document resume ed 391 698 author gertz, lucille n. title ... · the tree's neighborhood....
TRANSCRIPT
DOCUMENT RESUME
ED 391 698 SE 057 913
AUTHOR Gertz, Lucille N.TITLE Let Nature Be the Teacher: Seasonal Natural History
Activities for Parents and Other Educators To Sharewith Young Children.
INSTITUTION Habitat Inst. for the Environment, Belmont, MA.PUB DATE 93NOTE 98p.; Illustrated by Nancy N. Childs.AVAILABLE FROM Habitat Institute for the Environment, 10 Juniper
Road, Belmont, MA 02178.PUB TYPE Guides Non-Classroom Use (055)
EDRS PRICE MF01/PC04 Plus Postage.DESCRIPTORS Ecology; Elementary Education; *Environmental
Education; Experiential Learning; *Natural Resources;*Observation; Outdoor Activities; Outdoor Education;*Parent Participation; Science Activities
IDENTIFIERS *Natural History
ABSTRACTThis book is designed to provide parents and other
adult companions with activities to do with children on outdoorwalks. The activities offer adults and children a shared learningexperience and have been adapted from the children's educationprogram at Habitat Institute for the Environment (Massachusetts). Theactivities are arranged seasonally, based on natural history eventsthat can be observed during those particular seasons. Eightdistinctly different seasons can be observed: late winter's quietgiants (trees in February and early March), subtle signs of earlyspring (late March and April), spring's dramatic changes (May andJune), long days and warm nights of summer (July and August),summer's grand finale (September), forests in autumn (October), lateautumn preparing for winter (November and early December), and snow(laid-December and January). Each seasonal section includes naturestudy activities that have a reasonably good chance of being donewith success in that season. Within the seasonal sections, theaceivities are presented in random order. (JRH)
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Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be madefrom the original document.
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teacherLUCILLE N. GERTZ, DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS
HABITAT INSTITUTE FOR THE ENVIRONMENTBELMONT, MASSACHUSETTS
4
SeasonalNatural HistoryActivities for Parents,and Other Educatorsto Share with YoungChildren
with Illustrations byNancy N. OzildsTeacher/Naturalist
This book is dedicatedto the many curiouschildren who have visitedHabitat for classes, camps,and field trips. Theirenthusiasm and energyinspired the development ofmany, many new activities.This is also dedicated to theparents and teachers whoaccompany these childrenon their outings. Much canbe learned from theirexample of patience,excitement, and guidance.
.c.1993 LUCILLE N. GERTZ. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.HABITAT INSTITUTE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
10 JUNIPER ROADBELMONT, MASSACHUSETTS 02178
This book is the second thatLucille Gertz has written atHabitat and, like the first, itis based on her long experi-ence as a teacher of naturalhistory for children. It alsoemphasizes much of thephilosophy behind Habitatthat exploring and learningabout nature can be anexperience shared by chil-dren and adults together,not just something for chil-dren to learn from teacherstrained in the area.
Many years ago, RuthChurchill used to spend timewith her children, observingwith them the varied aspectsof the natural world to befound on this place. Herlove for and understandingof nature led her to managethe property for wildlife andinspired her children andfamily friends to have herestate preserved as a wildlifesanctuary and used forenvironmental education.Habitat continues herlegacyteaching children toappreciate. respect, and lovethe natural world.
Today. life is more pressuredfor both children and adults.
preface
There are few places forchildren to explore safely ontheir own; organized sports,TV, and Nintendo games fillleisure hours that are re-moved from the world of realsensory experience, andfamilies have less time to dothings together.
Children from early ages onlike to poke around in theoutdoor world but parentsoften don't know how toconstructively encouragetheir natural curiosity or toanswer their questions.Lucille's book, the result ofworking with a group offamilies over several years,provides just such an oppor-tunity for children and adultsto learn together. Full ofactivities, related information,and helpful suggestions, itcan be picked up at any timeof year and used for a briefinterval or for a few hours.Grandparents, parents,extended family members,day care providers, or friendsalong with the children onthese explorations, will findthat shared discoveries leadto at' increased appreciationof the natural world and aconcern for its future.
Elizabeth AtkinsTEACHER/NATURALIST
HABITAT INSTITUTE FORTHE ENVIRONMENT
Many individuals offeredtheir time, talents, andenergy to this publication.I would like to extend mygratitude to them.
A note was placed in theHabitat newsletter duringthe summer of 1990 whichstated that I was looking forparents and children to testactivities which wouldeventually be compiled intoa book. I was overwhelmedto hear from almost sixtyfamilies interested in theproject. After an informationexchange, there were stillapproximately thirty familiesavailable. They were askedto come monthly, try variousseasonal activities, andprovide feedback. The inputfrom these families wasinvaluable. I am sincerelygrateful to the follov.ringactivity testers.
acknowled
Phoebe Barnes, JameelaPedicini (age 8), and RafaelPedicini (5). Sharon Bauer,Elie Breakstone (9), andSudip Peterson (10). Claire,Matthew (4), and Jeremy (1)Blake. Kerry, Anna (6), andNina (9) Brandin. Sandy andWill (9) Fisher. Mary Fusaniand Jana (5) and Andrea (6)Pollack. Nancy, Christina(6), and Richard (3) Gauron.Sharon, Ben (6), and Mia (2)Grossman. Vicky, Anthony(4), and Olivia (1) Hood.Linda Kaplan and Kirkland(5) Kraines. Anna Knightand William (2). ClareWalker Leslie and Eric Leslie(11). Ann and HannahMathes (5). Ginger, Teddy,and Christopher Miller.Ellen Mounteer and Kate (5)and Carl (2) Burdick. EmmyNovick, Becky (5) and Nicho-las (2) Goldstein. Kathy,John, Sarah, and EmilyParkinson. Heather Parsonsand Niko (8) and Alexander(3) Petite. Emily, Matthew(8), Elizabeth (6), and Rachel(3) Reardon. Anne, Daniel,and Hilary Ridman. Donna,Mc Kane (5), and Sam (1)Sharff. Everett, Amy, Rachel(6), and Margot (4) Shorey.Jon, Karen, and Lindsay (4)Slote. Barbara Starr and
nts
Emily Starr-Phillips (5).Julie and Peter (4) Strong.Will and Emily (6) Twomblyand Denise Siegal (6).Bjoins Weinerfe lt and JoanStone. Susan and Tom (4)Youmans.
Elisha Atkins, ExecutiveDirector at Habitat, Eliza-beth Atkins, Teacher/Natu-ralist at Habitat, and TomTyning, Master Naturalist atMassachusetts AudubonSociety, reviewed the text.Minnie Gertz proofread.
Special, deep appreciation toNancy Childs for her breath-takingly beautiful custom-ized illustrations, to BarbaraHerzstein for her wonderfulediting skills and supportiveexpertise, and to LynnSternbergh for her talents asdesigner.
contents
PREFACE
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
INTRODUCTION FOR PARENTS
1 A Note from the Author2 About This Book5 Keeping a Nature Notebook5 Approaches to Outdoor Explorations with Children
6 Notes for All SeasonsWEATHERGOING ON A NATURE WALK
10 Observation Skills and Activities to Improve Them
WHAT DID I CHANGE?
KIM'S GAME
ONE-IN-THREEMYSTERY SOCK
NATURAL SYMPHONY
HUMAN CAMERASSCAVENGER HUNT
UNNATURE TRAIL
OBSERVATION WALK
a
SEASONAL EVENTS AND WAYS TO APPRECIATE THEM
16 Quiet Giants (February-Early March)
16 ACTIVITIES: ONE SPECIAL TREE
Tree ListeningTree ObservationsTwigs and BranchingTree Bark
19 THE TREE'S NEIGHBORHOODObservation WalkMeeting Other TreesEvergreensAge a Pine Tree
22 TREES NEAR YOUR HOME
23 Subtle Signs (Late March-April)
24 ACTIVITIES: WINDWindy Day Scavenger HuntTest the Wind Direction andFeel Wind ChillSeeking Shelter from the WindClassify the WindHow Is the Wind Useful?Make a Wind PinwheelMake a Traveling Maple Seed HelicopterMake a Wind Sock
30 MUD
Into the DepthsAnimal Tracks in the Mud
31 RAINThe Importance of WaterThe Water CycleRain Scavenger HuntMake a Rain PaintingCollecting and Testing Rain
34 MAGICAL VERNAL POOLS
36 Early Signs of Spring Scavenger Hunt
37 Dramatic Changes (May-June)
38 ACTIVITIES: BIRDSI Have WingsWhere Do I Go?Home Tweet HomeBird Scavenger Hunt
39 MAMMALS
Mating CallScent TrailReal EstateCamoufkigeMammal Signs Scavenger Hunt
1 0
44 FLOWERS AND INSECTSObservation WalkHidden ColorsBusy BeesFlowers and Pollinators Scavenger Hunt
46 FLOWER CRAFTS
Dried Flower ArrangementsPressed Petal CollagesSachets
48 Long Days, Warm Nights (July-August)
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ACTIVITIES: A VISIT TO A PONDPond ObservationsPond Scavenger HuntPond CollectingCamouflage Frogs and TurtlesFrog and Toad ChorusLeapfrogMake an Origaini Hopping F.-ogMake a Flycatching Frog
A SUMMER NIGHT WALKSilent SitFirefly SignalsColors at NightH4lemarle Fireworks
58 Swnmer's Grand Finale (September)
58 ACTIVITIES: MEADOW SEEDSHitchhikers and High F'yersTake WingSeed SearchGive A Ride
60 MEADOW INSECTSSweep NettingCricketsCrickets: Telling the TemperatureCrickets: Male or Female?
62 Forests in Autumn (October)
62 ACTIVITIES: AUTUMN FOREST TREKAutumn Observation WalkAutumn Scavenger HuntYour Special TreeLeaf and Bark RubbingsLeaf Motels and RestaurantsForest Floor ArchaeologistsLife Under a LogMini-Parks
68 Preparing for Winter (November-Early December)
68 ACTIVITIES: WINTER PREPARATIONSLater Autumn Wildlife Scavenger HuntBuilding a Warm Home
Breathing Like a WoodchuckComparing Your CirculationEating Enough to Keep Warnt in ColdWeather
72 Snow (Mid-December-January)
72 ACTIVITIES: SNOWSnow Scavenger HuntTrackmakersTrack SearchWolf TracksSnow SheltersCatching SnowflakesMeltdownSnow MeasurementsSnow WordsSnow StoryMake Paper Snowflakes
79 RESOURCES
80 ACTIVITY LISTActivities That Need No SuppliesActivities Designed To Use Your NatureNotebookCrafts and Creative ActivitiesActivities That Can Be Done Anywhere,Any TimeObservation WalksScavenger HuntsBIBLIOGRAPHY
84
introduction
introduction P A R ENTS
One of my earliest memoriesis set in the house where Ilived until I was fwe yearsold. I do not remember much.about the inside of the house,but I can still see the mapletree in the front yard andthe large adjacent sandlotwhere I played. Getting homefrom kindergarten one springday, I LLY.:IS surprised anddelighted to find the maple treefull of newly opened., brightgreen lecwes. I remember mymother lifting me up to whereI could get a closer look andwhere I could reach theirvelvety texture andfresh smell.
A Note from the AuthorAs I create outdoor learningexperiences for children, I tryto journey back to my ownchildhood. Rememberingperceptions, reactions, prefer-ences, and skills I hold frommemory helps when planningchildren's lessons and activi-ties. I am fortunate in thisregard for, while I can notmemorize the minute factorsthat distinguish one warblersong from another, (a skillpossessed by many of mycolleagues), I can vividly recallwhat goes on in a child's worldbased on my own memories.
When I remember my earli-
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est encounters with naturalhistory, two factors arc alwayspresent: there was somethingthat excited me, and a parentor teacher either shareci itwith me or patiently allowedme to complete my ohserva-tons. My clearest and mostpositive recollections alwaysinclude the roles adultsplayed. This adult-childsharing is critical.
I would like to fantasizeabout a childhood filled withclose encounters with wildthings, wilderness adven-tures, and family campingtrips. It seems most profes-sional naturalists had those2hildhood experiences, but Igrew up in the suburbs.Nature came to me in com-mon things: robins, squir-rels, ants, acorns, anddandelions. It came to menot because of where I livedor what I did, but because Ihad learned, with the help ofadults, to appreciate naturearound me.
While exploring the yard ofour new house, I found aseedling growing in a smallpile of soil on top of a rock.Thinking it was out of place,I tried to pull it out. My fathertold me to let. it keep growing.I remember him saying,
"Maybe it will grow intosomething special. Let's waitand see what it does." Overthe next twenty years it grewinto a tree and offered usmany gifts: shade from thesummer sun, wild cherries,the morning music of migrat-ing birds resting and feast-ing, and a sense of amaze-ment as the tree graduallysplit the huge rock in two.Several years ago, I visitedandfound my father, tiredof removing cherry stainsand bird droppings, hadcut the tree down. While Iwas saddened to have lostmy special tree, no oneelse even noticed it wasgone. Until I reminded themthey didn't even rememberit being there. Perhaps Ithought it was special be-caiLse I had discovered itat the age offive, and Myfather shared the discoverywith me.
Children grow up in variedsurroundings, and urbanand suburban areas arefilled with many potentialnature discoveries. Thesame basic natural historyconcepts are at workeveiywhere, no matter howtame or how wild the setting.With the guidance of anattentive adult, a young
child can observe nature atwork in a windowsill, onfront steps, in back yards,and at local parks.
Taking regular discoverywalks is what this book is allabout, but it must be empha-sized that the involvement ofthe parent with the child,and taking the time to enjoythese walks, are far moreimportant than the wildnessof the places you visit.
