Garden Activities for Kids

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Parents and children are invited to dive into our Virtual Library and enjoy ebooks, videos, music, crafts,
recommended reads, and more! Check back each week for a new set of themed activities.
Click on the title/image to go to the listed activity, or watch our pathfinder videos if you need help.
To access these activities, you'll need a Thousand Oaks library card and PIN.
Don't have a library card? Sign up for a card now! 
If you have questions, call us at 805-449-2660 (M-F 10am-5pm) or email us.

Looking for more fun? Sign up for our Summer Reading Club!

WATCH & LISTEN

Kanopy-CharactersBabar and the Adventures of Badou - Fume Blooms
Can Babar’s grandson, Badou, fix his mistake after filling the Palace with stinky flowers? This episode also contains Turtle Trek. To watch the episode, click "Watch Now" to create a new Kanopy account with your library card, or click "Log In" if you already have a Kanopy account.
Orange_BranchCuriosity Quest - Orange Packing
An upbeat, educational family show for those curious about places, people, and things. This time, Joel's on a tasty quest to discover how oranges are grown, sorted, and packaged for delivery around the world. If you're hungry for more episodes, check out Cranberries and Mushrooms!
DaffodilThe Day Henry Met... A Daffodil
Every day Henry meets something new! Today, Henry meets a daffodil and helps out by welcoming and watering a garden's new plants. Rooting for more episodes? Try when Henry met...Some Broccoli! To watch the episode, click "Watch Now" to create a new Kanopy account with your library card, or click "Log In" if you already have a Kanopy account.
Orange_BlossomEarth To Luna! - Flowers and Fruit
Imagination and science combine in this series about a curious girl, her younger brother, and their pet ferret. In this episode, an orange blossom on the ground helps Luna and Jupiter discover how a flower can become a fruit!
Kanopy-Banner_FranklinFranklin and Friends - Franklin and the Blue Begonia
When someone picks Mr. Groundhog's prized Blue Begonia, Franklin and the Super Cluepers assemble to solve the mystery! This episode also contains Franklin the Planner. If you like this episode, petal over to Franklin’s Garden! To watch the episode, click "Watch Now" to create a new Kanopy account with your library card, or click "Log In" if you already have a Kanopy account.
Sunflower_StressedHoopla Doopla! - Squidgie's Plant
With physical skills and plenty of laughs, six friends tumble, juggle, leap, and somersault their way into and out of trouble! When Squidgie lets Bop borrow her favorite plant for a few days, it starts looking sick. Can Bop and his friends fix the plant before he returns it? For more floral fun, don't miss Squidgie’s Picnic!
Kanopy_Kids-Logo_BlackJoe and Jack - Garden Party
Preschoolers will love the imaginative adventures of Joe and his cat Jack! When Nana tells them that everything she eats comes from the garden, Joe and Jack decide to plant Lollypop trees, cup-cake bushes, and candyfloss plants! Back in the real world, they learn that growing things takes a bit longer than they thought. Joe and Jack’s time in the garden continues with Fairy Flowers.
Book_Cover-Linnea_in_Monet's_Garden

Linnea in Monet's Garden

Based on the best-selling book, this animated film combines the beauty of nature and art! Join Linnea and her friend Mr. Bloom as they travel to Claude Monet's garden in Giverny and learn how it inspired one of the most important painters of the 20th century.
Little Bear - Little Bear's Garden
Inspired by Mother Bear's garden, Little Bear imagines a garden of giant vegetables that he and his snake friend, No Feet, can visit. This episode also contains Prince Little Bear and A Painting for Emily. To watch the episode, click "Watch Now" to create a new Kanopy account with your library card or "Log In" if you already have a Kanopy account.
Butterfly_Pink
Nature Cat - Where Have All the Butterflies Gone?!

