My Best ‘Bud’
There is so much you probably don’t know about all your best buds!
No, not your human friends- but your tree friends! Have you ever looked closely at tree buds?
What are buds?
Trees contain tiny leaves, stems, and sometimes flowers locked inside a waterproof casing called a bud.
Unlock all the mysteries of buds for yourself by performing an observation and dissection!
Simply cut off a bud from a branch
(preferably off one you find on the ground)
Then dissect the bud
(we recommend using your fingers first and then a tool like a scissor or knife if needed- be sure to have adult supervision if sharp tools are used)
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Pictured here is a sneak peek from our LearningwithOutdoors Learning Magazine all about Trees!
This is just one of our learning activity pages to help children engage with trees while learning!
Learn more about our Learning Magazine below..
Types of Buds-
A bud can be:
Lateral or Terminal
Lateral meaning it grows alongside a branch
Terminal meaning it grows at the tip of a branch
Flower or Leaf
Flower buds are rounder and plumper
Leaf buds are skinnier and more pointed
Types of scars
Leaf Scars or Bud Scale Scars
Leaf Scars are indentations (typically a different color than the branch) almost like a human scar on a body!
Bud Scale Scars are small lines going completely around the branch (this shows the branch’s growth from the previous season!)
See what you can find in the bud picture!
Bud Experiments:
Observe a bud through the seasons: have children choose their favorite twig (twig is a small branch) /branch filled with buds and have them tie a string to it. Every month (or more frequently as bud begins to burst) have the children bring a journal to record and observe their special bud. Children will enjoy seeing the changes the bud undergoes through the different seasons.
(Skills: observational, drawing, patience, science, & writing )
2. Grow your own bud: cut a twig/branch with buds off of a tree (or preferably find one that has fallen)and place it in water. Treat it as an experiment and allow children to come up with a hypothesis, track any changes, and record final results.
(Skills: scientific method, predicting, observational, & writing )
3. What is in your bud? Let children guess what they think will be in the bud by working to identify the type of bud it is and what kind of tree/bush it is from. Then dissect it to see if they are indeed correct.
(Skills: predicting, researching, identifying, & fine motor )
Get ready for the release of our very first:
‘Explore More’ Learning Magazine!
Our Learning Magazines are almost entirely black and white for easy printing & can be assembled with one simple staple! Each magazine will be something children can either do on their own, in a small group, or with an adult (parent, teacher, etc.). We do not specify an age recommendation for the learning magazines because the prompts will be open-ended for children to explore at their own developmental level.
So what is in each Learning Magazine?
Spaces for brainstorming and reflection
Academic/creative outdoor learning activity pages (these pages are aids to get children to be hands-on and engaged in nature by guiding them to make observations, record measurements, write thoughts/creative expressions, make plans, and do experiments)
There will be an activity page to help children of all ages be a ‘Tree Detective’ and find out who is using trees near them!
A new curiosity to help spark children’s wonderment and encourage them to be curious about their world
A fun page filled with nature-based games, puzzles, or riddles
A creativity focused page for children to express themselves creatively
“Perfect for: homeschooling, teachers wanting to incorporate more nature into their curriculum, guided self-learning, learning extensions, and curious nature-minded children.”
This first learning magazine is now available in our SHOP
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