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Inner Garden Growth

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Lesson Plan

Inner Garden Growth

Students will explore emotional growth by visualizing themselves as seedlings, engaging in storytelling and hands-on planting to identify and nurture positive feelings.

By linking plant care to emotional awareness, young learners build self-esteem, resilience, and empathy, fostering healthy social‐emotional development.

Audience

Pre-K to Grade 2

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Storytelling, discussion, and hands-on planting.

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Introduction

10 minutes

  • Display the first slide of the Inner Garden Growth Slide Deck.
  • Read the story prompt: imagining students as tiny seedlings.
  • Ask: “What does a seed need to grow?” Guide responses (sunlight, water, soil).
  • Relate needs to feelings: “What helps your heart grow happy?”

Step 2

Group Discussion

10 minutes

  • Prompt students to share things that make them feel strong or cared for (family hugs, friends, kind words).
  • Record their ideas on chart paper under two columns: “What Helps Plants Grow” and “What Helps Feelings Grow.”
  • Use markers to illustrate simple icons (sun, water drop, heart).

Step 3

Planting Activity

20 minutes

  • Distribute planting pots, potting soil, and seeds to each student.
  • Guide students to fill their pots with soil, place a seed inside, and gently water it.
  • As they plant, ask each child to name one positive feeling they want to grow (e.g., kindness, bravery) and write it on their Seedling Growth Activity Sheet.
  • Encourage them to draw a picture of their seedling and the emotion they chose.

Step 4

Reflection and Closing

5 minutes

  • Gather students in a circle around the planted seeds.
  • Invite volunteers to share their seed, chosen emotion, and why it’s important.
  • Reinforce: “Just like we water our plants, we can practice kindness and courage every day to help our feelings grow.”
  • Encourage students to observe their seedlings daily and talk about how their feelings grow stronger over time.
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Slide Deck

Our Inner Garden

Imagine you are a tiny seed, just planted in the soil. Over time, you can grow big and strong!

Welcome everyone! Today we’re going on a journey into our very own Inner Garden. Invite children to settle on the carpet and look at the big picture of a seed turning into a plant.

What Does a Seed Need?

  • Soil
  • Water
  • Sunlight

Ask: “What does a seed need to grow?” Encourage hands in the air. As children answer, point to each word on the slide.

What Helps Our Feelings Grow?

  • Love and hugs
  • Kind words
  • Friends and family

Transition to feelings: Say “Just like seeds need these things, our hearts and minds need special things to grow happy and strong.”

Planting Time!

  1. Fill your pot with soil
  2. Place one seed in the soil
  3. Give it a gentle drink of water

Explain each step clearly and show how to fill a pot, place a seed, and water. Model gently scooping soil into a pot.

My Special Feeling

• Draw your seedling growing in a pot
• Write or ask for help to write one feeling you want to grow (e.g., kindness, bravery)

Introduce the activity sheet. Show an example: a pot with a smiley face seedling and the word “kindness.”

Let’s Share!

Who would like to show their drawing and tell us which feeling they chose?

Gather children in a sharing circle around the pots. Encourage positive feedback and praise.

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Activity

Seedling Growth Activity Sheet

Name: ____________________________

1. Draw Your Seedling











2. My Special Feeling

What feeling do I want to help grow in my heart? ____________________________

3. Who Helps Me Grow?

Draw someone who helps you feel this way:











Encourage students to share their drawings and talk about their feelings during the reflection circle.

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