Spending time exploringoutdoors with your child asyour partner will alwaysoffer surprises. Be co-adventurers. When youlearn together, there is noneed for scientific answersor identifications. All youneed is time to observe,share discoveries, drawpictures, ask questions, andwatch for answers. Enjoythe unexpected. Get caughtin the rainyou won't melt!Follow animal tracks in thesnow. Stop and watch aninsect lay its eggs. Visit thesame place over and overagain and discover how itchanges from week to week.
About This BookActivities can help childrenlearn about natural historyconcepts. This book is
I have observed familygroups improve theirawareness of andappreciation for naturalhistory over repeatedoutings. How parents feelabout wildlife, however,hugely affects howcomfortable childrenwill be on an outing andwhat they will expect tosee and do.
Few people knowhow to take a walk.The qualifications...areendurance, plain clothes,old shoes, an eye fornature, good humor,vast curiosity, goodspeech, good silence andnothing too much.
RALPH WALDO EMERSON
designed to provide parentsand other adult companionswith activities to do withchildren on outdoor walks.The activities offer you andyour child a shared learningexperience. You can be anaturalist or a novicethekey is involvement, notinformation. With your childas your partner, you canenjoy the activities and yourtime together.
The activities presented herehave been adapted from thechildren's education pro-gram at Habitat Institute forthe Environment. Through-out each season, students,school groups, families, andcampers visit Habitat fornature classes, school fieldtrips, and day camps.Through games, discoverywalks, and activities, chil-dren become aware of natu-ral history happenings onthis suburban, eighty-acrewildlife sanctuary within theGreater Boston area.
Several families participatedin a one-year study in whichmany of the activities pre-sented here were tested.Each month, a group ofparents tried the activitieswith their children. Theirfeedback greatly contributedto revisions of activity de-scriptions and backgroundinformation.
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The activities are arrangedseasonally, based on naturalhistory events that can beobserved during those par-ticular seasons. Eightdistinctly different seasonscan be observed: latewinter's Quiet Giants (treesin February and earlyMarch), Subtle Signs of earlyspring (late March andApril), spring's DramaticChanges (May and June),Long Days and Warm Nightsof summer (July and Au-gust), summer's GrandFinale (September), Forestsin Autumn (October), lateautumn Preparing for Winter(November and early Decem-ber), and Snow (late Decem-ber and January). Eachseasonal section includesnature study activities thathave a reasonably goodchance of being done withsuccess in that season. Forexample, a young childpretending to be a squirrelcollecting acorns for winterwill succeed only in autumnwhen acorns usually areabundant.
Within the seasonal sections,the activities are presentedin random order. As aparent, you should select anactivity that appeals to youand will appeal to your child.The activities you do and theway you do them will dependon many factors, including
weather, interesting naturaldistractions, the child'sattention span and energy,and the unpredictability ofnatural events. (For ex-ample, there have beenautumns when hardly anacorn could be found on theground. Perhaps the oaktrees produced fewer, or thesquirrel population collect-ing was larger than usual, orthe squirrels collected early.)
Your approach should focuson the child's experience.The amount of informationyou impart,"its contents, andhow you present it should bedetermined by your child'sneeds. An adult approach toa nature walk may focus onidentifying wildflowers, forexample, but that relatesvery little to the level ofdiscovery of a young child.Walks taken together can beeducational for both, but theintention here is to offerchildren a nature educationexperience which parentsand children enjoy andshare as partners.
As you prepare for an out-ing, do not hesitate to adapta suggested activity to suityour own design or to try atype of activity that youwould not normally try withyour child. The parents whotested the activities oftenexpressed their surprise at
activities that worked wellunexpectedly. They werejust as surprised whenactivities they assumedwould work well for theirchildren did not. If you planextra activities and varytheir paces (active andpassive) and approaches(investigative, role-playing,observational, etc.), thechance for smooth, fun-filled, successful naturewalks will be greater.
One day in a shopping mallat age nine, I made a memo-rable wildlife observation. Asmy family of seven preparedto leave for home, and wewere readying ourselves inthe foyer of a departmentstore, I saw a fairly largewhite mothfly into a cornerof a window and get caughtin a spider web, The muchsmaller spider darted over tothe fluttering moth andwrapped it by spinning silkaround it until it no longermoved. The whole thinglasted less than one minute,but the impression it left onme was permanent. Spidersbecame fascinating preda-tors, easily observed in mysuburban world. From thatpoint on, spiders inwindowsills and bathroomswere not to be killed in myhome. Instead, they were tobe respectfully escorted backto the outdoors.
As the years go bywe find ourselves tellingthem less and learningmore from them. We also
see that they learn betterfrom our learning thanthey ever did learn fromour telling.
POLLY BERRIEN BERENDS.WHOLE CHILD/WHOLE PARENT
5
The way our currentlifestyles are, we do notoften have the luxury ofletting our children usetheir innate curiosity toobserve things. Ourschedules force us todrive it out of them. Onthis observation walk, ithas been strange toactually allow my son tostop and investigateeverything. It has been afun change to encourageit, instead ofour usualstate of being in a hurry.
HEATHER PARSON
There may be times whenyou can watch excitingnatural events and you willnot need specific activitysuggestions.. A migratingflock of birds or a turtlelaying eggs arc such events.There may be times whenyou are involved in an activ-ity, but something moreinteresting occurs. Forexample, you may be lookingclosely at the forest floorwhen a hawk appears over-head. Natural events areexciting, and you shouldtake advantage of everyopportunity to observe them.
Keeping a NatureNotebookAll budding naturalists canbenefit from keeping ajournal of their naturestudies. Drawings, lists ofthings seen, and descrip-tions of observations areways your children canrecord their explorations. Anature notebook is a placefor photographs, leaf rub-bings, and illustrations. Anynotebook or blank book canbe used. It is a fun, organizedway to keep a record of yourexperiences. It also helpsimprove observation, illustra-tion, and writing skills.
Several activities included inthis book suggest thc use ofa nature notebook. In late
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winter, for example, your childcan trace a bud over severalweeks and compare its chang-ing size and shape over time.
Remind your child to takethe nature notebook alongon each outing and do adrawing or make a note ofsomething interesting alongthe way. Encourage yourchild to use the naturenotebook freely, not justwhen an activity suggests it.
Approaches to OutdoorExplorations with ChildrenThere are some approaches,both logistical and philo-sophical, that can help makeoutings more enjoyable.Logistically, timing andequipment are important.Philosophically, attitude,approach, and flexibility arecritical.
Simplify your baggage bydressing appropriately.Bring a snack, a waterbottle, and the right clothing;and you and your child willbe able to concentrate onyour explorations, not onyour physical comfort. Noexplorer, young or old, canstay interested in natureobservations when they arehungry, thirsty, cold, hot,soggy, or suffering in uncom-fortable clothing. Youradventure, of course, should
not be free from any contactwith the elements, but,within reason, comfortmakes a big difference inconcentration and in plea-sure. Cany your supplies ina knapsack or fanny pack soyour hands will be free.
Before you start, considertiming. Going on a naturewalk in a hurry defeats thepurpose. Tiy to pick timesthat are flexible, whereexpanding and allowing timefor exploring interestingdistractions will not 3ead torushing the activity or beinglate in returning. Fickrelaxed times when yourchildren are usually ener-getic. For a change, picktimes when they do notexpect an outing (on a rainyday, or at sunset for, ex-ample). If you go on a walkwhen it would normally be ameal time, bring snacks.For some families, a regulartime works best. For others,a spontaneous adventure ismost productive.
Children are often evaluatedon a right/wrong basis, butthis need not happen on anature walk. Since younever know exactly what youwill discover, these walkspractically require spontane-ity, freeing you from suchpressures as seeing prede-termined things or arriving
at a specific destination by acertain time. The constantpressures we all have to getthings done and to get to placeson time can be left behind, forjust a little while at least, whennature is the teacher. Enjoythe relaxed pace and the lackof specific expectations.
Notes for All SeasonsAn aquaintance of mine onceaccompanied a naturalist onan early morning walk inheavy jag. The naturalistbegan the walk by saying,"My, what a beautiful, softmorning. How fortunate weare to be out today!" To thisday, my acquaintance stillfeels luclay to take walks on"soft" days.
WEATHERA homesteader wrote,"Weather is my constantcompanion. I feel closer to itthan to my own children, forit is with me, controlling mylife and my moods at alllimes." While most urban/suburban dwellers may feelcloser to their children thanto the weather, we are indeed"accompanied" by theweather each day.
It has been said that thediflerence between climateand weather is that climate iswhat we expect and weatheris what we actually get.
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Indeed, climate is deter-mined by compiling theaverages of temperature,rainfall, humidity, and otheratmospheric conditions overa long period of time, whileweather refers to the dailyset of conditions andchanges in a certain place.
So let's talk about theweather. Weather is acommon topic of conversa-tion. Even people whospend much of their time inclimate-controlled buildingstalk about the weather.People often complain aboutany type of weather thatincludes any form of precipi-tation, humidity, cloudiness,or anything which is notmild, sunny, and fah-. Tele-vision meteorologists practi-cally apologize when rain,snow, or seasonal cold orhot temperatures are pre-dicted. Even news stories ofserious drought are oftenfollowed by apologetic rainforecasts.
In addition to being accus-tomed.to disliking weather,we are also conditioned toresist being affected by it.Our buildings and cars keepus cool in the summer, .
warm in the winter, arid dryat all times. Regar ?Mess of_s.the road conditions; humid-ity, and comfort of theweather, we are expected to
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function at the same rate ofproductivity each day.
Weather has much more tooffer than comfort andconvenience. Precipitation(rain and snow) is the part ofthe water cycle from whichwe get fresh water. It fillsreservoirs and waters crops.It supplies water to the greenplants which in turn supplyall the oxygen we breathe.(We are 65 percent water;an average adult body con-tains 50 quarts of water.)The water we need comes inthe form of rain and snow.Wet weather is an importantpart of the water cycle, asystem upon which wedepend for our lives.
When we stop to think aboutour dependency on rain andsnow, we can begin to breakaway from our antiweatherconditioning. We can try tobecome a little more appre-ciative and a little less un-happy about it. On familyoutings taken rain or shine,we can act as role models,adapting to weather insteadof wasting emotional energybeing disappointed with it.Accepting this "constantcompanion" and enjoyingyo- ur plans in various types.,of-weather allow more out-ings and more diverse out-door discoveries. Somescents, colors, textures, and
even animals are best ob-served in wet weather. Sodress for the weather andhave fun in it. After all,most of us do not shrink ormelt when we get a little wet.
GOING ON A NATUREWALKAny place you visit for anature walk, be it a park,school yard, or privateproperty which is open toyou, can be considered anatural setting or sanctuary.A sanctuary is defined as aplace of refuge and protec-tion. Some areas are specifi-cally designated as wildlifesanctuaries and some areas,not called sanctuaries, canserve the same purpose forwildlife. For nature walks,any area you have access tocan become your own wild-life sanctuary to enjoy.
Setting realistic goals andhaving appropriate expecta-tions will make your naturewalk more satisfying andrewarding. You may seewild animals, but it is muchmore likely that you will fmdanimal clues and sig.'s. Cluesand signs will always be therefor you to discover. Animalsare sometimes there and atother times are not to befound. Try to think of liveanimal sightings as a specialoccurrencea bonus. Thatwill avoid disappointment.
Wildlife sightings vary due toa number of factors. The timeof day you visit is significant.Some places may be open tovisitors from dawn to dusk,but most people visit in themiddle of the day. Manyanimals such as raccoons,skunks, and owls are noctur-nal: asleep during the dayand active at night. It isunlikely you will see them inthe day. Many other animalssuch as rabbits, foxes, andsongbirds are crepuscularactive at dawn and dusk. Youwill have a better chance ofseeing these animals on walksearly or late in the day.
There arc also seasonalconsiderations. In theautumn many bird speciesmigrate south. Some mam-mals hibernate and othersreduce their activity level toconserve energy during coldseasons. Amphibians,reptiles, and many inverte-brates (insects, worms, andspiders, for example) remaininactive underground for thewinter. Generally, there arefewer animals to see in thewinter, but those that areactive leave their footprintsand other exciting clues inthe snow and mud.
The noise you make will alsoaffect your chances of seeingwild animals. Animals thatare awake during your visit
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So often, when a groupof children from anurban area first come toour suburban wildlifesanctuary, their initialcomments and questionsindicate a real fear of awild setting. Visitingchildren have asked,"Are there bears here?""Will anything eat us?""Do you have lions andtigers?"
aOnce in a while myfather would find apraying mantis and showus. I always wanted toput it in a jar, but wasinstructed to leave italone. All day I wouldvisit it. Nothing in sciencefiction could competewith this creature.
will usually avoid you,especially if you are talkingloudly or moving noisily.They will be frightened awayand will hide from sight.The more quiet you arc, thebetter your chances forseeing them.
A final consideration is thatwildlife sanctuaries in sub-urban settings are usuallytracts of land preserved inthe middle of our ever-growing human population.Larger animals such as deer,bears, wildcats, birds ofprey, otters, and wolves needto live in large undisturbedareas. As humans encroachon the boundaries of anundeveloped, natural area,these animals no longerhave enough space to livethere. Many types of ani-mals do live at wildlife sanc-tuaries, but they will belimited to the species andnumbers that can findample food, water, shelter,and enough space suitablyarranged for their needs.Most sanctuaries have listsof wildlife sightings andknown inhabitants forpeople who are interested inwhat animals or plantsmight be seen.
If you do encounter any wildanimals, enjoy the opportu-nity to observe them quietly.So much can be learned
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about animal behaviorthrough observations. Resistthe tendency to promotemyths to your child such ascalling an animal scary-looking, cute, or dangerous.Try not to anthropomorphizethat is, to pretend an animalis acting in ways characteris-tic of a human. Throughobservation, factual informa-tion, and appropriate actionsaround animals we can teachour children to be knowledge-able and respectinl of the wildanimals sharing our planet.
