“Many times children are familiar with trees in spring, summer, and autumn but they have no knowledge of them in winter; yet trees in winter give much delight to those who know them as they do in summer. Oftentimes I have gone out on a winter day with my botany can and filled it with twigs for the pleasure that the colors and form gave me.
Home Nature-Study Course, Cornell University 1906
More Nature Study Book #2
Winter Tree Study – Twigs
Inside Preparation Work:Â
1. Read the Tree Study section staring on page 623 in the Handbook of Nature Study (Lesson 172). Pay special attention to #3 in the section on Winter Work. Take note of the lesson’s observation suggestions to keep during your nature study of winter twigs. You may wish to read the links in the follow-up activity and the additional links listed below before you go outdoors so you will be equipped with some vocabulary to use casually during your observations.
2. Optional reading if you have access to a willow tree: Read Lesson 179 in the Handbook of Nature Study (starting on page 654). Use the ideas in the lesson to study willow twigs and buds.
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| Advanced Study Option |
Outdoor Hour Time:Â
1. Outdoor time this week should include a few minutes gathering twigs. Select twigs from three different trees to take indoors for closer observation. It would be helpful to know the names of the trees you collect your twigs from but not necessary. We came inside and marked each twig with little name tags This is primarily a challenge about comparing and contrasting twigs from various trees.
2. Advanced activity: Tie a string on a twig attached to a tree. Observe and record in your nature journal the twig’s changes for a few months.
Follow-Up Activity:
1. Use the questions from Lesson 172 to get your child started making observations for each of the three twigs you collected (or just one twig for younger children). Make sure to use your sense of sight, smell, and touch to make careful observations. Record your thoughts in your nature journal or on the notebook page (ebook users only).
2. Place your three twigs on a table. How are they different? Look at size, shape, arrangement of the buds, as well as the size or shape of the buds. Compare two buds on the same twig. Can you see the leaf scars where the leaf dropped off?
3. The main parts of the twig in winter are the buds, leaf scars, and lenticels. Sketch your twigs in your nature journal or on the notebook page, drawing everything you see and labeling the parts neatly.
4. Advanced follow-up: Complete the Twig Study notebook page (ebook users). Dissect a bud from your twig and then record your observations.
Additional Websites:Â
You can view our twig study here: Winter Twigs – Training Our Eyes.
Twigs. I have never been able to figure out how to make a winter nature study with twigs appealing; since their aren’t a lot of choices for our northern climate.
This is so good-even if the subject is…twigs!
Thank you and have a blessed weekend!
It becomes quite a fascinating topic once you get your eyes to see that every tree bud is a little different. I’m so glad you are going to be joining us for a twig study!
Hey! I just started a homeschool blogroll over at my blog & would love to have you add yours. Thanks!
http://teachbesideme.blogspot.com
Excited to do this today with our Neskowin Valley kiddos. Jon and I enjoyed watching our tree twig marked with yarn when we did this study in the past. I forgot about doing that with our kiddos!
Hi Angie, I got your email and I am off to figure out what is up with your membership. 🙂