CLASSROOM – Cabbage
National Cabbage Day joins the classroom with some fun project ideas and lessons. As we cross into the middle of February, spring is on our minds. Cabbage patches, gardening and the energy that sprouts up this time of year keep us on the edge of our seats. We’re sure the same applies to your students. So, let’s expend some of it on a few worthy endeavors, what do you say?
HOW TO OBSERVE
Check out this week’s projects. Several of them are printable and can be sent home or worked on in the classroom. Others are more hands-on. We’re starting to “think spring” here at the office, so share your spring classroom ideas with us, too. We just might feature them in the classroom and give your school a shoutout, too!
Of course, as always, sharing on social media isn’t required; learning is. But if you do, please use #NDCClassroom to share on social media.
THIS WEEK’S PROJECTS
We include a little bit of math, gardening, and coloring in the classroom this week.
Cabbage Planting Project
National Cabbage Day is an ideal time to start cabbage indoors in most regions of the country. Cabbage, a part of the brassica family, can be started indoors 4-6 weeks before the last threat of frost in the spring.
Supplies
- Cabbage seeds
- Starter mix
- Cups
- Water
- Markers
Fill each cup with starting mix and dampen with water. Pack soil firmly into the cup. Add 3-4 seeds per cup and cover with soil. Place the sewn seeds in a sunny window and keep the soil moist but not wet.
When the seeds germinate and are an inch or two tall, thin the plants down so that only the strongest plant remains. When the plants are 4-6 inches tall with 2 or more leaves, and once daytime temperatures reach 50°F, the cabbages may be planted outdoors. They may be planted in raised beds, deep pots of at least 10 inches or directly into fertile soil.
Cabbages make a terrific addition to a patio, community garden or even a summer classroom garden. They come in a variety of colors and shapes, too. Students can eat them fresh from the garden or discover recipes to make.