When walking in a naturalsetting, please remember:Do not disturb the residentanimals or their habitats.Wild animals thrive best intheir natural homes andshould not be handled orremoved. Their habitat shouldnot be altered in any way.Disturbing birds or otheranimals may cause them toabandon their nests, leavingtheir young unprotected.
Do not uproot plants, pickflowers, or break treebranches. Vegetation is theprimary source of food 'andshelter for the resident wildlife.In addition, picking wildflow-ers prevents them fromseeding and may lead to spe-cies decline on that sanctuary.Wild plants also thrive best intheir natural home andshould be left growing there.
Walk only on designatedtrails. Trampling vegetationor disturbing logs or stonesmay damage or destroy thehomes of small animals.
Take only memories, notes,and pictures. It is notappropriate to remove any-thing from a natural area asa souvenir.
Leave only footprints. Litteris unsightly for those whofollow you and it can injureor kill wild animals if theyeat it.
Observation Skills andActivities to Improve ThemObservation skills are usefulin every aspect of life, but ona nature walk, these skillsreally separate the "natural-ists" from the "walkers." Ifwe can teach children to useobservation skills, every walkcan be filled with interestingand educational discoveries.The more we observe thesame place through seasonalchanges, the greater ourawareness of natural historythrough the most impressivewayour own observationsand experiences.
You can strengthen yourchild's observation skills,and your own, by playingany of the following observa-
lion games before or duringa nature walk. Instructionsfor these activities and theactivities that follow areaddressed to you and yourchildren as participants.You should feel free toadjust the instructions to fityour own situation or yourchild's interests.
WHAT DID I CHANGE?Stand facing each other.One of you should closeyour eyes while the otherchanges three things onhim- or herself. Sugges-tions: remove a wristwatch,unbutton, a sweater, roll upyour sleeves, etc. When thepartner making the changesis ready, the other partnertries to identify the threechanges that were made.You can then switch roles.
KIM'S GAMEThis observation activityinvolves seeing and memo-rizing natural objects. Placea number of objects under apiece of cloth. Examples arepine cones, rocks, leaves,shells, and acorns. Lift thecloth and have your partnerview the objects for ten tofifteen seconds, and thenreplace the cloth cover. Haveyour partner describe or namesome of the objects. Seewhich objects were easy torecall and by to figure out why.You can switch roles and have
24
11
your partner show you a setof special natural objects.
ONE-IN-THREEHave your partner selectthree different naturalobjects and place them infront of you. The best ob-jects are nonliving thingssuch as fallen leaves, loosetwigs, rocks, and pine cones.Your partner should selectone of these objects, but nottell you which one. Usingdescriptive words, have yourpartner give you hints untilyou can correctly select theone object described. Youcan help by asking ques-tions such as, "Is it driedup?" or "Does it have shinyspecks?" Switch roles andplay it again.
MYSTERY SOCKA mystery sock can helpcreate a "natural historymystery" for your fingertips,reminding us that observa-tion skills can use sensesother than eyesight. Place anonliving natural object in asock without letting yourpartner see what it is. Haveyour partner put her/hishand inside the sock andfeel the object. You maywant to demonstrate thisfust to show that it is safe toput a hand inside. Onceyour partner has felt theobject, have him or herattempt to describe or iden-
12
tIV
ILf...,1151,46C11.,1111,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,C.4., A1.1,11.MWIANZ.,./.1.,, ,..-.1,-4., ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,....M
tify it. (Young children canbe asked to give a "feels like"word.) Ideal mystery sockobjects are feathers, leaves,rocks, pine cones, milkweedsilk, dried seeds, acorns,shells, and fuzzy twigs. Switchroles and let your partneroffer you a fmgertip mystery.
NATURAL SYMPHONYAnimals can often be heardeven when they are difficultto see. In warm weather, forexample, a meadow is full ofmusical birds resting insurrounding trees andshrubs, and insects hidingin the grass. These animals .may be out of sight, but byplaying this game it becomesobvious they are nearby. Sitsomewhere comfortabletogether. To play this game,make a fist and listen qui-etly. For each differentanimal sound you hear,open one finger. Continueuntil you have all yourfmgers open. You can alsolisten for other naturalsounds, like the wind orrustling leaves, or unnaturalsounds, like airplanes or cars.
HUMAN CAMERASA special way to look at aplace is by being a humancamera. One partner shouldbe the "camera" while theother partner is the "photog-rapher." The camera shouldclose its eyes (or "shutter")
and the photographershould keep both hands onthe camera's shoulders forsafe guidance. The photog-rapher walks the camera toa nice picture, positions it,and squeezes the camera'sshoulders. When the cam-era gets squeezed, it "takesa picture" by opening itseyes for a few seconds. Thephotographer should takethree pictures, then switchroles. All pictures do notneed to be taken standingup. Play with your camera.Be creative and give yourcamera some fun andunique pictures to take.
SCAVENGER HUNTA scavenger hunt, or a walkin search of certain items, isa good plan for a walk. Thepurpose is to be observantenough to locate some of theobjects, not to turn your walkinto a pass/fail ex?erience.Consider seasonal items suchas acorns in the fall and budsopening in the spring. Pleasedo not collect the items. Hereis an example of a scavengerhunt. You can also make upyour own. There are otherscavenger hunts with sea-sonal themes in the seasonalactivities. These are excel-lent activities for any seasonbecause there are alwaysthings to find. It is fun tosee how observant you canbe on an outing.
UNNATURE TRAILTake your partner on an"unnature" walk. Before thewalk, place objects outsideon a trail or in any outdoorsetting. Explain tO yourpartner that objects whichdo not belong in the settinghave been placed there forthem to fmd. Try to placeboth easily seen items andthose that would be verychallenging to find. Whenthe unnature trail is ready,have your partner walkalong and try to find theobjects which are out ofplace there. Discuss whichthings were the easiest tofmd and which were themost difficult. This can helpus to understand the effectof camouflage, since thoseobjects that blend in withthe background are usuallythe most difficult to spot.
OBSERVATION WALKGo on a short walk togetherwith a specific focus. Seehow many things you canobserve and share with eachother. Sometimes you donot need to travel very far tosee a wide variety of plants,animal signs, rocks, shapes,or other interesting features.Looking carefully is the key.Try taking an observationwalk on your hands andknees. Try finding justcolors or textures.
26
3
111111111M1W---
sensoryAV ENGER HUNT
14
27
Something 9ou have
never seen before
draw + in jonaiure not e boo k
seasonal evenis
Itti4AND WAYS TO APPRECIATE THEM
28
r- 'Xi,---^,
ACTIVITIESONE
SPECIALTREE
) nsiikns
FEBRUARY EARLY MARCHLate winter is a suitable beginning, considering howmany subtle signs of newly emerging life abound.The silence of this season is deceiving. The winterlandscape seems quiet and uneven0u4 but it offers agreat opportunity to learn about cycles, trees, andw.!nter wildlife. With the majority of leaves gone,branching patterns, buds, and nests are much easierto observe. Wildlife activity is easier to see and hear.Learning about trees in winter teaches us about theiryearly growth and life cycles.
Find a special tree in a placeyou will return to sever4ltimes over the next fewseasons. Select one that haslost its leaves and has budsyou can reach. Some dra-matic changes can be witnessed during the next yearas you visit this tree.
Tree ListeningSit near the special tree andlisten for sounds in the tree's"neighborhood" by playingthe natural symphony gamedescribed in the observationskills section. You may hearvarious natural sounds suchas bird calls, leaves rustlingand branches moving in the
1 6
wind, squirrel chatter, andmore. There may be someunnatural sounds as well.Airplanes, nearby traffic, andother mechanical noises areofton lieard in natural set-tings. Make a list in yournature notebook of all thesounds heard near your tree.
Tree ObservationsLook closely at the tree. Tryto fmd signs of wildlife activ-ity such as nests, burrows,or holes where an animalmight live. Look for pro-tected areas in or near thetree where a small animalcould hide. See if there areany buds, nuts, branches,
bark, or fruits that could befood sources for manyanimals. Take an observa-tion walk around the tree.Make a list in your naturenotebook of all the signs ofwildlife you observe on ornear your special tree.
Twigs and BranchingLook closely at one of thetree's twigs. Draw a pictureof the twig in your naturenotebook. Compare thetree's twig to this illustrationand try to locate the partsshown here.
/0
Llle.t1C,
_OW(' 4( AL E
-LEAF 5CARo .
Lk-ft-0ALivo
SCAR
Look at some of the buds onyour twig. Buds are formedin the fall before the leavesdrop off. The bud containsall the leaves for next spring.Each type of tree has a
characteristic bud shape anddesign. Match the bud onthe end of your twig with oneof the bud shapes shownhere.
Select a terminal bud withineasy reach. A terminal budis the one found on theoutermost Up of each twig.Tie a small piece of yarnaround the twig it is on.Draw the size and shape ofthe terminal bud in yournature notebook. Leave theyarn tied on. Come backand visit throughout the nexttwo to four months, drawingit in your nature notebookeach time. The drawings willshow the dramatic changestaking place during this timeperiod.
Look on the twig for leafscars. Leaf scars are wherethe leaf stems were attachedto the twig. Within each leafscar, you may be able to seetiny dots, or bundle scars,which are the ends of theveins that carried nutrientsto the leaves. A hand lens ishandy here. Leaf scars andbundle scars make a patternunique to each tree species.
30
1 7
ki
Try to match the leaf scar/bundle scar pattern on thetwig with the patternsshown here. Draw the leaf
/
Opposife
at+ernae.
whorled
WHAT IS THE BRANCHING PATTERN OF YOUR TREE?
scar/bundle scar pattern inyour nature notebook.
-IYees also have differenttypes of branching patterns.These patterns appear in thebud arrangement. You canlearn the three types ofbranching patterns byplaying this movementgame. Imitate the threetypes with these motions.
Four common trees withopposite branching aremaple, ash, dogwood, andhorse chestnut. One way toremember them is by com-bining their first letters into"MAD Horse." Most otherdeciduous trees (those withbroad leaves that drop in thefall) have alternate branch-
apposhstand with arms
and legs wide apart
brancVies vow opposiiecrom each othcr
alternatestand with arras and legs going in
alternate directions (example: ri3ht
(Arm Oui ledi leg out, other arm
and leg Mraiyt i)(:) and down
no+ opposite,brandies arranged
sinsiL\ a+ intec00.15
along the stem
whorled
spin aroundin a circle
branches 9row in
whorled bunches around
the trunk
18
31
ing. Most evergreens (treeswith needles that do notdrop all in one season) havewhorled branching.
There is more informationon trees, buds, and twigs onthe following page.
Tree BarkLook closely at the bark ofyour tree. Each tree specieshas a unique kind of bark.Think of four words todescribe the bark of yourspecial tree. Look closelyand look from a distance.
Many insects overwinter inthe crevices and betweensections of tree bark. Some-times you can see beetles orother insects moving aboutor sunning themselves onthe bark on sunny winterdays. Look for insects onthe bark of your tree. Lookalso for holes and tinytunnels. These are all signsof insects.
Make a bark rubbing of yourtree. Place a blank piece ofpaper against the bark. (Makesure there are no insectsunder your paper.) Whileholding the paper in place,rub with the side of a darkcrayon. The pattern of thebark will show on the paper.
Bid farewell to your specialtree (until your next visit)
and get to know some ofyour tree's neighbors.
Observation WalkTake an observation walkaround your tree's neighbor-hood. Look for similar typesof trees and some differenttypes as well.
Meeting Other TreesTake a long piece of yarn orstring and cut it so that it isequal in length to yourheight. Now take the lengthof string and compare it tothe distance you can createby spreading your arms farapart. The two measure-ments should be the same,or very close. When youspread your arms wideapart, the distance betweenyour fingertips should ap-proximately equal your height.Now try to find a tree you canjust manage to get yourarms around so your finger-tips can touch on the oppo-site side. If you can do this,you have found a tree that isas big around as you are tall.
EvergreensYou may notice that not allthe trees have lost theirleaves. Most of the treesthat keep their leaves inwinter have needle-shaped
19
THETREE'SNEIGHBORHOOD
tAit"'"N
TWIGS AND BUDS
horse chestnut
opposite beds
large ferminal bud
buds sti
oak
beech
alternate. buds
ash
oppositt buds
donle shope_d
-terminal bud
crescent' - shaped
bttndle scars
Q 1+ er nCtie bOds
Clustered -terminal
buds
black
loncl, pointed buds
utttow
alVerno-k buds
Single bud scake
red
buds oQat shaped
Cseerst shaped leoS xacs
Aitree bundle ..)ars
clowc(in5 dalwooci
opposiie buds
onion- shaped (lower
buds
hicker9
ernale kiX)ds
kacqe 4Cf minal bud arid kaf sciar
20
33
leaves and are called ever-greens. These needles havetough, waxy coats that helpprotect them from drying outin the cold winter wind.This also helps the tree shedsnow, preventing branchesfrom breaking under theweight. The large branchesof these trees provide shel-tered areas for wildlife. Seeif you can find a tree thathas waxy, needle-shapedleaves. Pretend you are asmall mammal seekingshelter under this type oftree during a snowstorm.
red pine.
+too needles
*trio bundlc.
uTh;+e pine
give needles in a bundle.
(five lellers its the word while)
Three needles
inabunale
TRY TO FIND ANY OF THE EVERGREEN TREES WITH THESE TYPES OF NEEDLES.
