Acorn tree life cycle9/2/2023 ![]() ![]() We are both fascinated by the different types of acorns and always come home with several in our pockets to examine later. This enables us to identify the tree without even seeing it! Each one has their unique leaves and acorns. On the trails we most frequent, there are several different species of oak trees. We always find lots of different types of oak leaves on the ground, which leads to us burrowing through them looking for acorns. My son and I like to take advantage of warm fall days and hit the trails looking for seeds and leaves. What a great opportunity to teach them about nature and the life cycle! How many of your kids have come home from a trip in the woods with pockets full of nuts and seeds? See what I mean? Kids are drawn to them. If you do not have a variety of pine cones in your area, they can sometimes be purchased in craft stores.My kids have always been fascinated by seeds, whether it’s seed packets for planting in the spring or seeds on the ground in the fall. You could include pine cones of different shapes and sizes. You could add a variety of leaves of different shapes and colors. You could include small branches from a variety of trees for children to compare. ![]() Your area might have peach trees or apple trees, and you could add the seeds and the actual fruit. Think of tree items from your local region that you could add to your collection. A display of “things that come from trees” can be used in any season of the year. When the children noticed the buds on the pear tree, we brought these in to add to our science center. (I highly recommend Tree Blocks.) The pear tree branches have tiny flower buds on them. In this photo, I have a tree “cookie” and other tree pieces are from our set of Tree Blocks. ![]() One word of caution: when you collect acorns from outside, you should “quarantine” them for a few days by putting them in a sealed jar. There are some leaves, pinecones, and acorns collected from a tree near our school. There are walnuts, hazelnuts, brazil nuts, and pecans in jars. This is a collection I set up during our Forest unit because we learn all about trees, leaves, and animals that live in trees.įor this display, I have a variety of tree nuts in jars. Nature collections are great for the science center. Science Center Display: Things That Come From Trees This activity integrates math, science, and fine motor skills. ![]() Children use tongs to pick up each nut and sort the four types of nuts into the four wooden bowls. This science center activity is great for the Fall, especially during a study of trees. I’ve used Amaco Marblex self-hardening clay (affiliate link) and it works well. Press the leaves into a flattened piece of clay and allow it to dry. The same activity can be done using clay. This works best when you press the back side of the leaf into the play dough. When the leaves are removed, they see the imprint of the leaf with the veins. Leaf Impressions with Play DoughĬhildren roll out the play dough, flat like a pancake and press leaves into the play dough. Show children how to place the mirror on the cut edge of the leaf, and they will see what looks like a whole leaf. I collected several leaves of different shapes and cut the leaves in half. The wooden bowl contains unbreakable mirrors. This activity is set up in my Science Center during our Forest theme unit in the Fall. The photo cards print full page, but you can print them smaller as in the picture shown below. These can be added to the science center and children can look at the book, arrange the cards in order, or put together the life cycle puzzle. This free printable set includes a book, sequencing cards and full color photos that can be used to show children the life cycle of an oak tree: from acorn, to seedling, to young oak tree, to full grown oak tree. Here are some Tree and Leaf Science activities for Preschool and Pre-K children. ![]()
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