FALL LEAVES A LESSON ABOUT CANADIAN TREES

Fall leaves are everywhere. Remember as a kid we needed to collect the leaves so we could label them to learn about Canadian trees. Put between two pieces of wax paper then ironed to give them a waxy finish. Put on bristle board and the science lesson achieved. Could it still be an activity with the young grandchildren to learn about the trees? Probably!! MAPLE, OAK, PINE, BIRCH would be some of the local ones. What do you have in your area?

NANA SAYS FALL MEANS GATHERING LEAVES WITH THE LITTLE ONES

Teaching our children about nature can happen in many ways. As the trees start to change colour here in Ontario, I was reminded of a favourite childhood activity. In school and home, we would gather a variety of leaves from different trees to make a poster board of leaves or put some in a big book to be pressed over the next copy of months. A favourite technique was to take a leaf, put it between two pieces of waxed paper and press with a hot iron- of course the adult did it. Those waxed leaves could be taken to school to use in the Fall themes. Knowing Canadian trees is still good general knowledge for our children. Gathering the leaves helps to identify which leaf comes from which tree. So my grandchildren will help Nana get leaves from the Oak, Elm,  Maple, Plum, Pear, Ash, Pine trees in my yard or on the other yards nearby. Since I have lots of waxed paper to use, we can revitalize an old tradition. The little ones love collecting the pinecones from the various coniferous trees in my yard. There can also be a little lesson about the Boreal Forest in Ontario. Which trees stay green all year and which ones lose their leaves in the Fall? Of course, just helping them to look and see the beauty in the beautiful Fall colours. Or another old tradition- rack a big pile of leaves and let them jump in them! Sometimes children do not care what kind of leaf it is!

FALL COLOURS ARE EVERYWHERE

A trip to the city on a fall day, is abound with the colours of the season. Nature against concrete and marble makes an interesting contrast.

Mums from the farm add ambience to city streets. It made me contemplate about integrative thinking. Was someone trying to illustrate its principles? Have you found some incongruous situations? If so, don't they make interesting photos?

LIFE FLIES BY

Like a blur sometimes. Days turn into weeks, weeks into months, and the years- well it seems like yesterday sometimes instead of years ago that some events happened. Even when life gets a little blurry, if we stop and look closely we still can see the forest for the trees.

THE PINE CONE

Wherever there are coniferous trees, there are pine cones of different sizes and varieties. For some gardeners they are a nuisance. For the crafter, they are an endless source of material for a abundance of craft ideas. Many Christmas wreaths contain pine cones with colourful accessories
or they are the accessory. Plain, painted or tied with a bow- pine cones become not only
a Christmas but a winter ornament. They can be used as the base for a name card on your holiday table. A basket containing pine cones makes a simple and quick decoration. Any craft store or craft sale will have a bag of pine cones to buy at an inflated price. Folks in older times used all these pine cones creating their festive environment. The real pleasure is the joy of collecting them. A walk by a small woodlot with trees will provide enough pine cones for many projects. Small children love to touch, feel and play with them learning about nature in a simple and experiential way. During the summer months, collected and stored until ideas blossom of what to do with all the pine cones! The potential is endless. If the supply is greater than the demand, pine cones burning in your winter fireplace are equally as pleasuable. Many family memories have pine cones in the picture. Do you use these natural elements in your home? Holidays? Do you have memories with pine cones and happy moments?