Age a Pine TreeFind a small white pine.(Remember, five needles to abunch.) From the groundup, count each level ofwhorled branches. Countscars where branches havebroken off. Add to thisnumber five more for thescars that are no longervisible from the first fiveyears of the tree's life.Count the whorls going upthe trunk. The distancebetween two whorls repre-sents one year of growth.Determine the age ofthe tree you selected.
also for a white pine
growth other years. Can youfigure out what would causethat? Good growth factors:sun, moisture, nutrients.Poor growth factors: insects,deer, rabbits, and otherherbivores ate too many
fed cedarsmall scale-like
needles blue berries
\.N.
leaves; drought, extended is\iNt%
cold or windy weather lirn- .R,
ited growth.eas1erri hemlock
flu+ shor+ needies
tree your age. Try to find atree that had good growthsome years and very little
wo whiie lines on
back 4 I eaf
la+ need les
red (poi.sonoos)becres
shrub or small +ree.
21
TREESNEAR YOUR If you want to continue
HOME learning about trees, lookmore closely at the trees inyour own neighborhood.
Make observations on thetrees growing near yourhome. Do they have oppo-site, whorled, or alternatebranching patterns?
Age a small pine tree onyour street.
Do bark nibbings of severaldifferent types of trees inyour neighborhood andcompare them with oneanother.
Stand still for a wholeminute, and then try toimagine what it would belike to be a tree and to standstill your whole life. Write astory about how you wouldimagine your life if you werea tree.
-
22
LATE MARCH-APRILWalks in the second half ofMarch can offer you two
different seasons. It can feel like winter, or it can feel
like spring. To us, the difference lies in how warm or
cold the air temperature feels. If you were a plant or
a wild animal living outside, you would bepreparingfor spring even on the colddays. Plants and animalsprobably sense spring is on the way by the days
growing longer. So, no matter how warm or cold it
feels on the days you walk, there are many early
spring discoveries to make because the plants andanimals know what time of year it isearly spring!
Spring officially begins onthe day of the vernal equi-nox, when the sun entersAries, passing from thesouthern hemisphere to thenorthern hemisphere. Thenumber of hours of daylightand darkness are equal onthis day. It occurs aroundMarch 20. You can refer toan almanac that tells exactlyhow many minutes of day-light are added each dayduring this season.
A walk in early spring willoffer many great observa-tions. With so many signs ofrenewed plant and animalactivity, it is easy to appreci-ate why so many peoplecelebrate the arrival of this
_
season. Many people anx-iously await the familiar signsof spring: flocks of migratingbirds, warm air temperatures,open water, insects buzzing,birds singing, and flowersbloomingbut these comelater in the season. Natural-ists, however, can fmd aMarch or April day full ofsubtle signs of spring. 'Pryto get out on a walk in earlyspring and you may be sur-prised to discover how manyearly signs of spring there are.
The following activities aredesigned for certain types ofearly spring days. Try theactivities that seem appro-priate tothe day, be it windy,muddy, or rainy.
3 6'
23
subtle signs
ACTIVITIES
My favorite early springmemory has to bepussywillows. Where didthese incredibly specialthings come from?
WIND This is a windy time of year.As you explore outdoorsduring this season, try to goout on a windy day. Try tonotice the wind, to hear itand to feel it, to observe howit affects your surroundings.
"<-77.Y
AM*
Wmdy Day Scavenger HuntGo out on a windy day andtry to find or feel some of thethings shown on the WindyDay Scavenger Hunt, ormake up your own.
Test the Wind Directionand Feel Wind ChillYou can tell the direction thewin i is traveling by thissimple test. Hold one indexfingei up and move it aroundin a circle so that it has facedeach direction north, east,south, and west. Next, wetyour fingertip by licking it onthe fingerprint side. Move itaround in a circle again.Your finger should feel cold-est when the wind hits thewet side, indicating thedirection from which thewind is traveling.
In addition to testing thewind direction, this showsthat the combination of beingwet and being exposed towind is a chilling experience.This helps us to be aware of
2 4
the need to dress to stay dryand protected from the wind.When warm-blooded ani-mals (ones like us that staythe same temperature insideregardless of the outsidetemperature) such as otters,beavers, and water fowl, arecontinuously exposed towater and wind, they haveadaptations for staying warm.These animals have extra fatlayers under their fur. Duckscontinuously oil their feath-ers so water will roll off them.People who spend a lot oftime outside in cold, windyweather wear warm, windproofclothing. Animals that controltheir body temperaturesusing outside sources suchas frogs, salamanders, andsnakes, have developedvarious patterns of behaviorto prevent themselves fromgetting too cold or too hot.
Here are some other ways totest wind direction. Blowbubbles outeoors and watchwhere the wind carries them.Release milkweed or dande-lion seeds and watch wherethey go. Hold up a piece ,ofthread or a hair and watchwhich way i moves.
Seeking Shelter from theWindWhile it is true that the windhelps many types of wildlife
SC AVENGER H U N I
seeds
Alne,A-
-... Ara..1e..1
(1-1..____
,
.
place whece an animal
.iy-td shelter- from
:the wind
, ._ ..
ci-414-----7.r..-----7,4-44-,--..slt
mothnq clouds
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.4131EW;.v....; :.'.e..i_ ,.....s.'
iita.e.f4;Zii,1-
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-the
wind
a
coolcA
insect thoi
-the wind:..
blow . lz:
:
de..!4#P.:!;,'.. Y ''''1; .
Si.:: :41iii..:7;
0 'pli.
blowincl
leaves
e
a bird {lk.iing
'In Abe_
- i..2::-._ . \ windk., \. .
l4.4. , ' ._%.
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an
could
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1
. crass
blowing
.in
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w ind
iVIC ctelinl Oi wind on
your Cace
c.." -.)e-------____,.- 9
---:--...
11- ti:4 70 4
' ,14 ..N
*0 1 '
1,
t.
a Windt.'
c.) sound
t t
,.. .*
25
WIND CHART
,
,. cALm
smoke and milkweedr
, Seeds dr4i upwards. < I mph ,
( v.e.0! -:,..,...
,. .
It_STRONG WIND
branches bend
a5- 3i rri?1-1
\ r-ti i1'
`I
.,
- \.s.LIGHT AIR
, smoke and milkweed (I\seeds drin sideways
1-3 mph
-i. --
'V4'
:i
...
SEVERE WIND
twi'qs break oci irees
3q-46 mph
1SC -r-1GENI1LE bREELE
k 1 6 /3,1-leaqes rustle
-1,--'-- 4-1mph
i
_' _
-...11.1...."- '''...4. '.
GRLE
f Some -trees fall
5S-to3 mph
(MODERATE WINO
leaVeS blown oboo+.. 13-11 mph A
'k _,-_-,' iz, LAJr
HURRIC AWE
seoere darnale
73 4 mph
26
39
(seed dispersal, migratingbirds, etc.) there are timeswhen plants and animalsneed protection from it. Seeif you can find some placesthat are sheltered from thewind.
Clacsify the WindThere are actually manyclassifications of wind. Theseare described on the charton the opposite page. Nexttime you go out on a windyday, try to classify the wind.
How Is the Wind Usefiil?There are very many ways inwhich wind is beneficial tous and to wildlife. Here aresome of the benefits of wind.Can you think of more?
Seed dispersalBird migrationHelps butterflies travelIt makes snow driftsIt makes sailboats moveIt keeps the weather changingHelps predators smell andlocate preyHelps prey detect and fleefrom predators
Make a Wind Pinwheel
Supplies:7 inch square piece of paper(typing or copy paper)
crayons or markersscissorspencil with an eraser on theendpush pin or straight pin
Directions:I. Color the paper. Deco-rate each side differently.
2. Fold the paper diagonallyas shown. Unfold.
3. Fold the paper diagonallyagain as shown. Unfold.You should see a large "X"folded in the paper.
40
27
4. Cut along each foldedline starting from the out-side corner. Cut toward thecenter, stopping about oneinch from the center.
5. Fold the right corner ofeach piece in to the center.Secure each corner tip to thecenter with the pin.
6. Push the tip of the pininto the pencil eraser.
7. Try out your pinwheel byblowing on it. Bring it outon a windy day.
Make a Wind Sock
Supplies:one wire clothes hangerstapler or tapecrepe paper streamers orother light-weight materialssuch as tissue paper, thincloth, or plastic grocerybags cut into strips
Directions:1. Bend the hanger into around shape as shown.Bend the handle closed forsafety.
2. Staple or tape 8-10 crepepaper streamers to thehanger as shown. Eachshould be about 2 feet long.
3. Cany or hang your windsock outside on a windy day.
2 8
41
Make a Traveling MapleSeed Helicopter
Supplies:paper or index cardone small paper clipscissorscrayons (optional)
Directions:1. Copy the mothl shownon to the paper or indexcard.
2. Color it in if desired.
3. Cut the shape as shownon the solid line.
4. Attach the paper clip asshown.
5. Bend the tips as shown.
6. Test your helicopter bydropping it from a raisedhand and watching it twirlas it falls to the ground.
29
42
P....," eV
Skuni<
Bird
Deer
Gray ScA,A(relJ
44i&1(
R c c oo
M U D
OW.
One of the most dependablethings about this season ismud, which forms as theground thaws and springrains come. Mud is a prettyamazing and fun thing.Here are a few activities forthe budding "mudologist" inall of us. Wear washableclothes and go have fun.
Into the DepthsYou can see how much ofthe ground has thawed bythe depth and softness of themud. To be a "mudologist"you will need a strong stickand some mud. See how faryou can insert the stick intothe mud. Mark the mud lineon the stick with a pencil lineor a scratch, and remove thestick. Next, tiy it in othermuddy places. Compare themud softness in a shady spotand a sunny spot. Comparemud on a walking trail andmud just off the trail to deter-mine which is the deepestand which is the softest. Tryto see how foot traffic on atrail affects the mud.
Animal Tracks in the MudAnimal tracks can often befound in mud. Look aroundand see if you can find any.
41111tOften tracks can be seen onthe muddy banks of a pondor stream. These illustrationsmay help you to identify andinterpret any tracks you find.
3 0
4 3
Ow'
RAIN Many people complain whenit rains, but a rainy day isreally worth celebrating.Precipitation, mainly in theform of rain and snow, is thepart of the water cycle fromwhich we get all of our freshwater. It fills our reservoirsand waters our crops. Itsuppli;.-.s water to the greenplants, which in turn, supplythe oxygen we breathe. Ourbodies are about two thirdswater; the average humanadult body holds 50 quartsof water. The water we needcomes to us in the form ofrain and snow. Wet weatheris an important part of thewater cycle, and somethingwe need. So next time itrains, go out and celebrate!
The Importance of WaterThink about water for amoment. We need watermore than just about any-thing else. What are somethings that water providesfor you? Think about itcarefully. Can you think ofanything you eat, use, orwear that does not somehowrequire water?
The Water CycleOne magical thing aboutwater is that it never goesaway. Sometimes it disap-pears for a while, movingunderground, or it evapo-rates into the atmosphere as
44
3 1
clouds or fog. Glaciers,rivers, and oceans are allplaces where water can bestored. Even soil, plants,and animals store watertemporarily. All the Earth'swater is continuously cyclingthroughout the atmosphereand on the planet. Theamount of water remains thesame, but it changes formconstantly.
To observe the evaporationpart of the water cycle, tiythese activities. Draw achalk outline around theouter edge of a puddle, onceit stops raining. Go backand check the puddle a daylater. Compare the currentsize of the puddle to thechalk outline from theprevious day. Because someof the water has evaporated,the size of the puddle will besmaller. Another way toobserve the effects of evapo-ration is to set a full cup ofwater somewhere in yourhouse, out of the reach ofpets and with the promiseof all humans to leave it alone.Check the water level after afew days. The cup should beless than full because some ofthe water evaporated.
Rain Scavenger HuntGo out and find some of thethings on the following pagethat are related to rain andwater.
rain C A V ENGE R HUNT
an animalihak like5 moist
placesIQ .?"` =......,,
..,,..... -).-:-.."."--- .:-,.:A,1
#..-._....i.',...i
.3.,'....c.-------r
a rainii
N.t..
sounda place
....er.:.'.:::,..,where an
insecit--...r...::-:.:I could skay
I,
!I dr.. --,:_.... Li
a plant thai holds
a lot of...,-i:- water
, ...
. :Y. N,- ;'' i ,
-
a place where a
bird could
bakh
a place where ananimal coeta
stati dckir-
"!. I ' 7 ..':,.:, .---i....
: ..., .
A
-tracks in mock
.,.___.
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:.' a.,
something thatsings
. in therani
2...-e, %.
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..
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,
.,, ---'-'--- somethina
J-th at needs
-...-`:
t he raini
.
..
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:111
r:-...lit-..ti-:(''
.
3 2
Make a Rain PaintingYou can use rainwater tocreate a unique painting.First make a watercolorpainting and let it dry. On arainy day, place your paint-ing outside so that fallingrain will land on it. Seewhat interesting featureschange when your paintingis rained on. Another way touse rain for a painting is tocollect rainwater and use itto wet your watercolorpaints.
Collecting and TestingRainOn a rainy day you can doany of these experimmts oryou can design your own.
Put out a container beforethe rain begins. When therain ends, see how muchcollected in the container.
Pour some collected rainwa-ter through a coffee filterand see if anything filtersout of it.
Leave consistent amounts ofcollected rainwater outsidein various open containers.Compare the rates of evapo-ration. Does the location ofthe container make a differ-ence? Does the shape of thecontainer make a difference?
Put food coloring in somerainwater and leave it out-side to evaporate. When itevaporated, did the coloringstay behind? Try this withsalt, with drink crystals, andwith other things that dis-solve in water.
46
3 3
MAGICALVERNAL
POOLS
711(S\-
wc,1c sinder
This is magic;I'm so glad to knowabout it. We found tinywater beetles, a red wormturning corkscrews, afairy shrimp flailingabout. Wet feet added tothe adventure.
