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Cress Seed Egg Heads
Looking for a great school half-term holiday craft activity that is not only educational and fun to do but cheap as well? Then you’ve got to try growing your own cress seeds at home! It is such a great activity for children to get involved with gardening and to get them more interested in understanding what fresh vegetables are too.
Check out my free Happy Pebbles craft activity here as well for more ideas!
In addition, children will be able to visually see results before their eyes in around one weeks time from the start of the project but daily the seeds will change and grow too!
Although I have used plastic egg cups to make ours, with the actual cress seeds growing in egg shells, you could just as easily use an old egg box carton or clean and empty yogurt pot containers.
The cress seeds will only take around one week to fully sprout before you can cut them off and enjoy them. However, you will start to see the seeds sprouting within a day or so which is great to keep your little ones interested in this small project!
To make your very own cress seed egg heads at home, you will need the following:
1. One packet or cress seeds (these are very inexpensive and can be bought locally or online)
2. Some cotton wool balls for your seeds to grow on
3. A few clean and dried empty containers such as egg cups or a cardboard egg container
4. A little tap water
5. Optional decorations for your cress seed egg heads such as pens, pencils, feathers, sequin, glitter and googly eyes.
Step 1
If you are decorating your cress seed cups then you may wish to do this part first incase the seeds were to fall out. Get as creative as you like but try to keep the decorations on the outside of the containers.
Step 2
Moisten your cotton wool balls with some tap water and place them in the containers.
Step 3
Liberally sprinkle the cress seeds on top of the moistened cotton wool. Lightly press them down with your fingers so that they are in contact with the cotton wool.
Now place them in a well ventilated area with direct sunlight such as on a windowsill, and water them again in a few days.
Step 4
If you check on your cress seeds growth daily, then you will notice that the seeds open and start sprouting very quickly. Each day your little ones will enjoy checking on their cress seeds and seeing the growth and changes in the seedlings.
Try to provide them with some water every few days by pouring a little bit onto the cotton wool itself. At the end of one week you will be left with some delicious cress seeds to enjoy and add to sandwiches and salads!
Carefully trim them off with scissors and gently rinse under some tap water before consuming.
You could use your fresh home-grown cress to make a fresh and tasty egg salad sandwich, to sprinkle them on salad or a pasta dish or to even use in omelettes for example. Encourage your children to simply try the flavour raw too! A great inexpensive craft activity that is both educational and fun!
