Outdoor Challenge #7

We did not have a Green Hour we had a Green Week! We have inspected, dissected, poked, prodded, virtually every wildflower, tree, insect, and bird in our backyard. Big Sis' joined in much of the adventure and has been crowned "Butterfly Catcher Extraordinaire"! In an attempt to try to keep our focus on our trees we have started playing games with our trees. "Race you to the ( name , characteristic, etc)" is a favorite with Sam.




We've set up our tree identification book differently then Barb-Harmony Art Mom suggest in Green Hour Challenge #7. We have a 2 page spread with seasonal pictures of our trees on the left and pictures of the bark, leaves and any defining characteristics such as cones, nuts, or flowers on the right. This is our first entry and I forgot to take pictures of the needles of our Loblolly pine! I have also started a nature blog that will correspond to our identification books that we will be making.....mainly to help me organize our pictures before we put it all together. The little kids have been impressing their dad with their vocabulary when talking about their trees.
We decided to let the perimeter of our property get a bit wild to see what would grow...much to the liking of my oldest son who dislikes edging the yard. Already wildflowers are taking over and Charlotte is overjoyed with all the possibilities.

Outdoor Challenge #6

This particular basket was found on a beach in Spain by Dad when he was about 6 and has traveled with him throughout is life. It makes the perfect container for Sam's pinecone collection and a lovely centerpiece. I have been wondering what do with this basket for years and Barb-Harmony Art Mom's Green Hour Challenge #6 helped me find the solution. Thanks!

It has been a rough week. Sam recovered from his respiratory ailment and was his usual active self for a day before an intestinal ailment brought him down. His participation in our green hour challenge was minimal this week. He did join us outside and walk around the yard a bit to look at our trees but he was happiest swinging so that is what he did for the hour he was outside. All our plans for identification books, etc will need to wait until next week.

Charlotte made her first pine cone bird feeder. I planned on doing this to help get Sam out of the house because this has always been one of his favorite activities. He got really tickled watching his sister make such a mess. He gave her pointers and directions from his "supervisor's" seat on the swing. " Too much peanut butter." " Charlotte,stop eating it!"

The Blue Jay family loves Charlotte. She got as much bird seed on the ground as she did on the pinecone. They have been dining in that area of the yard since we left but have not allowed me to get a picture.

Sam did help her find the perfect place to hang her finished product. We will be able to see the birds from our dining room window.

Outdoor Challenge #5

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We've been sick and our nature walk time was the first time we've been outside all week. We walked around our yard and looked at our various trees comparing their bark. Sam settled in the hammock which gave him the best view for watching the blue jay family make their nest in on of our trees. He took a nap and woke up so refreshed! The fresh air was just what he needed.


While Sam slept and Charlotte played I read the sections in HONS regarding trees....it is quite a long section. There were nine poems that could be used for copywork or memorizing, a vocabulary list, and many ideas for projects. I have been inspired by reading all the other green hour experiences and really enjoyed Melissa-Sparrow Nest's bird poster. There is park close by that a variety of native trees that are labeled (makes it identification dummy proof!) and I want us to create our own tree identification booklet. We'll try to make it out there this week if we all continue on the mend and then visit seasonally when we finish our tree study.

So to enhance our tree study these next few weeks....

I picked a poem from HONS to work on memorizing and include in our nature notebook.

WOOD-GRAIN

This is the way that the sap-river ran
From the root to the top of the tree
Silent and dark,
Under the bark,
Working a wonderful plan
That the leaves never know,
And the branches that grow
On the brink of the tide never see.
-John B. Tabb


I made a list of the vocabulary on pg. 623 so that I include those terms while talking about our trees.

Our main project will be long term in the creation of our own tree identification book


We will date our trees as the leaves appear and study each particular tree in our backyard in detail as the leaves start to bloom.

A casual observation on 2/29/08

Same species of tree. The tree on the left received extra......hmmm...."water" from Sam during the winter and appears to have liked the special treatment.

Assignment #5

Outdoor Challenge #4

The Assignment

" The child should never be required to learn the name of anything in the nature-study work; but the name should be used so often and so naturally in his presence tha he will learn it without being conscious of the process." Handbook of Nature Study. pg.11

I am wanting to really focus on trees but we couldn't resist a trek through one of our favorite parks which is looking a bit wild from winter. The kids seemed a bit shocked at the change since the last time we visited in the fall. They have witnessed the changes in our yard but seemed to think that "butterfly garden" would remain unaltered through the winter. So, although I want to focus on trees, I also wish to visit "butterfly garden" at least monthly this year to document the changes. Sam did not want to make an entry in his nature notebook this week and I did not insist upon it. He did help me pick the pictures to add to this blog entry.

I really wish I had taken a picture of this tree and not just the contrast of the blooms against the sky. I think this is a Texas Redbud but will need to see the leaves in summer to make sure.

Firecracker Plant in the foreground and the old brush being removed for the new growth. I need to remember the picnic table so we can bring our notebooks and draw next time we visit.

A few of the specimens that I'm not sure of their names but will try to follow throughout the year.