Signs of Spring

Signs of Spring

Spring is a wonderful time of year
to observe the changes in nature.

This activity gets kids outside
to learn about the process of
spring tree growth.







What You Will Need:

• Trees
• Notebook or Journal
• Pencil
• Yarn
• Tree identification Guide Book
• Flower Press Kit or phone book
• Accordion Book Template (optional)
• Colored Pencils (optional)

What You Do:

• Take your children outside and have them locate a tree in your yard that has not yet begun to produce leaves. Tie a small length of yarn around a branch to mark it as the branch that will be observed over the next several weeks. You may want to use different colored yarn for each child, to help them remember which tree they are observing.
• Record your observation of how the branch looks. Does it have swollen buds yet? If so, can you count how many? Draw a sketch of the branch and use colored pencils to color your drawing.
• Visit your tree each day, and record any changes. When the leaf buds begin to form, record the size of the buds in your notebook. Make sketches of how the buds look at each visit. Are all the buds on the branch the same size? Are some buds opening before others?
• If you would like to create a timeline book of this growing process, collect a sample of the buds at their various stages. These samples can be pressed using a flower press, and then glued into your notebook, journal, or our Accordion Book Template (this template makes a perfect book for keeping a timeline). Make sure to record the date the sample was taken in your notebook, along with each sample.
• Continue visiting your tree on a daily basis until the tree leaves are fully emerged. Most trees will leaf-out within three weeks or less.
• Use a tree identification guide to help identify the type of tree you are observing.

Variations:

• If you have a digital camera, you may want to take pictures of your tree branch each time you visit and observe. The pictures can then be studied indoors and used to make a timeline of the leaf-out process of your tree.
• If daily visits are not possible, we recommend visiting your tree at least every other day.
• While observing your tree, include observations of other signs of spring. For example, record insects or birds observed in the area.
• Observe more than one kind of tree! Choose several different kinds of trees and watch the leaves appear. Which tree produces leaves first? Which tree has leaves that change more quickly than the other trees?
• When recording changes in your notebook, make notes of the rate of change. For example, from day 1 to day 2, perhaps the bud didn't appear to change very much. However, maybe from day 10 to day 11, the bud burst open and is now a small leaf. Record weather conditions such as temperature and rainfall to see if these factors seem to influence the rate of leaf change.

One-Step Further:

• If you have enjoyed watching your tree spring back to life, try our Celebrate a Tree activity! This activity includes a free printable notebook to help you record information about your favorite tree.