Stepping-stones

Ages 2 and up (one 30-45 minute session)

Objectives:

To create a sense of ownership by adding artwork to the garden
To learn about soil compaction

Materials:

Cement or Concrete
Something to mix cement with and in, like a wheelbarrow
Aluminum baking pans or pie tins in various sizes
Crisco
Natural objects to imbed in the concrete
Smocks, disposable gloves, containers for measuring water, and paper towels

Set up:

Fill the water containers with the correct amount of water to mix one bag of concrete, following the label directions. Open the Crisco. Assemble various piles of objects to imbed.

Note: Put one bag of concrete in the wheelbarrow before the kids come out. It is very dusty and may aggravate the lungs of an asthmatic child. If more than one bag will need to be mixed, make sure none of the children are standing too close or down wind when the bag is dumped. Mix only one bag at a time. When the children are handling the concrete, make sure they are wearing gloves. Concrete is very alkaline and will burn their skin if it is exposed to it for any length of time.

Part One:

Assemble the children at the garden and talk about the plants roots and the importance of loose soil. Talk about how their feet compact the soil. In loose soil, let them make foot prints. Discuss how they might avoid compacting the soil and introduce the idea of making stepping=stones. Explain how they can make the stepping-stones. Show the children the items they will be using for creating the stones and the objects that will make them works of art for their garden. Before starting make sure that children are wearing smocks or old clothes, and wearing gloves.

Part two:

Have some of the children grease the pans with Crisco and paper towels to keep the concrete from sticking. Have another group of children assist in mixing the cement. Some of them can pour the pre measured water into the wheelbarrow on your Q while others help you mix with the shovel or hoe. Be certain to scrap the bottom of the wheelbarrow to incorporate ALL of the cement dust.

Part Three:

Have everyone choose a mold to use, and pour the cement into each of the tins or plastic molds. Have the children push items firmly into the cement. Explain the items can’t stick up too far or they may cause someone to trip when they walk on them. Have them add their glove covered hand or foot prints to their creations. Allow the stepping stones to dry for two days. After the first day, the stepping stones can be taken out of the molds and flipped over for the bottom to dry. (At this point children can write their names on their stones by scratching them on the bottom using a pencil).

Place the stepping stones in the garden, forming a path around plants; or place them in an unplanted spot and have the children press Alyssum or some other low growing annual around them. Everyone take a walk on the path and admire the beauty of the children’s creations.

Questions to ask:

Why is it important to have a path in the garden?
Besides soil compaction, what other benefit do stepping stones bring to the garden?
Why do beneficial insects like to hide under the stepping-stones during the day?