Evergreens get special attention in autumn and winter when many other trees and shrubs loose all their leaves. Traditions such as bringing in and decorating a Christmas tree, fashioning evergreen wreaths, and hanging evergreen boughs come from the desire to celebrate the evergreen symbol of life even in the darkest season when many plants and animals are dormant.
Evergreen Holiday Season
This morning my daughters opened their learning advent calendar to find "learn about evergreens" on an activity card. Yesterday, it was "make a wreath," so I figured I'd better get busy and find some good information. Plus, we make a habit of winter nature study and this topic is a relevant addition.
Evergreen Tree Facts
- Evergreen trees do loose their needles. They just don't loose them all at once as deciduous trees do (with a few exceptions such as the Tamarack Tree). In evergreens (conifers), as old needles shed, new needles grow in to take their place, so evergreen trees only appear not to loose their needles.
- Having green leaves year round is an adaptation that allows evergreens to save energy and survive in colder, dryer climates.
- Like other trees, evergreens slow down and become inactive in winter, just not as dramatically as deciduous trees.
- The triangular shape of evergreen conifers is another adaptation that allows the tree to survive the winter. The conical shape allows more leaves to absorb sunlight.
Evergreen Websites for Kids
Information and Activities. Real Trees 4 Kids: The Story and Science of Real Tree Farming is a helpful website divided into age levels with
- printable interdisciplinary units about Christmas trees,
- songs, crafts, and projects, and
- a teacher section.
The Frequently Asked Questions section is a convenient place to go to find a quick answer. FAQ categories include Christmas trees, types of trees, how trees work, and the tree business and environment.
Patricia Weiss has created a video drawing lesson for kids on how to draw evergreens.
EEK! Environmental Educations for Kids has a section on evergreens, including animals that rely on evergreens and a tree guide to identify various evergreen species.
A Story for Arbor Day. At Apple4theTeacher.com, you can read the children's short story "Why the Evergreens Never Loose Their Leaves," by Florence Holbrook. You can find many Arbor Day activities, coloring pages, poems, worksheets, etc., on the same website.
These resources should keep your busy for a while. I know what my family will be doing today.
You might also enjoy:
Source: "FAQ." Realtrees4kids.org, retrieved 8 Dec 2011.
Sara McGrath - Sara is a veteran homeschool mom of three, Usborne consultant, and the author of Unschooling: A Lifestyle of Learning.
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