating a lens flare effect.
Wiggle With Worms!
Wiggle With Worms! Gently explore how worms move through soil and help plants grow. This activity builds empathy, observation skills, and respect for living creatures. #FitandHealthyKids
Book suggestion: Wonderful Worms by Linda Glaser is a great read to spark curiosity before or after digging.
Download the guide at – go.unl.edu/lgo_worms
Alternative Text: A close-up view of healthy soil with green plants growing, and an earthworm burrowing through the soil.
Tops & Bottoms!
Tops & Bottoms! Look at fruits and vegetables and decide which ones grow above the ground and which grow below. Sort, glue, and talk about what part of the plant we eat. This activity builds early science skills, vocabulary, and fine motor strength through hands-on play. #FitandHealthyKids
Book suggestion: Tops & Bottoms by Janet Stevens is a fun story that helps children explore plant parts in a playful way.
Download the guide at – go.unl.edu/plant_parts
Alternative Text: A young seedling with a bean-shaped seed attached, emerging from dark soil with visible roots against a blue sky.
Watch and Wait!
Watch and Wait! Visit the same plant or space each day and notice small changes. Gardening teaches patience, persistence, and how time helps plants grow. #FitandHealthyKids
Book suggestion: The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss supports conversations about waiting and believing.
Download the guide at – go.unl.edu/watch_and_wait
Alternative Text: Four stages of a plant growing from a seed, shown in sequence from left to right against a blurred green background and golden sunlight.
Veggie Stamps!
Veggie Stamps! Use cut vegetables to stamp patterns and shapes with paint. This creative activity connects garden foods to art, math, and sensory exploration. #FitandHealthyKids
Book suggestion: Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert is a perfect companion to veggie play.
Download the guide at – go.unl.edu/lgo_veggie
Alternative Text: Close-up of fresh carrots growing in rich soil, with green tops visible above the ground.
Seed to Snack!
Seed to Snack! Paint, cut, and create a watermelon while exploring how fruits grow from seeds. Children practice early math skills by comparing halves and quarters while learning where food comes from. #FitandHealthyKids
Book suggestion: The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli adds laughter and curiosity to this growing activity.
Download the guide at – go.unl.edu/lgo_fruit
Alternative Text: A cluster of ripe red raspberries hang from a branch with green leaves. One raspberry on the left is partially green, indicating it is not yet fully ripe.
Flower Hunt!
Flower Hunt! Search for flowers and notice colors, shapes, scents, and textures. Watch for bees and butterflies and talk about how flowers help living things grow. #FitandHealthyKids
Book suggestion: Zinnia’s Flower Garden by Monica Wellington encourages observation and care for plants.
Download the guide at – go.unl.edu/lgo_flowers
Alternative Text: A close-up of white daisies and yellow wildflowers blooming in tall green grass.
Snip, Smell, and Taste!
Snip, Smell, and Taste! Explore herbs by touching, smelling, and gently snipping leaves. Children learn how herbs are used for cooking while practicing careful observation. #FitandHealthyKids
Book suggestion: Rosemary the Helpful Herb by Spring Fornell pairs well with this sensory experience.
Download the guide at – go.unl.edu/lgo_herbs
Alternative Text: A bunch of fresh herbs, including rosemary and mint, tied with twine next to a pair of vintage scissors on a wooden surface.
Harvest Time!
Harvest Time! Look for ripe fruits and vegetables and help gather them together. Sorting, washing, and celebrating the harvest builds pride and responsibility. #FitandHealthyKids
Book suggestion: Fall Harvest Fun by Martha E.H. Rustad helps children connect growing food to family meals.
Download the guide at – go.unl.edu/lgo_harvest
Alternative Text: Children are harvesting vegetables from a garden. They are placing them into a wooden crate that contains carrots, onions, tomatoes, kale, and peppers.