SHARON BAUER
Cernale -'Voir 51-16 p
Throughout 7.roods andfields, a!ongside roads andwalking trails, lies an earlyspring secret: vernal pools.These pools fill as meltingsnow and spring rainssaturate the ground. Hol-lows and low areas flood,creating temporary ponds.A vernal pool is defined as aseasonal body of wateroccurring in the same loca-tion each spring ("vernal"means spring), holdingwater for at least twomonths, and containingcertain species of animals incertain seasons. The defini-tion is important becausebodies of water fitting thisdescription can be protectedas wildlife habitat in somestates. (Massachusetts isone such state.)
Vernal pools occur in thesame place each year, pro-viding a critical habitat tospecies whose life cyclesrequire annual flooding andevaporation. For example,fairy shrimp live their entirelives in the vernal pool. Whenthe pool dries up, their eggsremain in the soil. Whenthe pool once again fills inthe fall or the following spring,the eggs get. saturated andhatch. In the short time thepool is full, the shrimpmature, mate, and lay eggs.
3 4
47
In addition to the specieswhose entire life cycles re-quire temporary aquatichabitats, many amphibiansmigrate to these pools to mateand lay eggs in the rich,productive waters. Fish andother larger animals cannotlive in temporary pools, so theresidents have few big preda-tors as they develop quicklyin their short-term home.
During this season, thesetemporarily full pools areteeming with life. Frog andsalamander eggs and larvae,fairy shrimp and variousother crustaceans, insectsand other small animals areabundant. A cup full of waterfrom one of these pools maycontain dozens of differenttiny animals.
Visit a vernal pool and gentlysample the water for its tiny,active, and diverse residents.The illustrations here mayassist you in identifyinganything you find. Please becareful to return these tinycreatures to their home afterbriefly observing them.
Your local nature center orconservation organiz.ation canadvise you on locating avernal pool in your commu-nity. Once you locate avernal pool, visit it again. Inearly summer, you may find
predctc.eous
diqinck beetle
spotted solamonder
ckcac\on
dragon(ltA
rhimpV,
wood frogs and salamandersemerging from muddy watel-.In the late summer, you mayfind only mud. On a fallvisit you may find autumnrains have filled it or it hascompletely dried up. Do notworry, though. Next year,when winter yields to spring,this magical pool will onceagain fill.
45.40,26w.
Early Signs of SpringScavenger HuntGo on an early spring scav-enger hunt. The activity onthe next page may help youfind some subtle, early signsof spring.
cacicliscly
-V'
48
Its fun trying to findall these things. Lots ofjust 000hing andexclamations.
I loved this activity. Thekids really got into thescavenger hunt spirit ofit. At first we couldn't seeany signs of spring, butthe 'hunt' showed us howmany there are when youlook closely.
SHARON BAUER
caddisc19
larva
3 5
ea4y sip of siringsigns of nesi btitldinq
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-
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SCAVENGER HUNT
,
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3 6
A
Many dramatic changes in the landscape occur inthe spring. Wizen the warm weather and long sunnydays arrive, many plants and animals have much"work" to do during this season.
Birds and mammals aregetting ready for new fami-lies. They are busy withmating, nesting. and otheractivities that will create andprotect their offspring.Insects, many of whichawake from overwintering aseggs, must grow into larvaeand eat the now abundantleaves so that they canpupate, develop into adults,and mate and lay eggsbefore the weather gets coldagain.
Plants change in response tothe season as well. Newlyopened leaves spread out tocatch the sunlight of longerdays. Broad-leafed plants(as opposed to thor,e withneedles) have just the warm.sunny months to photosyn-thesize the sun's energy intofood and store the extra foodfor growth and winter sur-vival. Flowering plants must
E draft&changes
produce attractive, nectar-tilled flowers, inviting insectsand other animals to comesip nectar so that they willleave with pollen which willthen get carried to otherflowers of the same species.
Melting snow and ice, com-bined with early springrains, have soaked theforests, meadows, ponds,and streams with importantmoisture. It is a brief, activeperiod for most plants andanimals, and we can witnessmany ways local wildlifehave evolved to adapt to thistemperate climate.
Few people need to be en-couraged to go out for a walkduring this season. Formany, it is a favorite time ofyear and a favorite time toget outdoors to observethese exciting changeswhich are so abundant.
37
50
ACTIVITIES
When spring arrives,
Hopeful about life ingeneral.Eager to be outside.Joyful.Iife starts over.
Happy.My tummy changes froma winter feel to a springfeel. It feels like springflowers and spring dirt.
RAF AEL PEDICINI
BIRDS
Robins were anothertype of spring magic.They appeared on thefront lawn around thesame time the maplebuds began to swell up.
This is a time of year whenmigrating birds return totheir summering grounds.You can see and hear themost birds early in themorning or late in the after-noon. Migrating birds mostoften travel at night and restin the heat of the day. Theyfeed at dawn and dusk, sothat is when you can bestsee and hear them. Lookand listen for them in mead-ows, near water, or nearedges between forests,meadows, and wetlands.These edges, where twodifferent habitats overlap ormeet, generally offer moreabundant wildlife cover, andtherefore more wildlife.Such places, or any of thehabitats they connect, wouldbe ideal locations for playingthe natural symphony game(described in observationskills section) early or late inthe day.
When birds migrate, somefollow landmarks like rivervalleys, mountain ridgcs,and coastlines. Othersnavigate at night using thepole star which does notappear to move. Still othersnavigate in the daytimeusing the sun and an inter-nal clock that tells themwhere the sun should be asit moves cast U? west fromdawn to di isk. Some mi-grating birds follow other
38
51
birds. Here are three gamesto play in which you willpretend to be a migratingbird returning for the season.
I Have WingsSpread your arms out likeoutstretched wings and flapthem like a bird. Beginflapping as fast as a crow(two wing beats per second).Once you have managedthis, try the wing beats ofthese other birds.
Robin 2.3 wing beatsper second
Pigeon 3Starling 4.5Chickadee 27Hummingbird 70
Where Do I Go?Pretend to be a migratingbird trying to follow anotherbird. With your partner, tryto communicate some navi-gational directions using onlyimaginary "bird" language.Try some "words" like theseor make up your own.
"Chirp": Go to the left
"Caw": Go to the right
"Squawk": Go forward
"Cheep": Stop
"Honk": Danger find a placeto hide
Home Tweet HomeWhen migrating birds returnto their summering groundseach spring, they have manytasks. They must establisha territory, defend theirterritory, attract a mate, andbuild a nest or repair an oldone. Try to build your ownbird nest in a field, along awalking trail, or on a treebranch. Using just loosegrasses and sticks (nopicking please), try to as-semble a nest similar to onea song bird might build forits eggs and nestlings. Tryto build one that would staytogether in a storm. Thinkabout how difficult it was foryou to bui'd this nest. Con-sider that a bird does thiswith just its feet and itsbeak.
Bird Scavenger HuntTry to find some of the thingson the following page that arerelated to birds and theirspring activities.
Many common mammals are MAMMALSeasy to observe in theirspringtime behaviors. Lookin oak trees for gray squir-rels and in evergreens for redsquirrels. You can watchthem biting off smallbranches full of tiny oakleaves and buds. They biteoff several, letting them fallto the ground, and then godown to collect and eatthem. In a meadow in theearly morning or at dusk youmay see cottontail rabbitsnibbling on fresh clover.Even if you do not see ani-mals on a walk, there aresigns left behind. Look forfreshly chewed twigs andgrasses, nesting sites, anddroppings. In the followingactivities you can learnabout some of the seasonalbehaviors necessary formammals to mate, establishterritories, and to defendthemselves and their young.
Mating CallMammals sometimes usecertain sounds to attractmates. Select a mammalyou wish to be and make upa sound you might use forcalling a mate. This can be apurr, growl, grunt, bark, orsimilar animal sound. Sepa-rate from your partner byseveral yards and cover youreyes. Without looking, try tolocate each other by using
39
52
C A V ENGER HUNT
a birdon
tree
sorneThins
a bird could
use -to build
nesi ti ke
this one
1 -a place where n bird
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a planta bird could eat
a birdsin9ing
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40
your mating call and movingtoward the sound. Whenyou touch your partner, youhave located your mate.More pairs can play if eachpair has a different call.
Scent TrailSome animals establishterritories by marking themwith scents. Mammals mayleave droppings, urine, orspecially made scents ontree trunks, rocks, and otherterritorial boundaries toattract mates or to repelcompetitors. You can set upa scent-marked territoryusing any strong smellingextract such as lemon,cedar, or vanilla oil. In asmall area of trees or along awalking trail, leave drops ofyour scent every few yards tomark out your territory.Have your partner ..ry tolocate and follow your scenttrail.
Real EstateEstablishing and maintain-ing a nesting site within aterritory is crucial to thesurvival of many mammals.Select a mammal and try tomake it a home, or constructa home for an imaginarymammal, a miniature mam-mal, or one your size. Trybuilding a nest, den, orburrow using only naturalmaterials (no picking or
breaking branches, please)and just your own hands (noshovels or rakes). Think .
about the features of youranimal's home. Consider itssize, number of entrances,how well it will protect theresidents from predators, itsproximity to food and water,and features that providewarmth.
CamouflageMammals have many typesof defense mechanisms,including scents, mobility,behaviors, and colorations.Many mammals protectthemselves by camouriagi(blending in with their sur-roundings). On a piece ofwhite paper or an indexcard, cut out one or more ofthe mammal shapes shownhere and on the next page.
54
41
Color the animal so thai 'tblends in with the naturaicolors where you will beplacing it. Hide the coloredanimal so that it is wellcamouflaged. Go away for afew minutes and then goback and find your animal.Hide your animal and haveyour partner find it.
Mammal SignsScavenger HuntGo out on a walk in searchof thcse signs of mammalactivities during thespring season.
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43
FLOWERSAND
INSECTS
ficn exercise.We talked a lot aboutthe design of differentflowers. It inspired us todo nature sketching.
PHOEBE BARNES
When spring flowers bloom,people rejoice. To manypeople, flowers are the firstreal sign of spring. In addi-tion to pleasing us visually.these springtime beautieshave the important task ofattracting insects and othersmall animals whose polli-nating role is critical to theplant's cycle of reproduction.The following activitiesdemonstrate the incrediblerelationship between flowersand their pollinators that wecan observe this season.
Observation WalkGo on a flower observationwalk. See what flowers youcan find growing on theground, on shrubs, and ontrees. Compare colors, sizes,and scents. Try to figure outwhich flowers were plantedby people and which occurnaturally. When flowersgrow in rows, they were mostlikely planted by someone.
Look closely at some differ-ent flowers. Flowers areoften specifically designed toattract bees, butterflies,hummingbirds, bats, andother pollinators. The colorsand scents of flowers arereally tactics to attractpollen-spreaders to comefeed. Some flowers havemarkings that resemble4 4
rJ I
airplane landing strips.Some of these are visibleonly in ultraviolet light. Doyou see any flowers whichhave these markings visibleto you?
Pretend you are an insectlooking for a sip of sweetnectar. Which flower wouldyou be attracted to? Gentlyput your fingertip on theinside of a flower. Look tosee if any pollen stuck toyour finger.
Compare the parts of yourflower with this illustration.A hand lens may be helpful.Can you fmd all the parts onyour flower?
Hidden ColorsCollect a small assortment offlower petals (8-10) and afew fresh, green leaves. Ona white index card or light-colored cardboard, create acolorful picture by smudgingthe petals and leaves on thecard. Press and smudgeeach one until its colorful"juices" are transferred ontothe card. You may be sur-prised to discover somepetals and leaves createsmudged colors which ar.quite different from whatyou expect. Also, some ofthe smudged colors maychange as they dry. Com-mon plants to try include
dandelion, clover, buttercup,and crabgrass.
Busy BeesThere are three types of beesin honey bee hives: queen,drone, and worker. Onequeen lays all the eggs. Afew drones mate with thequeen. Hundreds of sterilefemale worker bees collectthe nectar and pollen. pro-cess it into honey, and storeit. The worker bees care forthe queen and they also feedand care for the queen'seggs. Pretend you areworker bees. Separate fromeach other and go in searchof some delicious nectar and
pollen (i.e., some flowers).When you find a goodsource, pretend to collectsome nectar and return toyour partner. Now tell yourpartner, who is also pretend-ing to be a worker bee, howto find your nectar sourceby doing a dance! You canpoint, flap your wings, andlead the way. Switch roles.Have your partner go andsearch for flowers, and thenreturn to tell you the locaionby making up a bee dance.
1.
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PISTIL
STAMEN
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45
PISTIL
I hadn't thoughtbefore how many flowershave "bull's eyes" attheir center to draw inthe insects.
SHARON BAUER
Flowers and PollinatorsScavenger HuntTry to find some of thesethings related to flowers.bees, and other pollinators.A good location for this scaven-ger hunt would be any gardenarea with flowers in bloom.
FLOWERCRAFTS The following flower crafts
are simple to do. They makegreat gifts. Some collecting isnecessary, so try to followthese guidelines.Be sure to have permissionfrom the landowner.Never pick anything rare orendangered. A local naturecenter or conservation com-mission can provide thisinformation.Pick only as much as you willneed.Always leave plenty of plantsgrowing undisturbed.Do not pick anything at awildlife sanctuary.
qz.ttss,
Dried FlowerArrangenzentsCollect an assortment offlowers, herbs, and grasses.Tie your plants into smallbunches and hang in a thyplace for several weeks. Whenthey are totally dry, separate46
58
the bunches. Arrange thedried plants in baskets, intowreaths, or tied in bouquetswith a pretty ribbon.
