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Plants and trees |
Discovering the properties and uses of different wild and cultivated plants and trees |
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Learn why it is important to have lots of different types of plants and trees, and how different ones are adapted to different conditions or niches (e.g. sun vs shade, wet vs dry) etc. |
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Plants and trees |
Discovering the properties and uses of different wild and cultivated plants and trees |
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Learn about photosynthesis - how plants use the energy from the sun to make wood (carbon) and oxygen (which we breath). |
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Plants and trees |
Discovering the properties and uses of different wild and cultivated plants and trees |
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Describe the uses of local plants and trees. |
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Plants and trees |
Discovering the properties and uses of different wild and cultivated plants and trees |
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Learn about the life cycle of different plants, flowering and non-flowering. |
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Plants and trees |
Discovering the properties and uses of different wild and cultivated plants and trees |
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Lie on the forest floor and look up to see the heavens from the point of view of a tree - seeing the leaves, the wind, etc. Gazing like a tree, see what their day is like, watching the sun, clouds, plants and animals, they sense the world through their leaves and their roots (not through Eyes). If inspired, write a creative piece about what it is like to be a tree. |
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Plants and trees |
Discovering the properties and uses of different wild and cultivated plants and trees |
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Hug a tree with Eyes closed; or sit with your spine against a tree, see how you feel after a short while like this. |
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Plants and trees |
Discovering the properties and uses of different wild and cultivated plants and trees |
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If you were living in the forest, how would you build a home that you love as if everyone in that forest is just waiting for you to come and be part of their community? |
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Plants and trees |
Discovering the properties and uses of different wild and cultivated plants and trees |
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Walk in nature with someone who loves trees and can introduce trees and the plants describing their personalities, likes and dislikes as if it is a character - to make the learning memorable. |
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Plants and trees |
Discovering the properties and uses of different wild and cultivated plants and trees |
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Plant a tree and look after it e.g. mulching, harvesting, feeding, water, looking for pests/disease. |
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Plants and trees |
Discovering the properties and uses of different wild and cultivated plants and trees |
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Be able to spot disease/infection in a tree. |
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Plants and trees |
Discovering the properties and uses of different wild and cultivated plants and trees |
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Identify some support species e.g. plants that help to fix nitrogen, or accumulate nutrients like phosphorous. |
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Plants and trees |
Discovering the properties and uses of different wild and cultivated plants and trees |
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Identify different plants which can be poisonous to eat directly or dangerous to touch. |
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Plants and trees |
Discovering the properties and uses of different wild and cultivated plants and trees |
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Identify different native plants and know their uses (e.g. nettles for soup or making string). |
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Plants and trees |
Discovering the properties and uses of different wild and cultivated plants and trees |
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Identify and eat different edible plants which are growing in the garden (whether planted or spontaneous). |
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Plants and trees |
Discovering the properties and uses of different wild and cultivated plants and trees |
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Do a detailed plant study: Spend some time connecting to a particular plant, looking at it, drawing or painting it. Notice where it is growing and how it changes through the seasons. Then research it, where it likes to grow, what uses it has etc. |
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Plants and trees |
Exploring and naming plants and trees |
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Give plants and trees names - so that they become unique individuals and the children feel a personal connection - they can even make name signs for their plants (e.g. Mark the Marrow or Grandfather Tree). |
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Plants and trees |
Exploring and naming plants and trees |
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Play with different types of seeds e.g. blow seed puffs, and play with burrs sticking in clothes |
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Plants and trees |
Exploring and naming plants and trees |
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Invent a ceremony for planting that welcomes the plant in its new home, thanks it and offers it love and reassurance that you will take care of it. Use songs, poems and/or dance in the ceremony. |
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Plants and trees |
Exploring and naming plants and trees |
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Take care of a plant - e.g. a tree you have planted, by asking the children questions to help them connect to the plant's needs "Look at the plant, I wonder why it's leaves are drooping down. What can we do to make it feel better?" |
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Plants and trees |
Exploring and naming plants and trees |
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Before touching a tree, close your Eyes and imagine love filling your Hands. Touch the tree with your loving Hands and try to listen to what the plant is telling through your Hands. Remember that trees don't have voices and ears but communicate through feelings. Can you feel the tree communicating? |
