Mr. Thompson, the science teacher, announced that the school was starting a garden. Students could help plant vegetables and flowers. Riley had never grown anything before and was excited to learn.
Mr. Thompson divided the class into groups. Riley's group was responsible for planting tomatoes. They dug small holes, placed the tiny plants carefully in the soil, and watered them. Riley's hands got dirty, but it felt good.
Every day, Riley checked on the tomato plants. At first, they looked tiny and fragile. Riley worried they wouldn't grow. But Mr. Thompson explained that plants needed time, just like learning a new skill.
Weeks passed, and the tomato plants grew taller and stronger. Small yellow flowers appeared, which later turned into green tomatoes. Riley watched in amazement as the green tomatoes slowly turned red.
When it was time to harvest, Riley picked the first red tomato. It was the most beautiful thing Riley had ever seen. The class made a salad with their vegetables, and Riley realized that growing something from a tiny seed to food on a plate was magical. Riley felt proud to be part of it.