Blog Archives
Guided Hike ~Sundew Trail~
Guided Hike ~Sundew Trail~
May 13, 2011
I was looking around on the Beaumont Community Calendar hunting for something to do with the family when I saw there was going to be a guided hike on the Sundew Trail. I was excited, we had just studied about carnivorous plants in Science and the Sundew Trail had the Pitcher Plants and the Sundew plants which are both carnivorous. Although we had been to the Sundew Trail before it was in the fall and with the change of the seasons each trail can offer new and interesting things to study.
When we arrived at the trailhead no one was there. The hike was suppose to start at 10 A.M. so we waited a little while. The kids occupied themselves taking pictures of random critters around the pavilion.
“Birds and the Bees” of a Flower
“Birds and Bees” of a Flower
May 5, 2011
Working in our Exploring Creation with Botany we had a project to “dissect” a flower.
At first we tried with small flowers. That was way to hard so we went to my moms and swiped a couple flowers from her to get some that was large enough to take apart accurately.
Botany Test ~Monocots and Dicots~
Botany Test ~Monocots and Dicots~
May 5, 2011
Being the “not so typical school” that we are, when we test we usually end up with something like this:
After reading in our Apologia Science Book “Exploring Creation with Botany” Lesson 2 ~Seeds~ and learning about monocots and dicots we needed to see if the kids understood what we went over. So out to a hiking trail we went!.
A monocot has a single cotyledon (seed part) like a piece of corn and a dicot has two parts like a bean. If the seed is not present you can look at the leaves to tell; monocots have parallel veins running vertically along the leaf (like grass) and a dicot has the “net” of veins spreading out from the main center vein (like most plants have). Monocot’s flowers usually have petals in sets of threes, where dicots have petals in sets of fours or fives.
“OK we are ready!” I don’t think I have to worry to much about them “freezing up” before a test!
Springs, Swings, and Things
Springs, Swings, and Things
May 3, 2011
Boykin Springs is one of our favorite places to visit for a quick hike. Today we went because a friend of mine had asked if we knew the condition of the park so of course I went to check it out. You know me, any excuse to hike!
A picture of me and my baby boy. I fussed at Stewart for never getting a picture of me and Adam.
Roadside Botany
Roadside Botany
April 6, 2011
Ever since spring “sprung”, I have been wanting to go looking at the beautiful flowers that decorate the roadsides along our East Texas highways. I wanted to do it as part of our homeschooling. It is important to me that our children care about nature and find a passionate love for it. Our science classes are based on nature more than anything.
It took us three days to get enough pictures so that I was satisfied with the variety and I still did not get all of the local flowers. I know, I probably can’t identify them all correctly but I did try my best. I hope you enjoy having science class with my family and I as you read this blog.
Before we ever left the front yard we digitally captured the beautiful Wisteria bush that is growing beside the gate. I love the sweet fragrance of these grape-like clusters of purple flowers as it floats on the breeze when I sit under our pergola
Oh Happy Daze 