Nowruz / Grow Your Own Sabzeh
Grow Your Own Sabzeh
Children sprout lentils or wheat grains on a saucer to grow sabzeh, the fresh green shoots that symbolise new life and growth at Nowruz.
How to run it
- Start one to two weeks before your Nowruz day and explain that sabzeh is grown by families to welcome the new year and spring in the Northern Hemisphere.
- Rinse lentils or wheat grains and soak them in water overnight.
- Spread the seeds on damp paper towel or cotton wool in a saucer and cover lightly with another damp layer.
- Mist daily and remove the top layer once shoots appear, then tie a ribbon around the sprouts when they are a few centimetres tall.
You will need
- dried green or brown lentils, or wheat grains
- saucers or shallow dishes
- paper towel or cotton wool
- spray bottle
- ribbon
Make it easier or harderYounger children can draw their sprouts each day; older children can measure growth and compare lentils with wheat.
SafetyWash hands after handling seeds and keep dry seeds away from children who may put them in their mouths.
My Time Our Place · Outcome 4, Outcome 2Children observe and care for growing seeds while learning a meaningful Nowruz custom.
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