Where Does It Grow? Seven Species Match

I love how this Where Does It Grow? Seven Species Match activity guides my kids to learning more about the plants that create the delicious foods that we enjoy eating on Tu B’Shevat. I was curious to see if they would be able to correctly identify which foods grew on which plants by either real knowledge or context clues. But more importantly, I really looked forward to helping us all take a moment to really think about and appreciate the amazing plants that grow these foods!

The activity is short and simple but could totally be expanded by being set up in a sensory bin or tray, matching on a felt board with velcro dots, or supplemented with tree or plant life cycle learning. We did the short and simple version this afternoon, but I think I will bring it out again and add some fun additions next time!

What You’ll Need

Where Does It Grow? Seven Species Match free printable
Scissors
Seven species cards, images, real foods or figurines
A favorite Tu B’Shevat book that talks about the seven species (optional)

Putting It Together

Print out the Where Does It Grow? Seven Species Match printable and cut out the What Grows On Me? cards.
Set out these cards on a table (or in a sensory bin or tray or wherever you want).
Either print out the Seven Species cards or have the real foods or figurines available on the table too. We used the cards and our seven species felt pieces that I made last year.
Invite your child to look at the first What Grows On Me? card and match what food grows on it. Have them move that card, image, food or figurine to the What Grows on Me? card.
Continue until all cards and foods have been matched.
Read through the Did You Know? sheets to learn more about the plants that grow our seven species.
Bonus: enjoy a snack that includes the seven species like our Seven Species Trail Mix. Yum!

Finished & Loving It!

The kids loved this short and sweet Tu B’Shevat activity! I set it up after school and they were still interested in more learning … which works when that learning feels fun to them!

This activity was a great way to learn what these different plants look like. And to talk about the differences between trees and vines and grasses. There were lots of opportunities for looking more closely and realizing now only how the plants looked different, but also how they look different in their natural setting. For instance, fields of wheat or rows of vines versus orchards.

We live in an agricultural region but even with seeing orchards and fields in real life, having the images and discussion in this activity helped the kids understand where these particular foods came from. I love how we were able to use both the nomenclature cards and the felt pieces. I felt having both helped bring the foods to life. Next time we do this activity I plan to use real samples of the foods!

Seeing such a range of plants and the different foods they grow was a lot of fun, but also made us appreciate how magnificent and amazing nature is. We are so lucky to have access to so many different foods, and to learn where they came from. I love how this Where Does It Grow? Seven Species Match activity gave us a little window into our earth, agricultural practices, and the celebration of nature with the holiday of Tu B’Shevat!