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Click on each month for a world of activities and fun...
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WOW! HERE'S A TON OF WONDERFUL ACTIVITIES TO DO EACH
DAY OF THE MONTH.
WE HOPE YOU'LL KEEP COMING BACK FOR MORE FUN AND
INFORMATION EVERY CHANCE YOU CAN!
PERHAPS YOUR TEACHER, PARENT, OR OLDER BROTHER OR
SISTER CAN HELP YOU GATHER SOME OF THE MATERIALS YOU
NEED OR HELP YOU DO SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES.
MAYBE YOUR CLASS, BROWNIE TROOP, CUB SCOUT TROOP, 4-H
GROUP, OR A GROUP OF FRIENDS WOULD LIKE TO DO SOME OF
THESE ACTIVITIES TOGETHER.
DECEMBER KIDS ACTIVITY CALENDAR
December 1
Stuff a Pillow with Cattail Fluff
Around this time of year, the cattails bordering ponds and swampy areas are ready
to disperse their seeds. On windy days, you can see the cigar-shaped tops of the
plants bursting at the seams, sending seeds into the air. Doesn' t it look a little
like the stuffing coming out of a pillow?
You can gather a few handfuls of these seeds and actually stuff a pillow with them!
Dress for wading (wear your waterproof boots), and bring along a bag to hold the
fluff. When you get home, make a small pillow from tightly-woven fabric just large
enough to be puffy when stuffed. Cut two pieces of fabric the same size and place
them together, with the " right" side of the fabric to the inside. Stitch
along three sides of the pillow; turn the pillow right-side out. stuff with the cattail
fluff and sew the opening closed.
It' s amazing how many parts of the cattail plant can be used. Much of it is edible.
Even the leaves can be put to use. they can be woven into mats and baskets, and chair
seats.
December 2
Make Some Note Cards
It' s nice to stay in touch with friends and family living far from home, and what
better way than with a home-made greeting card? Cards that have a nature theme are
especially nice.
If you would like to make a lot of cards all at once, you can speed things up by
printing with vegetables. Cut some simple shapes from potatoes. Use them to print
patterns on folded note cards, or compose a landscape with a couple of different
shapes.
You can make cards with cut and torn paper, too. Make a winter scene with some pale
blue for the sky, a torn strip of tan for some hills in he distance, and leave the
rest of the card white, like a snow-covered field. Combine cut paper and potato printing
for even more possibilities. You can also make our own thank-you notes wish a special
theme or symbol that is important to you.
To simplify your card-making, complete one step on all the cards before going on
to the next.
December 3
Create Pressed Flower Pictures
With the flowers and leaves you pressed during the year, you can create some delightful
artwork. Framed pictures, bookmarks, and note cards are fun to make.
Gather together all of our pressed plants to see what you have. You' ll also need
paper (or folded notes), white glue, and clear adhesive-backed vinyl (for the notecards
and bookmarks). Practice arranging some blossoms and leaves. When you are happy with
your design, glue the plants in place with a spot of glue.
If you are framing your pictures, make them in standard sizes (5" x 7"
and 8" x 10" for instance) so that you' ll be able to find frames for them
easily. Protect those arrangements on note cards and bookmarks with the clear vinyl.
Cut a piece slightly larger than your artwork and press it down carefully. Trim off
the extra around the edges. Place the artwork between two sheets of paper and press
with an iron set on the cotton setting, for 2 to 3 minutes. (Have your parents help
you with the iron).
December 4
Make Decorations from Natural Materials
Decorations you craft from natural materials can be given as gifts, or hung in your
own home. There are so many lovely things to make. Here are a few ideas to get you
started...
Decorate pinecones with sequins and gold and silver balls glued to the scales. Make
miniature wreaths from tiny hemlock cones glued to cardboard shapes. Tie bundles
of cinnamon sticks (mmm. . .smells good!) with velvet ribbon. Add sprigs of dried
herbs for an extra nice ouch. Make tiny pomanders from limes!