Pressed Petal CollagesCollect some petals, andplace them flat in a dryplace. When they are totallycliy, arrange them intodesigns, words, pictures. orpatterns on colored paper orcardboard. Cover the de-signs with clear laminatingplastic, which you canpurchase where sticky shelfpaper is sold. You cancreate pictures, cards, andbookmarks. Using the clearlaminating plastic on both thetop and bottom, you can makea hanging window decoration.
SachetsCollect fragrant leaves,herbs, and flower cuttings.Good collecting sites areflower and herb gardens(with permission, of course).Hang your plant cuttings insmall bunches or in basketsin a dry place for severalweeks. When dry, crumbleand blend the ingredients intocombinations you enjoysmelling. Place your blendsinto baskets, tins, boxes, jars,or colorful calico pouches.
SCAVENG R HUNT wers and vollinatorsC .
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47
60
long days,
warm
A CTIVITIES
A VISITTO
A POND
JUL Y AUGUS
Summer is a great time to go on outings. Days arelong, allowing anyone who works all day to still getout after dinner for an hour or more. With all thefresh green foliage, warm temperatures, and openwater, wild animals are active and observations areeasier now than at any other time of year.
Here are'two summer out-ings to try. The first is avisit to a pond, particularlyone inhabited by frogs,turtles, various aqualicinsects, and other smallfresh water animals. Thesecond outing is a walk atdusk or in the night. Re-member to bring drinkingwater. Warm-weather out-ings may make you thirsty.
Visiting a pond on a sunnysummer day or early on awarm night is sure to berewarding. Most people,young and old, are attractedto bodies of water. Justwhat it is about water that isso magnetic may remain amystery, but it is definitelyappealing to most of us.4 8
61
Finding a pond to visitshould not be too difficult. Alocal wildlife sanctuary mayhave several ponds within itsboundaries. Local conserva-tion organizations may beable to make suggestions.State and local parks oftenhave bodies of water. Withpermission, a pond onprivate property may beavailable.
Pond ObservationsWhen you arrive at thepond, move as slowly andquietly as possible. First,make some initial observa-tions and write them in yournature notebook. You canusually see and hear themost early in your visit. Asyou move around, someanimals may become
startled and retreat todeeper water. Look for frogsand turtles on logs, rocks, oralong the bank. Watch thewater for ripples, bubbles,and other movements fromanimals beneath the sur-face. Look for insects skim-ming the pond surface.Listen for the sounds offrogs, birds, insects, movingwater, or splashing.
Pond Scavenger HuntGo on a scavenger hunt neara pond and try to see someof the items shown on thenext page.
Pond CollectingWith just a few, simplepieces of equipment. youcan get a very close look atmany small pond animals.You may want to bring anyor all of these things:small white plastic cups orempty food containersa strainer, net, or kitchencolanderwhite plastic spoonsa pond field guidebug boxes or hand lenses
Using the strainer, net, orcolander, collect some inudfrom the pond's edge. Lookclosely in your strainer.Carefully remove any sniallanimals and put them intothe plastic cups with somepond water. Return all the
mosqu'Ito
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;sop od
Qmphipod
49
pondpond sound
C A V E NG ER HUN T
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50
63
4cacks a ton() -the .
edge cif a pond
ot
mud from your strainer tothe pond so that if it con-tains any animals too smallto see, they will be returnedto their habitat. Collectanimals from differentplaces around the pond.Use the cups and spoons tohold and observe the ani-mals you have collected.The bug boxes and handlenses can be useful inmaking your close observa-lions, since most of theseanimals are very smallinsects and crustaceans.Common types of pondcreatures you are likely to lindare shown here.. For moreinformation, refer t9 a fieldguide to fresh water organ-isms. Always return all thingscollected to their habitat.
Camouflage Frogs andTurtlesWhen you arrive at a pondand look for frogs andturtles, you might sec sonieright away, you might haveto search for a while first, oryou might not see any. Howlikely you are to see theseanimals varies. Factorsaffecting the chances ofseeing frogs and turtlesinclude the warmth andsunlight available, thepopulation living in thepond, the visibility. and anyactivity occurring .just beforeyour visit. Frogs and t u rt les
generally surface to warmthemselves in the sun, sothere is a much betterchance of seeing them onwarm, sunny days. It canbe easier to locate turtlesand frogs on logs and rocksthat are clearly visible andnot obstructed by vegeta-tion. Remember, they preferto remain concealed, so lookcarefully. Consider themany activities around thepond. Has a dog justsplashed through the water?Have sonic noisy walkersjust gone by? Did a carefreeperson throw a stone intothe pond? Has an ospreyjust caused a big splashwhile trying to catch a fish?Such disturbances willtemporarily send mostresident turtles and frogsunder cover. If you wait fora while, they may climbback onto their sunbathinglogs right before your eyes.You are more likely to seethem sunning on sunny, butcool mornings. By mid-afternoon, the sun can betoo hot for them.
darnseAcIti
ckaclonf ILA
drivionctti
nuriph
waier5trider
Whether or not you seeturtles and frogs on yourpond visit, you can learnabout them by playing thiscamouflage activity. Usingindex cards or light-coloredcardboard, cut out some frogand turtle shapes. You canmake your own shapes or
64
51
snot I
beetle.
waierboeci-vmn
darhselcki
nymph
back swimmer
copy thc ones here. Withcrayons or markers, colorthe cutouts so that theyresemble the real animals.One of you can place thecutouts around the pond, onrocks and logs, along the
bank, and in the vegetation.Once the "population" hasbeen set out, the other partnercan go in search of thesepond residents, countinghow many can be found. Youcan continue taking turnshiding and searching forthese animals. This allowsyou to see where real frogsand turtles live and howtheir coloration keeps themcamouflaged. Please remem-ber to collect all the cutoutsso none are left at the pond.52
Frog and Toad ChorusWhen you visit a pond, youmay hear frogs vocalizing.Frogs and toads of the samespecies are able to locate eachother by using their voices.Their calls help them attractmates and establish territo-ries just like birds. With threeor more people, you cancreate a frog and toad chorussimilar to what might beheard at a pond on a springor summer night. With morepeople, you can divide into
American toad:"Fried Rice,"in a high-pitched, hummingvoiceSpring peeper:"Mashed Potatoes,"in a high, squeaky voice
pairs, select calls, separate,and try to locate your "mate"by closing your eyes andmoving toward their call.Either version offers a fun wayto communicate like frogs andtoads. Here are the parts tothe chorus. The calls given arethe closest words that re-semble the actual calls madeby these frogs and toads.
Bullfrog:"Jug-A-Rum,"in a low, deep voice
LeapfrogAs you walk along the edge ofa pond, you may hear thefamiliar "kerplunk" of astartled bull or green frogjumping into the water.Some frogs have very muscu-lar hind legs that enablethem to leap far distances.Try to move like a frog byplaying a game of leapfrog.See ff your legs are strongenough to send you fardistances by jumping thisway. Human legs are ca-
66
53
pable of walking, but nothopping long distances asopposed to frog legs.
Make an OrigamiHopping FrogUsing this paper foldingtechnique, you can create afrog that actually hops.Copy the model shown hereonto an index card or light-weight cardboard and followthe folding directions.
Directions:1. Fold line AE behind andthen open back up. Repeatwith BF.
2. Fold line GH to front andthen open back up.
3. Gently press G and H in.I will pop up like the point ofa pyramid.
4. Working on the back, foldJ to I and then K to I.
5. Fold FD to center of backside. Repeat with EC.
6. Fold ML toward back andthen fold PD down.
7. Push down on the backend to make the frog jump.
c,
FRONT
BAcK
54
67
0
13ACic 8PtCk BACK
Make a FlycatchingFrogFrogs use their long.sticky tongues to catchflying insects to eat.Here is one way tomake your ownflycatching frog.
Supplies:a party blowerclear tapecrayons or markerscardboard or oaktag
Directions:
1. Cut out the
frog body oncardboard oroaktag.
2. Color.
AI0 0
3. Tape the partyblower as shown.
4. Blow on the partyblower and watch yourfrog try to catch someflies!
/74.
68
ASUMMER
NIGHTWALK
One evening, whileI was on the back porchstaring at the stars, Iheard a clkking noise.When I looked aroundI saw a slamk crossing mystreet. The noise wasmade as its claws hit thepavement I froze. Theskunk waddled right byme and went under theporch. Until then, I neverknew skunks lived in thesuburbs, particularlymine, and spectfwallyunder my own house.
There is no other season in atemperate climate duringwhich an evening outing isas simple and yet rewarding.It is warm enough that youcan leave your coats behind.With the daylight extendinginto the evening, you canleave your flashlights behind,(except that one activitydescribed here does requirea flashlight). You may wantto apply insect repellantbefore your walk, and bring-ing water to drink is alwaysa good idea, especially inwarm weather.
Fields, forests, and pondsare all magical places to visiton a summer night. In afield you can look for fire-flies, listen for insects andsongbirds, and watch thesky darken. You can listenfor owls calling and otheranimals moving about in theforest. A night walk arounda pond may offer you frogcalls, bird songs, and per-haps the site of a thirstydeer getting a drink. Musk-rats, beavers, or raccoonsmay also appear.
A visit to any natural area atdusk is a wonderful experi-ence. Playing the naturalsymphony game explainedin the observation skillssection will give you an idea
56
6 9
just how many differentanimals are active when youare visiting. Here are someactivities that can help youenjoy the natural world atdusk. Keep in mind, how-ever, that simply walking orsitting in an open, naturalsetting as day turns intonight is a special experienceby itself. The animalsounds, sky changes, andmuted light offer enough.
Silent SitDusk is a time of increasedanimal activity in any natu-ral area. In a field, near apond, or at the base of atree, fmd a comfortable spoton which to sit or lie withyour partner. Remain silentfor a minute and listen andwatch around you. Whenthe minute is up, share whatyou heard and saw.
Firefly SignalsThe sight of fireflies in a fieldis a highlight of any summerevening. The lights you seeare signals sent by thefemale fireflies to attractmales of the same species.In some species a female willimitate the signal of anotherspecies to attract a male andthen eat him. You canpretend to be a firefly withthe use of a flashlight and by
going outside on a darknight. You and your partnershould decide on a signal (aseries of light flashes to bemade with the flashlight)and then stand at separateends of your play area. Thefemale (the partner with theflashlight) can attempt toattract the male (the otherpartner) by sending the lightsignals. The male shouldmove toward the signalsuntil he reaches the female.The female can also try an"ambush" by sending a fakesignal. If the male comes tothe female on the wrongsignal, he has fallen into atrap and just became herdinner!
Colors At NightTwo types of eye cells aidvision. Cone cells allow theeye to see color in the pres-ence of light. Rod cells allowthe eye to see shades of lightand dark in the absence ofabundant light. Humaneyes are designed to see bestin the presence of 11ght, andour cone cells are betterdeveloped. Nocturnal ani-mals have more rod cells,enabling them to see betterwith less light. At night,with less light, we use onlyour weaker rod cells, andare essentially colorblind.
To experience your nighttimecolorblindness, pack 10pieces of construction paperall cut the same size, but ofassorted colors, and go out atdusk. Show your partnerone of the colored papers. Ifit is not yet dark outside, thecolor will be easy to detect.As you stay out and thedaylight dwindles, try thisagain. At some point, therewill not be enough light tosee the colors of the papers.
Homemade FireworksA fun activity to try on a verydark night (or in a dark closetat home) is to make your own"fireworks." All you need is aroll of wintergreen Lifesavercandy. You and your partnershould face each other andbreathe for a minute withyour mouths open so that theinside feels dry. When youare both ready, simulta-neously pop a Lifesaver inyour mouths and chomp.Keep your mouths wide openso you can see each other'sfireworks. This works bestwith a fresh roll of Lifesavers.
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summer's
grand
AC T I IV IT I E S
M EA DOWSEEDS
The days are getting shorter and the nights cooler.Song birds begin to flock for migration to winteringgrounds. The broad leaves of deciduous trees beginto change color. Autumn is coining, but it is not herejust yet. There is a brief season between summer andfall, a time to enjoy the best of both seasons. Manyplants are still flowering and are visited by honeybees.Monarch butterflies are feeding on milkweed in openfields along their migration routes. Milkweed andother meadow plants begin to employ their ingeniousstrategies for dispersing their seeds before the firstkilling frost arrives. Many animals, such as insectsand spiders, are now mating and kiying eggs, the onlyway their species can overwinter in a climate withwinter temperatures that go below freezing.
On an exploratory walk in ameadow on a late summerday you can witness theseearly preparations for thecoming cold season. Theyearly cycles are apparent inthis season as plant growthslows, and plants and ani-mals that do not remainactive in freezing weatherbegin to migrate or prepareto overwinter. Here are58
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some activities designed tohelp you appreciate the"work" required in latesummer by the rootedresidents of a field.
Hitchhikers and HighFlyersGo to an open, uncultivatedfield that has not recentlybeen mowed, or walk along
unmowed edge of a farm.eld, road or yard. TheTasses and other plants aremploying highly specific,rell-evolved strategies for'ispersing their seeds beforehe first big frost. You canasily observe three seed..ispersal strategies: wind.anied (milkweed, dande-ion), animal ingested (fruits,&tits, and berries that areaten and the seeds elimi-kated with the animal'sxcrement), and hitchhikers3eeds with hooks and barbs'tat attach to the fur oreathers of a passing animalald eventually fall off else-Jhere). These strategiesllow the see'ls to be dis-)ersed far enough awayrom the parent plant soaere will not be directompetition for root spacend sunlight later on be-ween the plant and its own)ffspring.
Take Wingrry to fmd some milkweed orlandelion "fluff." If you look-losely, you might fmd thateach bit of fluff has a tinyseed delicately attached atme end. 'The fluff acts as a;ail, enabling the seed toravel with the wind, oftenor great distances. Collect aiandful of seeds with at-tached wings and blow themiway. Observe the distance
they travel. Discuss whatcould affect this distance,such as wind, rain, thedryness of the fluff, etc.Have a "race" between two ormore flying seeds to seewhich travels the farthestbefore landing on theground.
