Leaves, Roots, Stems, Trees & Gymnosperms

Sharing a pictorial update with a few words to describe what we've been learning.♥

Leaves

Testing Transpiration

An example of a simple leaf (ovate shape/smooth margin) and a compound leaf (with opposite arrangement, eliptical shape/serrate margins). 

Leaf Anatomy

An example of a leaf that is whorled. 

Roots

Look at those root hairs! 

Tap roots and fibrous roots

Geotropism and Geophytes

Anatomy of a Root Tip

Stems


Phototropism in action! 

Phototropism? We found this on a hike in the mountains. 

Trees



Bark Rubbings

"There's nothing like the feeling of being in a tree." Lesson 9


Trees are home to many small animals. 


Anatomy of a Twig 

Gymnosperms

What a beautiful place to hike in God's creation. 

See more of our hike on our First Day of August

An example of needle-like leaves.

An example of awl-like leaves.


Charlotte Mason makes a point in chapter 18 of Home Education that children have an innate gift of narration that they are born with but that is often allowed to lie fallow in their education. How many times have my kids come to me with narratives of their own told with "splendid vigor"?! My kids can tell me stories all day long, but I never before thought of these childish narrations as an integral part of their education. "Whereas here," says Mason, "if we have eyes to see and grace to build, is the ground-plan of his education." ♥

Well, we snuck in Lesson 11 tonight on Seedless Vascular Plants (a week ago now), which means after a nature walk to find some ferns that I remember seeing last summer for the lesson project, we have just two lessons left to finish Botany. I'm ready to finish up and take a break for the rest of August to get my house in order and ready for school September 1st. Still a month left of summer and lots of summer nights to read Pocketful of Pinecones, which we are all enjoying for nature study inspiration.

5 comments

  1. Where did you get those journal/notebooks? That would be perfect for my children!! They love nature study!

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    1. I downloaded them from the Apologia Extras site - in the front of the Botany book there is a password and a link to download them. I believe they are also available as a free download from the Apologia Elementary Yahoo group. I really loved having these this summer because I could pick and choose which activities we did (so it was not too overwhelming.) It's been a great study!

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  2. Thank you! I will check into it!! I am also feeling the itch to "row" some books with my kids! Your posts are so inspiring!

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  3. Love all their notebook drawings!

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  4. You did such a GOOD job! I so wish I had waited on leaves until later in the year. We so loved botany :)

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