Materials List:
– Lima bean seeds
– Plastic baggies
– Cotton balls
– Tape
– Container with soil
– Watering can or spray bottle
– Window with sunlight

Preschool Learning Objectives:
1. Cognitive Development: Children will observe and describe the growth process of a plant from seed to sprout.
2. Scientific Inquiry: Children will explore how plants grow and the parts of a plant.
3. Fine Motor Skills: Children will practice fine motor skills by carefully handling the seeds and sprouts.
4. Responsibility: Children will learn to care for living things by watering and transferring the sprouts to soil.

Preschool Teacher Instructions:
1. Give each child a plastic baggie with a few wet cotton balls and a Lima bean seed. Encourage them to place the seed in the baggie and tape it to a window that receives sunlight.
2. Have the children observe and discuss the changes they see as the seed starts to sprout. Encourage them to carefully remove the sprouts from the baggie and examine the roots, stem, and leaves.
3. Once the sprouts have grown, help the children transfer them to a container with soil. Explain to the children how to care for the plants by watering them regularly.
4. Encourage the children to take their sprouts home to plant in their own gardens or transfer them to your preschool garden.

Teacher Tips for Differentiated Instruction:
– Provide visual aids, such as diagrams or pictures, to support children with different learning styles.
– Offer additional guidance and support for children who may need extra assistance with handling the seeds and sprouts.
– Encourage group discussions to facilitate peer learning and collaboration.

Assessment Suggestions:
– Observe and document each child’s participation in the activity, noting their level of engagement and understanding of plant growth.
– Ask open-ended questions to assess children’s knowledge of plants and their growth process.
– Review children’s ability to handle the seeds and sprouts with care as a measure of their fine motor skills development.