A long-awaited play date with Daisy's butterfly friends is at risk because there are no flowers for the butterflies to feed on! Nature Cat and his pals save the day by building a beautiful new garden for the butterflies. This episode also contains For the Birdies!.
Kanopy-Banner_Characters_CropSesame Street - Stinky’s Annual Birthday Flower
On Stinky the Stinkweed's birthday, the Sesame Street friends give him lots of their favorite things...until they realize that none of the gifts are quite right for a plant! For fans of this episode, keep the fun growing with The Cookie Tree.
Freegal LogoThe Garden!
Take a trip through the garden with Golden Apple! Stream songs anytime and download up to 5 songs per week with Freegal.
Garden_SeasideGarden Footpath (At the Beach, Track 6)
Stroll through a seaside garden with this soothing instrumental song by Kim Mitzo Thompson.
Seedling_HandGonna Plant a Garden (You're Amazing, Track 4)
Lend a hand and help a garden grow in this action song by Judy Caplan Ginsburgh! Stream songs anytime and download up to 5 songs per week with Freegal.
Plant_GrowthGrow with the Garden (Little Tracks: Songs from the Forest, Track 14)
In a musical salute to green thumbs and green living, Joanna Horning encourages kids to grow and learn in the garden!
Garden_ShovelI Went to the Garden & Dug Up the Ground (Kids Love To…Play, Track 5)
Play along with The Jamborees as they complete a week of garden activities. Then, take a quick spin Round & Round the Garden (Track 9)! Stream songs anytime and download up to 5 songs per week with Freegal.
Freegal Logo In the Garden (Food Songs, Track 20)
The Kiboomers invite kids to rise with the sun and welcome the birds! Harvest more melodies with Five Apples in the Apple Tree (Track 10) and The Paw Paw Patch (Track 23).
Flower-Rainbow_Petals
Kidloland Flower Songs

Learn how your favorite flowers grow with these educational songs from Kidloland! Hungry for more knowledge? Check out Kidloland's Fruit Songs and Vegetable Songs! Stream songs anytime and download up to 5 songs per week with Freegal.
Garden_PathMagic Garden (My First Songs, Track 10)
Enter a world of color and magic with Julia Claire! If you prefer fruit to flowers, try Strawberries and Cream (Track 14).
Sunflowers_Dance
My Flower Garden (I Am Me, Track 6)

Do you know all of the plants in this garden? Introduce little gardeners to new flowers with a song from Ant Cat! Stream songs anytime and download up to 5 songs per week with Freegal.
Fruits
Out to the Garden (A Brand New Day, Track 7)

Don't miss good eats and catchy beats from The Wild Blueberry Band!
Freegal LogoSecret Garden (Babies Lullabies - Soothing Versions of Famous Songs for Rest and Sleep, Vol. 7, Track 2)
Send tired tots to a dream garden with Judson Mancebo's instrumental lullaby! Stream songs anytime and download up to 5 songs per week with Freegal.  
Flowers_PianoWaltz of the Flowers
(Classics for Children: 18 Classical Favourites for Children Everywhere, Track 10)

Enjoy classical music in full bloom performed by Mary Carpenter. Don't forget to add Flower Duet from Lakme (Track 11) to your musical bouquet!

READ & EXPLORE

Flowers

Flower

Learn about the parts of flowers, why plants create flowers, and how people use flowers. 
britannica-library-children-buttonGarden
Britannica Library for Children presents quick facts about gardens. 
Apple_BlossomPlants and Other Living Things
Find information about your favorite flowers, fruits, and vegetables! On the Britannica page, choose the Flowers, Fruits, or Vegetables button in the left column to see an A to Z list of each plant type.
bookflix-buttonFlower Titles in BookFlix (Animals and Nature / Earth and Sky)
Meet colorful characters in video storybooks and discover flower facts with non-fiction ebooks! Watch our pathfinder video for BookFlix first, then click on the BookFlix icon.
Book_Cover-First_Garden_Activity_Book

First Garden Activity Book 
With beautiful pictures and easy-to-follow projects, this title has everything little ones need to start their own garden. Click on the book cover, then click on the blue "View eBook" button to read the title in Gale eBooks.
Book_Cover-Plant

Plant

Enter the ever-growing plant kingdom and dig into their structures, natural history, and importance to humans. Click on the book cover, then click on the blue "View eBook" button to read this title in Gale eBooks.
Bumblebee_landing
Planting Our Wild Garden

Find out how two kids created an urban flower garden to attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators (Ranger Rick, May 2017 Issue, pgs. 32-35)! Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the activity icon.
Book_Cover-Plants
Plants

In this title from the Our Renewable Earth series, readers will learn about plant growth, why plants are important, and how science is creating bigger and healthier plants. Click on the book cover, then click on the blue "View eBook" button to read the title in Gale eBooks.
Book_Cover-Pond_And_River

Pond & River

Dive into a fresh-water world and discover the plants and animals that live there year-round! Click on the book cover, then click on the blue "View eBook" button to read this title in Gale eBooks.
Book_Cover-Seasons

Seasons

Little readers will love this introduction to the seasons from DK First Facts! Click on the book cover, then click on the blue "View eBook" button to read the title in Gale eBooks.
flipster-buttonSeeds Get Around
Ranger Rick (September 2019 Issue, pgs. 20-21) explains how seeds become tiny travelers that can reach far-off destinations. Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the Flipster icon.
Topiary_Peacock
Transforming a Garden into Art

Don't miss Pearl Fryar's stunning blend of garden and art gallery! Take a trip with Highlights (November 2015 Issue, pgs. 22-23) to this South Carolinian farmland filled with 400 species of plants and 150 plant sculptures. Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the activity icon.
Flower_Eyes
Welcome to...the Creepy Greenhouse

Ranger Rick (October 2019 Issue, pgs. 18-23) dares you to stop and smell these frightful flowers and freaky fungi! Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the activity icon.
Libby-app
Dig into Gardening eBooks!

