Does climbing an Apple Tree count as a nature study? LOL.
Just Bug and I did the nature study this week. Fairy and Pixie were under the weather and not interested in being out in the cold for too long when we had a chance to work on this. Apple trees in our area are pretty much spent for the season. We got lots of good apple picking in earlier this fall though and have made almost weekly trips to the cider mill. There are a couple apple trees in the neighbor’s yard and we choose to take a closer look at those for our study.
I read out loud from the Handbook of Nature Study while he colored a picture of an apple tree. We talked for a bit about grafting and why a farmer would choose to do that over planting seeds.
Then we headed outside. We made some quick observations before Bug wanted a boost up into the tree.
Some of our observations:
It looks like it has several trunks.
The top looks like a ball.
The leaves only have one finger that have lots of teeth (his words).
The apples left were pretty gross.
The bark flaked off easy in places.
The bark was gray with some green mossy stuff (I should ID).
There were no more bees.
There were lots of new shoots growing out of where some limbs had been cut off (which made it very pokey and hard to climb).
There was a grasshopper hiding on one.
One of the things I find interesting is how all the trees we have studied I describe as having gray bark – not brown. So why is it that I always reach for Crayola brown instead? Somehow I have been trained to think brown even though what I really see is closer to a shade of gray if I had to generalize. Kinda makes me wonder what else I haven’t really seen.
We did a lot more apple tree related activities in our Johnny Appleseed week and our Seasons of Arnold’s Apple Tree week. Or just do a search for apple on my site.
We are continuing with our apple theme, but this week looking more at the tree than the fruit. We will be focusing on the topic of the change in seasons. I think this will be a good week to take some time to freshen up and decorate our nature table to reflect the change that is occurring outside our windows.
Week Four (Sep 29th-Oct 3)
The Seasons of Arnold’s Apple Tree
Why Do Leaves Change Colors?
E is for Eyebright
We will be coloring the Eyebright page from our Flower Fairies Alphabet Coloring Book and reading the accompanying story in the Flower Fairies Alphabet Book.
Once a month, we will be decorating a 12 inch quilt square to reflect something we are currently learning about. At the end of the school year, I will turn all of our squares into a keepsake quilt. (Related post: Glue Batik Fabric Squares)
We have a busy week and I don’t have a specific field trip in mind other than enjoying our falls walks and watching as the leaves change. We are also hoping to get out to pick fall raspberries. Raspberry Jam is a family favorite. (Related post: Cider, Snails & Acorns)
INGREDIENTS
1/4 c. shortening
1/2 t. salt
1 c. sugar
1 c. orange juice
1 1/2 T. milk
2 c. flour
2 eggs
1 1/2 – 2 c. chopped apples
1 t. baking soda
Topping:
1 t. sugar
1/2 t. cinnamon
DIRECTIONS
Mix all ingredients together (except topping ingredients) and place in greased loaf pan. Mix sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle on top of loaf. Bake at 350 for 1 hour.
Little Boy Blue
Little Boy Blue,
Come blow your horn;
The sheep’s in the meadow, the cow’s in the corn.
Where is the boy who looks after the sheep?
He’s under a haystack, fast asleep.
Will you wake him?
No, not I. For if I do he’s sure to cry.
Oh, the Lord is good to me,
And so I thank the Lord,
For giving me the things I need,
The Sun, the Rain and the Appleseed,
The Lord is good to me.
Kindergarten/Preschool Term One Overview: Harvest Time