How to Explain to a Child Why the Grass Is Green
As your curious child gets older, she'll inevitably start to ask you random questions about how things work that may catch you off guard, like why the grass is green. Your little one is not likely to fully understand chlorophyll and how it works in grass and other plants with just an explanation. Help your child better grasp the concept with age-appropriate materials, examples and activities that will give her a better all-around understanding of grass, its color and how it grows.
Things You'll Need
- Kid-friendly grass and plant reference books
- Nylon stocking
- Grass seeds
- Soil
- Small flowerpot
Instructions
Read age-appropriate books with your child that help explain chlorophyll in grass and plants. For kids ages 5 and up, check out "How Grass Grows," by Joanne Mattern, which offers a basic understanding of grass, different types of grass and the chlorophyll that makes them green. For kids ages 8 and older, "Eyewitness Plant," by David Burnie, provides a comprehensive look at everything related to plants, including the chlorophyll and photosynthesis processes. Take your child outside look at the grass and plants in your yard. Talk about how grass, shrubs and trees are different types of plants, but all produce a pigment called chlorophyll that makes them appear green, even though other colors are "hiding" inside the plants, such as red, green and blue. The start of fall is an excellent time to explain this to your child, as other colors are exposed in many tree leaves when they stop producing chlorophyll. If your child asks why the grass is still green even though the leaves have changed, explain that your grass may be a cool-weather type that can produce chlorophyll production throughout the year if it receives enough water. Help your child grow a grass-head friend, which will teach your child how to grow grass. Cut a nylon stocking in half and have your child place a few tablespoons of grass seed in the bottom, filling the toe section. Add enough soil on top to fill the entire foot part of the nylon and create a head shape, knotting closed the opening. Your child can then glue on googly eyes and fabric nose and smile just below where the grass seeds are. Sit the grass head on top of a small flower pot, water it and place it in the sun. Have your child water it whenever the soil looks dry, and watch her creation slowly start to sprout grass hair.