Plant the seed of reading with these colorful, fun, and tasty titles! OverDrive ebooks are accessible from any computer and from any device using the Libby or OverDrive app.
Novelist-K-8-logoFlowers/Gardening Reading List
Brighten your day with this bouquet of popular titles for ages 0-8! In the list, click on "Check the Library Catalog" to see if the Library has an ebook copy.
trueflix-button
Experiments with Plants (Experiments)

See what fun experiments can teach you about parts of a plant, different plant species, and discoveries made by botanists. Watch our pathfinder video for TrueFlix first, then click on the book cover.
ScienceFlix LOGO Plant Kingdom (Life Science)
Learn about Earth’s amazing variety of plants and the botanists who study them! Watch our pathfinder video for ScienceFlix first, then click on the ScienceFlix icon.
Earth_Leaves
Plant Science (Life Science)

Discover how roots, stems, and leaves create the air we breathe and how plant communities shape the world around us. Watch our pathfinder video for ScienceFlix first, then click on the Earth icon.

ACTION!

Food_ColorsCraft - Colorful Dye-It
Transform plain fabrics into a rainbow of colors with all-natural food dyes from Faces (July/Aug. 2018 Issue, pgs. 16-17). Parental supervision is recommended for all crafts. Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the activity icon.
Flipster LogoCraft - Compost Tumbler
Help the environment and your plants with this Boys' Life (October 2014 Issue, pgs. 42-43) craft for older kids! Create more garden goodies with the Compact Garden and Rain Barrel crafts on pages 44 and 46 in the same issue. Parental supervision is recommended for all crafts. Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the Flipster icon.
Eggshell_PotsCraft - Eggshell Seed Cups
You can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs...but you can recycle egg shells into tiny, natural pots for plants (Owl, April 2020 Issue, pg. 35)! Parental supervision is recommended for all crafts. Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the activity icon.
Floral-HeadpieceCraft - Flower Headbands
Girls' World (June 2018 Issue, pg. 12) invites you to add some floral sparkle to spring and summer outfits with this colorful accessory! Parental supervision is recommended for all crafts. Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the activity icon.
Flipster LogoCraft - Flower Power
Celebrate summer, birthdays, or someone special with charming felt flowers from Chickadee (May 2020 Issue, pgs. 14-15)! Parental supervision is recommended for all crafts. Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the Flipster icon.
Ikebana_Violets

Craft - Japanese Flower Art
Highlights (June 2019 Issue, pg. 18) encourages you to meditate on the beauty of nature with ikebana, the art of Japanese flower arranging! Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the activity icon.
Paper_Flower
Craft - Paper Garden

Create a paper paradise with beautiful flower creations from Highlights (May 2020 Issue, pgs. 18-19)! Parental supervision is recommended for all crafts. Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the activity icon.
Succulent_In_CanCraft - Plant It!
No yard? Chickadee (April 2019 Issue, pg. 14) adds some green to your room or windowsill with this tiny garden. Parental supervision is recommended for all crafts. Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the activity icon.
Planter_Face
Craft - Planter Pals

Transform plastic bottles into pretty, funny, or fantastic places for plants to live (Chickadee, April 2020 Issue, pgs. 14-15)! Parental supervision is recommended for all crafts. Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the activity icon.
Mango_Salsa
Kitchen Craft - Summer Salsa

Owl (Summer 2018 Issue, pgs. 26-29) has fruit-based recipes to give salsa a summer-time twist. Parental supervision is recommended for all crafts. Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the activity icon.
BerriesKitchen Craft - What's for Breakfast?
This berry delicious treat is the perfect way to start your day (Chickadee, September 2019 Issue, pg. 19)! Parental supervision is recommended for all crafts. Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the activity icon.
Worms_UndergroundWorm In on Worms
Say hello to one of the garden's hidden helpers! Ranger Rick (April 2015 Issue, pg. 20) shows you how to get a close-up look at earthworms by luring them out of the ground. Parental supervision is recommended for this activity. Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the activity icon.
Coloring-Crayons
Coloring Pages

Root around your crayon box to find all the colors needed for this week's pages!

PATHFINDER VIDEOS

BookFlix video
Find Flower titles in BookFlix
Flipster video
Find articles and activities in Flipster
ScienceFlix video
Find Life Science topics in ScienceFlix
TruFlix video
Find Experiment topics in TrueFlix