Seed SearchLook for fruits, nuts, andberries that might be food foran animal. Open them tofind which have seeds insideand which are the seedsthemselves. Compare thesewild foods for such featuresas which would store wellover the winter, which mighttaste sweet, which are easyto eat, and which requiresome effort to open.
Give a RideWalk through the grassesand other tall plants wearinglong pants. (Light coloredsweatpants and stretchpantswork the best.) After a while,look at your pant legs. It islikely you have picked up afew hitchhiker seeds. Hereare some of the more com-mon types of seeds thattravel this way.
bemos-ticks
".<:"6P, eWdl
Please try to release theseeds before you leave thefield. After all, their strategyis to land in the same habi-tat, L ut not directly under-
bvraoc.k
cranesbill
ene.teionter's
niciht shade
( +ick _over
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MEADOWINSECTS
Viet cricke4s
male
neath their parent plant. Ifyou are curious, you couldtake home a small variety ofthese seeds, try to grow themin soil with periodic waterings,and see what happens.
Grasses are just some of themeadow residents preparingfor the cold season. We cansee insects and spiderspreparing for the end cfsummer as well.
Sweep NettingIf you have a sweep net touse, you can collect, ob-serve, and release manydifferent meadow insects.Go to a meadow or along aroad where the grass is atleast a foot high. Sweep thenet through the grassquickly. After a few sweeps,look in your net to see if youhave caught anything. Theillustrations here may helpyou identify any insects andtheir relatives in your net.For more information, use afield guide to insects.
CricketsA field or roadside habitat isoften full of crickets in latesummer. These insects arebusy mating and laying eggsthis season. After matingand laying eggs, all the60
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adults will die. The youngwill emerge in the spring asthe new generation of crickets.The chirps you hear aremating sounds made by themales trying to attract femalesof the same species. They aremade when the sharp edgeat one end of a front wingrubs along a file-like ridgeunder the other front wing.There are over 900 species ofcrickets in the world, andeach has its own distinctivechirps and rhythms.
Crickets:Telling the TemperatureIf you hear snowy treecrickets, which are commonin homes, you may be ableto estimate the air tempera-ture. Listen for the chirp ofone cricket and count howmany times you hear it in 15seconds. Add 38 to thenumber of chirps youcounted. The total shouldequal the approximate airtemperature in degreesFahrenheit.
Crickets: Male or Female?Try to catch a cricket, beingcareful not to injure it. Aclose look at a cricket willallow you to tell a female froma male. Compare the cricketyou are holding to theseillustrated and try to deter-mine if it is a female or male.
MEADOW INSECTS AND RELATIVES
-cielci cricket
lac19 beetle.
. leaf hopper
ar4,7"eY
buitecctA
rn.ilkweed
be.e.Ae
grasshopper
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forestsIn mit=
ACTIVITIES
AUTUMNFOREST
TREK
0 0
Autumn offers us blue skies and crisp breezes.Vibrant leaves color the landscape with aneverchanging, dynamic display. Warm, sunny daysare sharply contrasted with cold, dark nights. It is acomfortable season during which to go out Pleasantdry weather, few biting insects, and beautiful sceneryare just some of the abundant reasons.
A deciduous forest is a greatplace to explore in the fall.Changes in trees and theforest floor are easily observedduring this season. The mostobvious change is leaveschanging color and falling off.This dramatic color displayoccurs as green pigmentbreaks down and no longer
Autumn Observation WalkGo out and see all that isaround you. Look at colors,shapes, and textures. Findpretty leaves on the ground.See which trees are losingtheir leaves and which arenot. Share your observa-tions together. Record themin your nature notebook, ifyou like.
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masks the yellok and orangepigments that have been thereall along. This is triggered byshorter days and coolernights. The fallen leaves play avital role in recycling forestnutrients. The followingactivities can help you under-stand these easily observedchanges and their roles.
Autumn Scavenger HuntGo out and see how many ofthese things you can find.
Your Special TreeGo find your special treefrom the late wintcr, or finda new one. Select a treewith broad leaves, notneedles. Visit your treerepeatedly throughout the
SCAVENGER HUNT autumn
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63
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autumn and observe itschanges. See if the leaves allturn the same color andshade. Notice what type ofseed the tree has (such asberries or nuts) and whetheror not you can see buds onthe twigs. Look for thingsthat make your tree differentfrom those around it, suchas its height, trunk diam-eter, bark color and texture,and leaf shape and size. Drawa picture or place a photo-graph of your tree in yournature notebook. Glue apressed sample leaf on a page.Make a leaf or bark rubbing.
Leaf and Bark RubbingsOne way to take home asouvenir from a forest whileleaving everything there is tomake a rubbing of a leaf ortree bark. With a darkcrayon and a page in yournature notebook, or a blankpiece of paper, you cancapture the exact image ofthese items. To make a leafrubbing. simply place theleaf (veins facing up) on aflat, hard surface and coverit with one layer of paper.Rub the side of the crayonlightly on the paper, evenlycoloring the page until thewhole leaf shape shows. Tomake a bark rubbing, holdthe paper up against a treetrunk while you rub acrayon on the paper.
64
Leaf Motels andRestaurantsPick up a fallen leaf and lookat it closely. See if you canfind any small holes orbumps. The holes are vheresmall animals such ascaterpillars, ants, or beetleshave been eating. Thebumps are where smallaninmls are spending part oftheir lives. Look for a tinyhole in the bump. Such ahole may have been an e)dtdoor for the animal or whereanother animal (parasite orpredator) entered. If thebump has no hole, theanimal may still be inside,where it will safely spend thewinter. Fallen leaves are likerestaurants and motels !:orlittle animals, so it is irnpor-tant to leaire them in theforest. If you want to occa-sionally take a leaf or twohome from an outing, makesure it is not currently hous-ing any small inhabitants.
Forest FloorArchaeologistsThe forest has many visiblelayerstreetops, trunks,shrubs, ground plants, andthe forest floor. During thisseason, a new layer of leavesfalls onto the forest floor.Take a close look at theforest floor and what liesbeneath it. Find a place inthe forest where the ground
is covered with various typesof leaves. Place a circle ofyarn or string approximatelytwo feel. in diameter on theground. This will mark theboundaries of your studyplot.
In your study plot, pick upall the leaves that look likethey fell this season. Thesewill be the leaves that arepractically whole and easy tcrecognize. Put these in apile. These leaves make upa layer called the leaf litter.
Pick at and remove the nextlayer that should be recog-nizable remains of leaves,twigs, and other pieces offorest "litter" that havebegun to decompose. Thesehave probably been heresince last autumn. Thislayer, approx1mately oneyear old, is called the duff.
Investigate and remove thenext layer which will consistof small, broken, barelyrecognizable remains offorest litter. This rich andnourishing material isbeginning to resemble soiland holds moisture well.This layer is referred to ashumus and has most likelybeen here for two to three.years.
If you continue digging. youwill now reach the soil layer.Nourished by decomposing
layers above, the soil holdswater and nutrients for plantroots. It took three to sevenyears for this layer to form.If you dig down below thesoil, you may eventuallyreach two more layerssubsoil and bedrock.
Now that you have taken aclose look at the layersbeneath the forest floor, trvto put the study plot back asyou found it, returning thelayers in ordcr. Remove yourcircle marker and help makeit appear that the area hasnot been disturbed. Thinkabout the years required forsoil development in thelayers you have investigated.Imagine the number of years"wiped out" by the work o abulldozer clearing a woodedarea.
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LIFE UNDER A LOG
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bfe Under a LogFallen logs that lie on aforest floor make greathomes for many animalsand plants. They offer smallanimals food, shelter, andmoisture, and provide grow-ing places for fungi andsome plants. Earthworms,spiders, slugs, snails, sala-manders, and insects can befound in these dark, cool,wet habitats. Carefully lift alog and look at the groundsurface uncovered and onthe underside of the log.Identify any animals youfind by comparing them tothose shown here. Be sureto return any animals afteryou carefully replace the logto the position in which youfound it.
Mini-ParksThe forest floor is full ofinteresting fea'..ires. Oneway to take a look is tocreate a mini-parl . Go to aforested area or unt.'er anygroup of trees. Lay .1 pieceof yarn or string, at least 15feet in length, on the groundso that it touches variousthings such as leaves, roots,moss, and anything else itcan reach. By crawlingalong on your hands andknees and pretending youare a very tiny person (orant, troll, gnome, or any tinycreature), explore the "trail"created by the yarn or
strIng. A patch of mossbecomes a golf course, a fewdrops of water in a leaf is alake, and a small group ofplants may be a tropicaljungle. You will find manyimaginative features as youexplore your tiny park andinvestigate the forest floor atthe same time.
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preparingifor wig
ACTIVITIESWINTER
PREPARATIONS
NOVEMBER EARLY DECEMBE
In late autumn, when nightime temperatures beginto approach freezing, wildlife survival strategies areevident. We see fewer animals, and those we do seeare either inactive or are very busy collecting andstoring seeds and nuts for winter. There is a quietermood while animals begin to employ the threestrategies for surviving winter in a temperateclimatedormancy, migration, and staying active.
Animals that are notequipped to maintain theiractive body temperaturesbecome dormant, allowingtheir body temperatures todrop and either resist freez-ing or tolerate its effects.True hibernatorstwospec:es of jumping mice,four species of bats, andwoodchucksdrop theirmetabolism and body tem-perature to a comatose stateand remain totally dormantfor the winter. Deep sleep-ers, including bears andchipmunks, sleep for longperiods, but will wake inwarm weather. Reptiles,amphibians, adult insects,68
81
and other animals that useexternal sources for heatwait out winter inactively ina cool but safe temperaturerange in leaf litter, below thefrost line, or in water.
Migration is a Winter sur-vival strategy that involvesmoving. Some birds migratehundreds of miles to winter-ing grounds wit h availablefood and water. Otheranimals migrate only a fewhundred yards to a pro-tected area.
Staying active is the otherwinter survival stratev.Birds fluff up their feathers
for warmth. Mammals growthicker winter coats andaccumulate fat. Some (deerand rabbits) collect fooddaily, while others (squirrelsand mice) eat stored seedsand nuts.
When you go out in coldweather, try extra hard notto disturb any wild animalsyou encounter. Whateverstrategies they employ, surviv-ing winter is a criticalchallenge, and wild animalshave little energ to wasteduring this season. You canmake yourself comfortableby dressing warmly andeating high-calorie snacks tokeep warm. The sun setsquite early this time of year,so be prepared for coldertemperatures as the sungoes down.
Late Autumn WildlifeScavenger HuntSee how many of the thingson the following page youcan fmd on a walk.
Building a Warm HomePretend you are a small wildmammal and it is time tobuild yourself a warm homein which to spend the win-ter. Using just loose objectssuch as sticks, mud, leaves,and small stones. construct
a home for your animal. Tryto make the home warm byusing insulating materialssuch as dried grasses, mud,and leaves, and by designingit to be protected from rain,snow, and wind. Try tomake the home safe byhaving any entrances andexits be well hidden andsmall enough to preventanimals larger than theoccupant from entering. Tryto make the home comfort-able by lining it with softmaterials. Once your homeis complete. you can golooking for food for youranimal.
You can test how well insu-lated your animal home is byconducting this experiment.Bring a thermos of hot liquidgelatin and two small cupsto your animal home. Placeone cup of liquid gelatininside the home and placeanother cup outside thehome. If your home is well-insulated, the heat releasedfrom the cooling gelatin willstay inside it. The warmhouse will keep the gelatininside from cooling off asquickly as the gelatin out-side. Both cups of gelatinwill solidify as they cool. Ifthe cup of gelatin outsidesolidifies faster than the oneinside, it proves your homeis insulated enough to retainsome of the gelatin's heat.
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hte autumn wild e SCAVENGER HUNT
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Breathing Like aWoodchuckCount the number of breathsyou take in one minutewhen you breathe at yournormal rate. It should bebetween 12 and 24. Next,breathe as slowly as you canand again count the numberof breaths you take in aminute. When a woodchuckis active, it breathes 100 to200 times in a minute, butwhen it hibernates it breathesjust once approximatelyevery five minutes. An activebat breathes 200 times aminute, while a hibernatingbat breathes less than 25times a minute. Try toimagine slowing down somuch for the whole winter.
Comparing YourCirculationCount your pulse for 15seconds and multiply thenumber by four to determinethe number of times yourheart beats in one minute.The final number is likely tobe between 80 and 100. Takeyour pulse at different timesduring the daywhen youfirst wake up, after you exer-cise, and after a mealandsee how much it varies.Compare the results withthese circulation facts.
An active woodchuck hasover one hundred heartbeats
a minute, while a hibernat-ing woodchuck has only four.
During four months ofhibernation, a woodchuckuses as much energw as itwould in four active days.
Even animals that stayactive in winter slow down.A squirrers heart rate is 35ubeats a minute in summer,5 beats a minute whenresting in winter.
A shrew, which breathes asmany as 750 times aminute, has aresting heartrate of 164 beats a minuteand an active heart rate of600 beats a minute.
Eating Enough to KeepWarm in Cold WeatherIf you were a shrew, youwould weigh about the sameas two quarters and youwould have to eat theequivalent of your bodyweight every day to staywarm. Calculate your dailyfood needs as a shrew. Thenumber of pounds of foodneeded daily would equalyour current body weight.For a more tangible com-parison, multiply your bodyweight by four. This num-ber equals the total of quar-ter-pound hamburgers youwould need to eat if you atelike a shrew trying to stayactive on a winter day.
