Ready, Set, Grow

Ray Doiron is an assistant professor in the Faculty of Education at the
University of Prince Edward Island and the Preschool to Grade 6
nonfiction reviews co-ordinator at Resource Links.

Children’s natural curiosity about plants and growing things will be
greatly stimulated by this packaged set of 15 easy-to-do plant
activities. The set includes the Ready, Set, Grow book, plus two small
Earth Buddies (sawdust balls with faces) containing high-quality grass
seed, which sprouts into “hair” after 10 days of watering and care.
As well as learning how to get the seeds on the Earth Buddies to
germinate, young readers are given information on what seeds are, how
they grow, the different kinds of seeds, and the foods we eat that are
seeds. The 15 activities encourage children to experiment on their own
with seeds and extend their scientific knowledge about growing plants.

The simple activities are fun to do and only require materials found in
most homes. The materials are well listed and illustrated, and the steps
to complete the activities are clear and easy to follow. Simple diagrams
add clarity to the text. The activities demonstrate the principles of
osmosis, the three basic requirements for plants to grow, and the
effects of light and water in plant maturation.

The set would be very useful in a classroom during thematic work on
growing things or plants, or as part of the regular science program.
Packaging the book with the Earth Buddies makes it a great gift.
Recommended.