Simple K at h l e e n
of
H e h i r
1
Simple Steps of Nature This is the first in a series of children’s books. The first is designed for children who have a basic understanding of the written word. It is a work book on nature. Simple Steps gives the child an understanding of this wonderful world that’s all around us, getting to know the trees, birds, animals, plants and wild flowers. The first series is a fun and easy way of finding and learning all about the natural world. The child will need a bit of help from an adult and will be outdoors always for this book. It is a way of getting fresh oxygen into their lungs getting exercise and keeping them away from computers phones and television. The idea for this book Simple Steps of Nature has been going around in my head for quite some time. But it came to the fore because of my two beautiful grandsons. As they grew and began to take their first steps. I would take them for little walks in the woods and meadows it was wonderful to see the joy of seeing the world again in the eyes of a one and a two-year-old. It brought me back to the time when I would walk with my father and he would tell me all about the plants wildlife and the properties of the wild flowers and plants. And a love for the trees. So here I was passing on the knowledge to the two boys, and they loved it, one day Lochlann was out for a walk with his play school class when he began eating a plant that we regularly came across and eat. The teacher said not to eat it. She said he would poison the whole class. He said Granny Kathleen eats them all the time and she’s not dead yet. From that funny story, I was thinking to myself it would be great if the young children could learn more about the world of nature around them in an easy and safe way. In a manner that is simple and fun out in the fresh air for them to appreciate the value of our wonderful countryside that we live in. Word of caution do not pick or eat anything without showing it to an adult first.
The simple steps of nature This is the start of a big adventure. You will need a small bag A Sheet of white paper for rubbings. Pencil. and a tape measure. Magnify glass (optional) You will need the pencil to use on the white paper for rubbings on the bark of the trees. The bag is to collect leaves and fruits and seeds of the various trees and plants that you will be asked to collect for this book. Tape measure is to measure the trunk of some trees. In some pages of the book you will be asked to use your power of observation to spot things in the picture giving you hints about the seasons. When you have completed this series, you will find a certificate at the back of the book. Bring it to your local library or to the store where you bought the book they will sign or stamp the certificate for you. You will have the first Simple Steps of Nature done. Have fun.
2
Horse chestnut tree Look at the picture below the leaf has Coarse -toothed leaf with 5/6 leaflets the fruit is a nut and has a common name called a conker. it is shiny brown in colour. You can play games with this. Ask a grown up about this conker. And what fun they had with it when they were young.
To collect on this page 1 leaf from a Horse-Chestnut tree 1 nut Write where you collected (these leaves) and nut(s). ________________________________________ What colour is the sky? _______________________________________________________________ Are there clouds in the sky? ___________________________________________________________ What season of the year was it? ________________________________________________________
3
Daisy
Blooms in spring collect flower and stem. Leaves are spoon shaped and are white and yellow in colour. The name Daisy came from the old name Day’s Eyes as the flowers open at dawn and close at night or in dull weather like fog or rain.
Write Where you picked them? __________________________________ Can you guess how many are there? ________________________________________________________ Have a go at counting them you will have great fun with that idea they are a lot of them together, have a guess anyway. What season did you pick them? ____________________________________________________ Who was with you? ________________________________________________________ Ask them if they made anything with the flowers when they were children. Did you see any insects? ________________________________________________ 4
The Dandelion flower and leaf This flower has the Sun Moon and the Stars. It’s flower is yellow for the sun the puff ball is like the moon and the seeds when you blow on them looks like the stars in the sky. Fun to try. The bees love this flower.
Write where you picked this flower. ________________________________ Did you like the smell __________________________ What season was it ______________________________________ Who was with you when you picked this them? ____________________________________________
5
Find a tree that has been cut down
Count the annually rings on the tree that will give you the age of the tree. Write down the number of rings and do a rubbing of the rings using your pencil and paper. ___________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ Where you found this tree. ____________________________________________________________ Were there many more trees cut down in that area. _________________________________________ If you know the name of the tree write it down.
In the next series, you will find out more about the annual rings it is a very good way to find out all about trees soil and weather. Well done you have now completed the first in this series. Take this workbook to your local library or into the store where you bought it and they will stamp the certificate for you. Your teacher at school can also sign it for you or put the school stamp on it. The certificate can be found at the back of this book. The next series which is called Simple Steps of Nature 2 will be a bit more challenging. Hope you enjoyed filling out this workbook.
22