Library Learning Patch - Children Discovering Nature

Week 15 - Insects

This week we began the session by celebrating the birthday of one of the members. What fun--we had two kinds of cake and ice cream.

Happy Birthday!

Then it was learning time. This week's lesson was about insects. The book, The Very Clumsy Click Beetle, was read to the group.

This book has sounds!

The children learned that insects have 6 legs, have three main body parts, and have their chewing apparatus on the outside of their bodies.

Learning about insects

They learned all about why insects are so numerous. They then took their magnifying glasses to the garden and searched for insects. Luckily, they did not find the dreaded squash bugs. Our bay leaves and petunias are working so far.

We harvested a few squash and a lot of peppers this week. The tomatoes are numerous, but not quite ready.  They will be ripe soon.

Nutritious vegetables



Library Learning Patch - Children Discovering Nature

Week 14 - Trees

The children began their study of trees this week. We read The Life of Bud and How The Forest Grew.



The life cycle of a leaf

Describes how a forest regenerates

The children learned how to count rings to tell the age of a tree. The wider rings signify years of good nutrition. The dark rings form in fall and winter; the lighter rings form in spring and summer.

Count the rings!

Our sunflowers are beginning to bloom, the peppers continue producing, the tomato plants are loaded!

Sunflower bloom just beginning to open!

Tomatoes will be ready soon!

Next week we will continue learning about trees-identifying trees by shape of leaves and bark.

Library Learning Patch - Children Discovering Nature

Week 13 - Grass and grass-like plants--continued

This week the children enjoyed hearing the book, Jack's Garden, as they ate their snack.

They learned all about dicots--di refers to the leaves inside the seed. Various plants were passed around and the parts examined--taproots, flowers, and leaves. Dicots grown in their garden include, peas, cabbage, tomatoes, peppers, basil, and sunflower seeds.  Sunflower seeds are used for oil, snacks, and animal food.

Learning about dicots

Then, out to the garden to weed, water, and harvest while learning about dicots. Our crops are progressing nicely.

Wow!

Eager to work!

We'll soon have tomatoes!

Yellow squash

Our basil

Cucumber blooms

The children harvested the remaining onions and lettuce, as well as more sugar snap peas. They are looking forward to seeing the sunflowers bloom.

Check in next week to see more progress!

Summer Reading Club

It is that time of year when school is almost over and our young readers begin to ask: "When does the reading program start?"  

Here is the announcement you have been waiting for!

2012 Summer Reading Club

VOTE FOR BOOKS!

June 11 - July 13

Sign up anytime beginning  June 11 

Last day to sign up: July 9

You may log in books every day,

but only once a day,

and only 3 books at a time.

The program will conclude with the traditional party

at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, July 13

We will have tickets for the General Store

stocked with all new goodies!

Library Learning Patch - Children Discovering Nature

Week 12 - Grasses and Grass-like plants

This week's lesson was about grasses as well as monocots and dicots. Samples of all were passed out. The children learned to differentiate between dicots and monocots. Monocots have parallel veins. They also learned about reeds and sedges--"Reeds are round, sedges have edges" was the slogan for the day.

Monocot or dicot??

Learning about grasses-hands on

The book for the day was The Empty Pot.

Then it was harvesting time! This week's vegetables were sugar snap peas, onions, and cabbage.

Sugar snap peas!

More sugar snap peas!

Our First Cabbage

Our squash are looking good--so far no squash bugs--maybe our petunias and bay leaves are working! Some should be ready for harvest next week. Wish us luck! Stop by and take a look at the garden!!

Library Learning Patch - Children Discovering Nature

Week 11 - Peppers, Sugar Snap Peas
Hard work pays off! This week, after a short game illustrating how everything on the earth is interrelated, the children headed out to the garden. Our harvest is just beginning. They picked lettuce, a few sugar snap peas, and some bell peppers. Yummy! There will be more next week--we have baby tomatoes and squash also. Of course, weeding is ongoing!!

Bell Peppers

Vine Ripened Tomatoes Soon

He's serious about his weeding!

We also planted a pot of flowers to brighten the entrance to the Library.

Adding the potting soil

Vincas

We should have a nice harvest in the weeks to come. Stay tuned!!