Make some festive " snow" covered cones to hang or wire to wreaths. Wind
some wire around the cones and dip them into wallpaper paste. When the paste feels
tacky, dip the cones into white laundry powder. Shake off the excess. Let dry before
you decorate them with some ribbon.
Everyone loves to string popcorn and cranberries, but have you ever made a garland
from strawflowers (an everlasting annual)? String the blossoms on strong thread one
after another, making sure they all face the same way for an even look. What other
ideas can you come up with?
Cone Crafting
Cones lend themselves to a number of uses. With a little glue and imagination, you
can turn them into all sorts of comical figures.
Make a jolly woodland clan. You can hang these people, or make them stand. (To keep
the cones upright, glue the fat ends of the cones to small circles cut from cardboard,
or make bases from modeling clay.) Make heads from acorns (he tops make good hats!),
chestnuts and wooden beads. Fashion arms from pipe cleaners. Clothe your people in
bits of felt and paper.
You can make some fanciful birds from cones, too. Different shaped cones with suggest
different birds. Add real feathers to the cones, or make some from tissue, crepe
and construction papers. Hang some birds horizontally (they' re flying!); others
can be made to perch.
December 5
Make a Cone Wreath
Cone wreaths are a lot of fun to make, especially if you have collected some different
types of cones. Handled with care, the wreaths will last for years.
You can either wire or glue our cones to wreath forms. Wiring works best with specially
constructed wire forms. You need bendable wire, cutters, and a pair of pliers. Gluing
is done with hot glue (so have your parents help you). The nice thing about glued
wreaths is that you can make the forms out of cardboard cut into any shape. Go with
a donut, or make a heart, or any shape you like.
Spray the cones with water several hours before you begin. They will close up, making
them easier to work with. Start with the largest cones and place them evenly around
the wreath. Fill in the empty spots with more cones, using smaller ones to make the
wreath three-dimensional. Add nuts and pods as accents. Let the wreath dry completely
(the cones will all open); spray with a coat of clear lacquer.
To get the sticky pitch off cones, place them in a warm oven until the pitch melts.
Rub the cones with a cloth.
December 6
Bring Potted Bulbs Indoors
The bulbs you potted for indoor blooms should be ready to come indoors now. Place
the bulbs in a bright, but cool (45 degree to 60 degree F) location. Avoid putting
them in direct sunlight. Water them well.
When some green growth appears, move the pots to a sunny location (still cool, if
possible). They will begin to bud and show a little color. When this happens, place
the plants where they best be enjoyed. The blooms will last longest if the plants
are kept out of the sun.
December 7
Tie Up Pomanders
By now, the pomanders you made earlier should be dry and properly cured. Take them
out of their tissue wrapping and shake the excess orris root/spice mixture off.
Cut a piece of ribbon narrow enough for the space left by the masking tape. Choose
satin or velvet ribbon for a rich look. (Select a dark color if the pomander will
be a gift for a man.) Wrap the ribbon around the pomander like you wrap a package,
crossing the ribbon at the bottom. Tie a bow with a double knot.
The pomanders you don' t wish to hang can be arranged in a pretty bowl or basket.
Include gift cards with your pomanders. Write down that they should be hung in closets
or put in dress drawers to give clothing a pleasant scent.
December 8
Package Your Potpourri
Making your potpourri is only half the fun. Packaging it creatively is great fun,
too!
There are all sorts of containers you can use for your potpourri. Clear glass jars
filled to the brim are especially nice. The potpourri really stands out -- you hardly
have to do more than tie a ribbon around the lid and add some dried herb and flower
sprigs (add some whole rose buds when you' re packaging Rambling Rose). Or
look for a small basket with a lid. Weave some dried flower stems in and out of the
lid. (Make a handle for the basket from a bundle of cinnamon sticks for Spice
Delight.)
