Marigold Flower Activities for Kids
- Have kids grow marigolds from seed indoors or in an outdoor flowerbed, or transplant young flowers in a sunny spot in their own garden to continue caring for through the year. Being responsible for their own flower allows kids to experience every stage of the marigold's growth and make decisions about their bloom's care. Growing marigolds is a hands-on activity that helps kids develop an intimate relationship and better understanding of these bright-colored annuals.
- Have children color marigolds in shades of yellow, orange, red and white, to stay true to life and give them a better understanding of the wide variety of flowers that are considered marigolds. Websites such as ColoringPagePlace.com and EnchantedLearning.com offer free pictures of marigolds that can be printed out and colored in by kids. You could even have children color several different marigolds and cut them out to create a paper bouquet of marigold flowers that will never wilt.
- Garlands made of marigold flowers have been made daily throughout south Asia, particularly Nepal, for hundreds of years to decorate holy sites, their homes and themselves during times of celebration and other ceremonies. Have kids make simple, single-strand garlands of colorful marigold flowers to wear themselves or give as gifts to their family and friends. Be sure to choose odorless marigold flowers for this activity, as some varieties are known for their pungent, unpleasant smell.
- The common name "marigold" encompasses two genuses of flowers: tagetes and calendula. The calendula genus is made up of about 20 species of daisy-like flowers, the most commonly cultivated being the "pot marigold," and the tagetes genus is made up of 56 species, including French marigolds, African marigolds and Mexican marigolds. Have kids contrast and compare different species of marigolds and identify the characteristics of both varieties. Include exotic specimens in the activity such as the Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris), Tree marigold (Tithonia diversifolia), Desert marigold (Baileya multiradiata) and Corn marigold (Glebionis segetum) to showcase the wide variety of different marigold flowers.