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snow
ACTIVITIES
MID-DECEMBERJANUARY
Winter is the season of snow in a temperateclimate. Snow is a magical form of water. It gives uspicturesque landscapes, a special feeling, andwonderful fun. It also serves to insulate plants andanimals.
SN w Snow begins as a speck ofdust or salt that attractsmolecules of water fromclouds. As the water mol-ecules accumulate, theyform ice ciystals, whichbecome larger and fall to theground. Snow usually formswhen air temperatures arefrom -40 to 32 degreesFahrenheit.
People usually associatesnow with the cold, since itfalls during the winter, butsnow is actually like a warmblanket for wildlife. Snow ismostly air. Fresh powderysnow is about 93 percentair, and the air spacesbetween the snow crystalstrap warmth radiating fromthe ground and prevent airmovement. This creates aninsulating layer over theland, protecting small ani-mals and plants from thedrying and chilling winds,yet allowing the sun's energ
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to get through. The groundlayer under this protectivesnowy blanket can remainjust above freezing, and thiscreates a warm, safe placecompared to the snow'ssurface.
Animals have adapted tosnow in many ways. Deepsnow helps cottontail rabbitsto reach buds to eat. Ruffedgrouse grow hook-likecombs on the sides of theirtoes to help them travel onsnow, and they dive intopowdery drifts to keep warmat night. Snowshoe hareshave large feet that supportthem on snow, and theircoats turn lighter in winter,helping them hide by cam-ouflage. Bird and mammalactivity can be sem astracks around hab:tats andnear water.
Plants have also adapted tosnow. To plants, winter is a
time of drought, when littlewater is available to them.Many plants remain dormantduring the winter, some lyingunder the insulating blanketof snow. Birches have finebranches and flexible trunkswhich can bend under heavysnow and spring back whenit melts. Evergreen branchesare designed to shed snow,relieving the strain of theweight of the snow.
Many plants and animalsthat have adapted to snoware affected by changes inaverage snow conditions.For example, during a mild,snowless winter, animalsthat would live under theblanket of snow have no-where to find protection fromthe cold or from predators.
Getting about in a snow-storm may be difficult, butthere are some real benefitsto snow. Our water supplydepends on it. Plants andanimals need it. Naturalistsare offered a "chalkboard"for animal activity withopportunities to observe andstudy wildlife tracks that aremore obvious on a snow-covered landscape thanduring any other time ofyear. By wearing dry, warmboots and appropriateclothing, you can enjoy awinter outing, complete withlots of snow.
TrackmakersMake your own tracks in thesnow. Go to an open areacovered with snow. Whileone of you closes your eyes,the other can create a trackstory. Try different move-ments such as running,walking, hopping, andjumping. When thetrackmaker is finished, havethe other partner open his/her eyes and follow the tracks,trying to explain what move-ments were used. Changeroles if you like. Try to createseveral different track stories.
Track SearchSearch for animal tracks inthe snow. The illustrationson the next two pages mayhelp you identify the tracksyou fmd. Follow the tracks ifyou can, but do not scarethe animal if you fmd it. Tryto figure out what activitytook place.
4110.
Wolf Tracks OPIf you have a few people inan area with at least a fewinches of snow, you can tryto travel like a wolf in thesnow. Wolves are perfectsteppers. each back footlands in the footprint theyhave made with the frontfoot. First select a leader.This leader wolf should gofor a walk, making regularfootprints in the snow. One
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by one, each other wolfshould follow the leader bystepping precisely in theoriginal footprints. It ismuch easier to travel thisway through areas of deepsnow, which is exactly whywolves, as well as otheranimals, do this. Manyanimals will travel in thetracks of other species,along trails, or on roadssimply because it requiresless energy than travelingthrough deep snow.
Snow Scavenger HuntGo out on a walk when thereis snow on the ground andtry to fmd some of thesethings.
Snow SheltersLook for animal homes inthe snow. See if you canfind holes, tunnels, entries,or other ways animals rn:ghtbe getting into snow- coveredhomes. Follow any tunnelsor paths you can find.Guess who might be usingthese entries and pathways.Quite often, small mammalsuse entries that are aboutthe same size they are.preventing larger, possiblypredatory, animals fromentering.
Try to build your own snowshelter. Line it with driedleaves and grasses for
warmth. Imagine living inthis snow shelter all winterlong.
Catching SnowflakesCatch falling snowflakes ona dark piece of fabric, suchas a jacket sleeve, or a darkpiece of paper. Try to iden-tify which type of crystalsare falling. Here are sevencommon types of snowflakecrystals.
." '!';
hexagonal colurnn5
spatial ciend6fes
irrectutQr CrtiStats
MeltdownFill a coffee can to the rimwith snow and bring itinside. When the snowmelts, mark the water level.Bring the can of meltedsnow outside and let itfreeze. Compare the appear-ance and volume of thesnow, water, and ice. Try todetermine how may cups ofsnow are needed to make acup of water. Measurewhich melts fasteran icccube or a snowball of thesame weight. Invent yourown snow experiments.
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90
7-- \,
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needies
hexacional plates
Copped Columns
5klIctc crysia s
Record thc results in yournature notebook.
Snow MeasurementsBefore a snowstorm, placemeasured sticks in youryard where you can seethem but where they will notbe in the way. After itsnows, go out and mark thesnow depth at each stickwith a permanent marker.Compare the snow depth ateach stick. If the depthdiffers, try to figure out whatcaused that difference. Keepthe sticks out for a fewweeks. Compare the depthmarkers as the snow melts.See if the snow melts at thesame rate at each marker.
Snow WordsThe Eskimos have fifteenwords for snow and placeswhere snow is found. Makeup some of your own wordsfor snow and snowy places.
Snow StoryPretend you live in the snowand make up a story about it.
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Make Paper SnowflakesSnowflakes, like all crystals,are six-sided. You can createyour own paper snowflakes.
Directions:1. Take a white paper circleand fold it in half.
2. Fold the half circle inthirds.
3. Make cuts with scissorson all the edges.
4. Carefully unfold yoursnowflake.
ACTIVITIES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY
resources
ACTIVITYLIST 21 Age a Pine Tree 46 Flowers and Pollinators
30 Animal Tracks in the Scavenger HuntMud 64 Forest Floor
62 Autumn Observation ArchaeologistsWalk 52 Frog and Toad Chorus
62 Autumn Scavenger Hunt 59 Give a Ride39 Bird Scavenger Hunt 45 Hidden Colors70 Breathing Like a 58 Hitchhikers and High
Woodchuck Flyers69 Building a Warm Home 57 Homemade Fireworks45 Busy Bees 39 Home Tweet Home42 Camouflage 9 7 How is the Wind Useful?51 Camouflage Frogs and 12 Human Cameras
Turtles 38 I Have Wings77 Catching Snowflakes
30 Into the Depths27 Classify the Wind
10 Kim's Game33 Collecting and Testing
Rain 69 Later Autumn Wildlife
57 Color at NightScavenger Hunt
64 Leaf and Bark Rubbings70 Comparing Your
Circulation 64 Leaf Motels and
60 CricketsRestaurants
53 Leapfrog46 Dried Flower
Arrangements 65 Life Under a Log
35 Early Signs of Spring 34 Magical Vernal PoolsScavenger Hunt 55 Make a Flycatching Frog
70 Eating Enough to Keep 54 Make an OrigamiWarm in Cold Weather Hopping Frog
1 q Evergreens 33 Make a Rain Painting56 Firefly Signals 29 Make a Traveling Maple43 Flower and Insects Seed Helicopter
Observation Walk 27 Make a Wind Pinwheel46 Flower Crafts 28 Make a Wind Sock
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78 Make Paper Snowflakes
60 Male or Female?43 Mammal Signs Scavenger
Hunt41 Mating Call
19 Meeting Other Trees77 Meltdown67 Mini-Parks11 Mystery Sock
11 Natural Symphony14 Observation Walk
11 One-in-Three16 One Special Tree
49 Pond Collecting48 Pond Observations49 Pond Scavenger Hunt46 Pressed Petal Collages31 Rain Scavenger Hunt41 Real Estate46 Sachets12 Scavenger Hunt (Sensory)
41 Scent Trail59 Seed Search24 Seeking Shelter from the
Wind56 Silent Sit78 Snow Measurements76 Snow Scavenger Hunt77 Snow Shelters78 Snow Story
78 Snow Words 70
So Sweep Netting 45so Take Wing 7759 Telling the Temperature 2724 Test the Wind Direction
and Feel Wind Chill 70
31 The Importance of Water60
31 The Water Cycle70
73 Trackmakers73 Track Search 19
19 Tree Bark 4316 Tree Listening
6416 Tree Observations19 Tree Observation Walk 5222 Trees Near Your Home 5917 Twigs and Branching 5812 Unnature Trail10 What Did I Change? 39
38 Where Do I Go? 27
24 Windy Day Scavenger 12Hunt 38
73 Wolf Tracks 3062 Your Special Tree 64
Activities That 53
Need No Supplies 65
21 Age a Pine Tree 60
30 Animal Tracks in the Mud 41
e2 Autumn Observation 19Walk 1 1
Breathing Like aWoodchuckBusy Bees
Catching SnowflakesClassify the Wind
Comparing YourCirculationCricketsEating Enough to KeepWarm in Cold WeatherEvergreensFlower and InsectsObservation WalkForest FloorArchaeologistsFrog and Toad Chorus
Give a Ride
Hitchhikers and HighFlyersHome Tweet Home
How is the Wind Useful
Human CamerasI Have Wings
Into the DepthsLeaf Motels andRestaurantsLeapfrog
Life Under a Log
Male or Female?
Mating Call
Meeting Other Trees
Natural Symphony
81
14 Observation Walk11 One-in-Three
48 Pond Observations41 Real Estate59 Seed Search24 Seeking Shelter from the
Wind56 Silent Sit77 Snow Shelters78 Snow Story78 Snow Words59 Take Wing
60 Telling the Temperature24 Test the Wind Direction
and Feel Wind Chill31 The Importance of Water
73 Trackmakers73 Track Search19 Tree Bark16 Tree Listening
16 Tree Observations
19 Tree Observation Walk
22 Trees Near Your Home
10 What Did I Change?
38 Where Do I Go?
73 Wolf Tracks
Activities DesignedTo Use Your NatureNotebook
33 Collecting and TestingRain
4 5 Hidden Colors
27 How is the Wind Useful?77 Meltdown1 6 One Special Tree
78 Snow Measurements7 8 Snow Story
78 Snow Words3 1 The Water Cycle
1 9 Tree Bark
1 7 Twigs and Branching6 2 Your Special Tree
Crafts and CreativeActivities
4 2 Camouflage
5 1 Camouflage Frogs IdTurtles
4 6 Dried FlowerArrangements
52 Frog and Toad Chorus45 Hidden Colors
6 4 Leaf and Bark Rubbings
5 5 Make a Flycatching Frog
5 4 Make an Origami HoppingFrog
33 Make a Rain Painting
8 2
96
29 Make a Traveling MapleSeed Helicopter
27 Make a Wing Pinwheel
28 Make a Wind Sock78 Make Paper Snowflakes67 Mini-Parks
46 Pressed Petal Collages46 Sachets78 Snow Story
78 Snow Words
73 Trackmakers1 2 Unnature Trail
Activities That Can BeDone Anywhere,Anytime
21 Age a Pine Tree
70 Breathing Like aWoodchuck
42 Camouflage
27 Classify the Wind70 Compqring Your
Circulation70 Eating Enough to Kcep
Waml in Cold Weather1 9 Evergreens
52 Frog and Toad Chorus57 Homemade Fireworks
27 How is the Wind Useful1 2 Human Cameras
38 I Have Wings
11 Kim's Game
64 Leaf and Bark Rubbings64 Leaf Motels and
Restaurants53 Leapfrog41 Mating Call11 Natural Symphony13 Observation Walk11 One-in-Three
12 Scavenger Hunt (Sensory)
24 Seeking Shelter from theWind
56 Silent Sit31 The Importance of Water16 Tree Listening
16 Tree Observations10 What Did I Change?38 Where Do I Go?
Observation Walks6 2 Autumn
4 3 Flowers and Insects
1 4 Observation/Sensory1 6 One Special Tree
48 Pond1 9 The Tree's Neighborhood
Scavenger Hunts62 Autumn
39 Birds
35 Early Signs of Spring43 Flowers and Pollinators
6 9 Later Autumn Wildlife
4 3 Mammal Signs
1 2 Observation/Sensory4 9 Pond3 1 Rain
73 Snow24 Windy Day
96
83
BIBLIOGRAPHY
PhilosophyCarson, Rachel, The Sense of Wonder, Harper
van Matre, Steve, Acclimitizing, American CampingAssociationCornell, Joseph. Sharing The Joy of Nature,Dawn Publications
Nature ActivitiesBowden, Marcia, Nature for the Very Young, Wiley
Comstock, Anna, Handbook of Nature Study, CornellCornell, Joseph, Sharing Nature with Children, AnandaGoin, Kenn, Ripp, Eleanor, and Solomon, Kathleen Nastasi,Bugs to Bunnies-Hands-On Animal Science Activities forYoung Children, Chatterbox PressHunken, Jorie, Botany for All Ages, Globe PequotLingelbach, Jennipher, Hands-On Nature, VermontInstitute of Natural ScienceRockwell, Robert E., Sherwood, Elizabeth A., andWilliams, Robert A, Hug a Tree and Other Things To DoOutdoors With Young Children, Gryphon House, Inc.Russell, Helen Ross, Ten-Minute Field Trips, FergusonSisson, Edith A., Nature With Children of All Ages,Prentice-Hall
Natural HistoryPeterson Field Guides, Houghton Mifflin
Peterson First Field Guides, Houghton MifflinStokes Nature Guides, Little, Brown and Company
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HENRY DAVID THOREAU
HABITAT INSTITUTE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
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