The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-02-23
NATURE STUDY OUTLINE

Returning life among plants and
animals is one of the most delight
full subjects for observation and stud
at this season of the year. Note he
first appearance of life among plants.
What plants show life first? What part
Of the plant has been alive through the
winter? Name some plants that live
only in the roots What plants live
n the stem What plants were the
first TO lose their green color In the
autumn? Try 10 recall the manner in
which the color recedes in the autumn
and then note how the color returns
in the spring.
| IL by any chance pupils are provided
with water colors or with colored cray
on, a most charming series of illus.ra-
tons may be made showing this fad
ing away Of color in the autumn ana
It's tetuln in the spring. Note the
change n appearance of the landscape
as the sr-ing advances.
The study of the tree has bee.l in
GlcaIed for first grade work of this
month AS the pupils study the tree
as 4 form and learn the features by
which it may be recognized it becomes
a real friend. A person who has not
had a real intimate acquaintance with
some special tree has missed one OF
he real ~enjoymEEts Of life.
If we are to become acquainted with
the real life of the tree we mus. study
it carefully. Perhaps the best way to
begin is to record in a systematic way
tie changes that take place in the tree
from season to season and during the
month Of March changes may be noted
from week to week. An outlin. for
tree study for December for third
grade in general was in Bulletin V.
Lage 20. In this column it vii, be
Necessary to note only a few add lion
points tC observe, since the third grade
cree study can readily be adapted 10
me first grade.
Study the tree as a living thing for
Ill this study should lead to a greater
appreciation and care for our trees. A
few facts about the life of the tree will
be Of interest to the teacher. The tree
lives by breathing and by securing its
daily food both from the air au,! the
soil, 1t breathes through the numerous
openings or pores in it's leaves, through
it's green bark, and through it's roots,
the roots taking up the air that is
present in the soil. It's leaves also
serve not only as a means by which
plant food is taken from the air. but
by means of sunlight this food is
changed into a form that can De Used
by the tree. The leaves lake in car
bon nom the air, and by means Of SUM-
light this carbon is changed to starch.
a substance found in all plants. The
leaves then have been most appropri-
Stely termed "starch factories Thus
when b leaves appear note how they
are arranged upon the branches SO that
.i1ey may gain all the Sunligt. 1Ossi-
lie.
Perhaps tie oak tree will be the
Lest for our special study since il is
common, useful and beautiful.
How many kinds of oak trees are
there in your neighborhood? How does
the oak tree look in winter? Compare
it with the apple tree, the maple, the
rine, the elm. What is the shape Of
the oak? Is there anything ABOUT
its shape that WI tell anything of It's
history, whether it has grown - toe
t:ten field or in the foresto Was i:
ever shaded on either side? VIVA,
las been the effect? Do you know
anything about the age of yuur tree?
Was your tree injured by storm or
by insects during the past year? If
so, how? What is the color of our
tree in autumn? In winter are leaves
still persisting on it's branches? When
will they fall? Record the da-e %leI
the tree finally becomes bare.
Does your tree form seed? What are
these seeds called? Look for the oak
tree seeds. What has happened since
they fell from the tree? Upon some
trees you will slill find acorns. Tlis
kind that requires two years to mature
their seeds or OAKS have already been
discussed in these columns. Note
carefully upon what trees acorns are
still found and compare a little la-sr
with trees .hat have dropped th'i:
acOrns
Note ca'fLi'y the change in twig3,
opening of leaf or flower buds. TWig
and bud study will be taken up i'll
April.
How high is your tree? How large
an area does its branches cover? Are
plants growing underneath your tree?
What kind of plants are they. Study
the bark of the different oaks. Try
to identify the kind of oak by its
bark. How does the bark of the trunk
differ from the bark of the branches OR
the twigs. Make a drawing Of four
square inches of bark of various oak
tees. How does the bark Of the oak
tree differ from that of the maple?
How does the bark of the oak tree
differ from that of pine?
Much Of the work suggested in this
column must necessarily be done on
the way to and from school. This is
as it should be. The teacher may only
give direction to the study, the real
work must be done in natures w
laboratory.
MRS. F. L. STEVENS.