Sunday, March 13, 2011

Winter Wednesday: Deciduous Trees

I have found it easy not to realize the beauty in a tree without all it’s leaves, blooms, and color.  But after taking the time to really observe the winter trees, I see how the tree’s silhouette is still beautiful.  The shape of the tree, design of the branches, and how the sky shines around them, each one is different. 

We started by observing the tree in our front yard.

American Crabapple

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winter tree silhouette

Big Ladybug enjoyed making a winter tree watercolor.

winter tree watercolor

Here are some photos from our nature walk together.

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This is a book that we enjoyed along with this nature challenge. 

If you would like to add a little nature to your family studies, or even just for some time outdoors together, hop over to Handbook of Nature Study.  Barb has done a wonderful job putting together outdoor challenges that you and your family are sure to enjoy.

3 comments:

  1. Very nice work... love the art and photos! Keep up the good work!

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  2. great job guys!

    Kattie I love how you say that you've found it easy to enjoy the beauty of a tree without all of it's leaves. I remember feeling like their was no beauty in winter, but it's funny how our hearts change when we look for beauty in everything.

    Looking at your winter tree art just reminded me of a great art project I saw recently in The Usborne Art Treasury called winter trees.

    The book has much better directions on how to do this, but this link:
    http://www.abilitiesartsfestival.org/youth_art/ideas07.html

    will give you an idea of what it looks like. Basically you mix some runny brown watercolor paint. Dab a blob at the bottom of your paper. Blow on the blob hrough a drinking straw, so the pain flows up and makes a trunk. Use the end of the straw to pull lines of paint out of the trunk. Blow them into branches.

    We've never done this, but I think it would a fun art project.

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  3. I love the sight of winter trees now as I look at the shapes and the little windows of lights between the limbs. I also like that the birds are more visible.

    Your daughter's journals are always so wonderful. Please tell her that I love to see her artwork and to see her observations.

    Thank you for sharing your OHC with all of us.

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