This article has been written by Alicia Jordan, a partner of the Alabama Farm to ECE Coalition.
April is a time of growth, discovery, and hands-on learning—especially in early childhood classrooms! As the season shifts, young learners can engage with fresh food in exciting ways, whether through gardening, sensory activities, or simple classroom cooking experiences.
This month, let’s bring the farmers market and garden into the classroom with fun, hands-on activities that introduce children to fresh, seasonal foods while building important skills like observation, fine motor development, and curiosity about the world around them.
1. Farmers Market Sensory Bins 🥕🧺
Why it’s great: Sensory play supports early learning by helping children explore textures, colors, and smells.
What You Need:
- Small baskets or bins
- Dry beans or rice as a base
- Plastic or real play food (carrots, lettuce, strawberries, eggs)
- Measuring cups and scoops
- Toy farm animals or mini baskets for pretend play
Activity Idea: Let children “shop” in their mini farmers market, feeling the textures and practicing food names. Encourage conversations about what they see at a real market.
2. Starting a Spring Garden 🌿🍓
Why it’s great: Gardening can help support the development of fine motor skills and introduce them to fresh fruits and vegetables.
What You Need:
- Soil
- Containers, Raised bed(s), or a sunny spot indoors
- Spring Seeds or Transplants – Beans, cucumbers, eggplant, okra, peppers, sweet potatoes, and squash can all be started in April! You can also start planting strawberries!
- Kid-size gardening tools and gloves
- Fertilizer
- Watering Cans
Activity Idea: Involve children in starting a spring garden! Your garden can be started indoors near a sunny window or outdoors in an area that gets full sun (at least 6-8 hours of sun daily).
3. Seed Viewers 🌱🌱
Why it’s great: This activity is a quick and low-cost way to introduce children to the life cycle of plants.
What You Need:
- Clear plastic cups or sandwich bags
- Paper towels
- Bean seeds
- Water
Activity Idea: Wet the paper towel with water and help children place 1-2 bean seeds on one piece of paper towel. Place the paper towel in a sandwich bag or plastic cup, place it by a sunny window, and watch it sprout over the next few days!
