I have needles but no thread. I have cones but no ice cream. I have bark but no bite. What am I?
This is the start of the wonderful article Ubiquitous Conifers at the Minnesota Conservation Volunteer magazine's site.
If you happen to be studying conifers in your homeschool, this would be a perfect supplement to your studies. Like many of the magazine's articles, the full article is online and includes information about conifers, a guide to different types of conifers (such as pines, spruces and cedars), fun facts and more.
Using this piece as an example of the lesson plans, here's what you'll find:
The well written piece also contains fun information like this note about "ubiquitous":
*This great word ubiquitous applies to right-handed people, Labrador retrievers, salt and pepper shakers, cell phones, and mosquitoes as well as conifers. If you don't know what it means, look it up. Then use it! People will love hearing you say "you-bick-weh-tess."
But wait, there's more! You can click on the classroom activities to download a PDF lesson plan full of ways to extend the lesson:“Ubiquitous* Conifers” introduces the reader to 10 conifer trees native to Minnesota. Students learn physical characteristics, where species are most commonly found in Minnesota, plants and animals sharing a tree’s habitat, and commercial uses for several species.
This particular lesson plan is suitable for intermediate through middle grades. It covers reading and literature, writing, art, life sciences, Minnesota history, geography, speaking and listening, spelling, vocabulary and more.
The guide includes web resources, extension activities, study questions with an answer key, vocabulary guide, study cards and resources.
Interested in a different kind of plant? Check out the list of articles and teacher guides related to plants here.
Interested in a lesson plan about something completely different? There are lots more at the MCV's Young Naturalists page, including:
- Amphibians and Reptiles
- Insects
- Seasons and Systems
- Birds
- Mammals
- Curiosities
- Plants
- Outdoor Fun
- Fish and Water Creatures
- Additional Classroom Resources
The magazine is available for free, and you can subscribe under your child's name to make it even more appealing. Even without the magazine, the web site is a fabulous source of fun nature-related ideas for your homeschool.
