You will need:

A container (like an old yogurt pot), cotton wool balls, cress seeds and a splash of water.

Before opening your seeds, support your child to decorate their container. Add facial features using a photograph, or collage materials. You could cut a piece of card just big enough to wrap round your container, stick down, then encourage your child to decorate by painting or drawing a funny face.

How to grow your own cress head

1. Wet the cotton wool balls and place into your container, so three quarters full.
2. Sprinkle a generous amount of cress seeds on top. Don’t be shy – these seeds like to crowd!
3. Gently press the seeds down. No need to bury them, a light pat will do.
4. Place in a sunny spot or near a bright window and watch your cress grow. From around 7 – 10 days you should see your cress popping up!
5. Check on your cress daily, keep moist, but not soggy. Lightly spray with water if the cotton wool looks like its drying out.
6. Once your cress has grown to about 2 -3 inches, it’s time to trim a crazy haircut. Snip the top of your cress with scissors, then add to a delicious sandwich, salad or scatter over soup – yummy!

To add to the fun, why not grow your own cress family with each family member taking care of their own crazy cress head.

Curious questions

Planting and growing is a great way to spark curiosity. Handling seeds and observing changes can lead to curious questions and a deeper interest in the natural world.

Here are some questions to get your child thinking:

Where does food come from?

How big do you think the cress will grow?

What do you see happening to the seeds?

What do you think would happen if we forgot to water the cress?

Do you think animals eat plants like cress?

What could we do with the cress once its grown?

What would you like to call your crazy cress head?