Rose Plants

There was one science concept I had put on hold until the spring/summer and that was plants. This summer we decided to tackle that subject just in an everyday sort of way. Originally we planned to plant a garden - well a wet and rainy spring and little time has thwarted that idea but we have found an alternate route to studying plants. We joined an arboretum and attend weekly - if not more. Some people look at me strange for thinking of bringing the kids there but they truly love it and will wake up and ask to go there. The flowers are beautiful, they have some hands on activities for the kids, and we can walk around outside, look at, smell and touch beautiful things. There are many interesting things to draw and to learn about and best of all their favorite question "What's that" can be immediately answered as most plants and flowers are labelled - bless them!

We had a class with our homeschool group there and we just explore and talk ourselves during our visits. To make it a bit more fun and educational when we were walking through the rose garden one day I asked the kids to each pick a particular rose plant or bush and claim it as their own. I encouraged them to pick one that was not yet blooming (very difficult to convince Rhiannon of this) so we could observe and watch it through the year. They each picked one and we took pictures and made observations about the plant in the stage it was in. Observing the different leaves and buds and development of the flowers. Each week we check in with the same plant, take new pictures and make new observations. When they see the roses at their peak I think they will be most excited - yet when they look back and discover they watched the plant through its development I think that will be exciting too. Then each can develop a little book or something for their particular plant for keepsake. It is fun, easy, very educational and they enjoy it. I think it has also helped give them some sense of ownership and desire to return to the arboretum regularly. You could do this anywhere with any plant that has not bloomed yet.

Peace,
Tenn