Be creative with other potpourri blends, too. A coconut shell half could be filled
with a tropical blend; a balsamy scent would look nice in a lidded basket decorated
with greens or stenciled. Shells, cones, seed pods, and dried flowers and grasses
of all sorts can be used to decorate lidded boxes, baskets, and jars.
December 9
Examine Frost on a Window
Have you ever looked closely at the frost on a window? Frost forms in beautiful fern
and feather-like patterns. Do you know what causes it to form?
When the cold outside air comes in contact with the warm inside air, at the glass
itself, it freezes. This once common occurrence is seldom seen nowadays because most
windows have double panes of glass, or are protected with storm windows.
You can encourage frost to form by leaving a storm window up a bit and making sure
that your windows aren' t scrupulously clean! Frost patterns usually start around
an irregularity on the surface of the glass and spread outwards.
Another place to look at frost patterns is on the windows of your car (if it' s kept
outside, and not in the garage.) Look closely at the patterns before you scrape the
frost off.
December 10
Be Aware of Wind Chill
You' ve probably heard someone warn, " You can' t always believe what you read!"
Well, that goes for the temperature, as well. You can' t always believe what the
thermometer reads!
Thermometers can' t measure one factor that contributes greatly to the cold, and
that is wind. As you can see in the box below, cold temperatures plus wind equal
even colder temperatures! During the winter months, many weather forecasters warn
of the dangers of wind chill. And right they are.
While an outside temperature of 30 degrees F is tolerable, that, combined with a
brisk wind of 25 miles per hour would make the perceived temperature more like 0
degrees F. Brrr!
Remember to keep the wind chill in mind, and dress accordingly.
December 11
Put on Some Warm Natural Fibers
For warmth and comfort, clothing made from natural fibers, such as wool and cotton,
can' t be beat. Natural fibers let your skin breathe, but they are also good at trapping
warm air close to your body.
Wool does this especially well. Take a close look at some wool yarn. Each fuzzy strand
helps create a barrier to trap your body heat. Cotton can be made warmer in this
way, too. Have you ever noticed how warm cotton flannel is?
The more layers you put on, the warmer you get. But too many layers. . .and you can
hardly move around! This is where down comes in handy. The downy feathers used to
stuff outerwear (and comforters and pillows) trap a lot of air without much weight.
So dress warmly when you go out to play. And keep in mind that more than 50% of human
body heat is lost through the head, so wear a hat!
Wear a layer of cotton under wool if you find the wool too itchy.
December 12
Brew Some Birch Tea
How about a nice cup of tea to warm you up? Did you know that you can brew a delicious
tea from the twigs of the birch tree?
The sweet birch (also known as the black or cherry birch) makes the best tea. Its
crushed twigs (and leaves) give off a strong wintergreen scent. Wash and break a
handful of twigs and steep them in boiling water for about five minutes. Strain the
tea through a fine-mesh strainer. Sweeten with honey, if you like, and enjoy one
of nature' s warming treats.
If there aren' t any sweet birch trees growing near you, brew up some tea with wintergreen
leaves themselves. The wintergreens include a number of different plant species.
(All, as you probably guessed, stay green year-round.) Look for checkerberries, the
low-growing plants found in sandy woods and clearings, that bear red berries. You'
ll know you' ve found the right plant when you crush a leaf between your fingers.
What a delightful smell!
Or look for the spotted wintergreen. Its mottled leaves have a pronounced white stripe
along the mid-vein. A closely related plant that has plain green leaves is known
as pipsissewa. This is a Cree Indian word that means " it-breaks-into-small-pieces,"
which refers to the Indian belief that the plants help break down kidney and gallstones.
December 13
Make a Cloud with Your Breath
Did you know that when you see your breath on a chilly day you are making clouds?
Short-lived clouds, certainly, but clouds none-the-less!
The warm vapor coming from your nose and mouth condenses quickly when it hits the
cold air around you. It' s momentarily visible before it breaks apart.
December 14
Make a Draft Dodger
Brrr! Some days it' s too cold to spend much tie outdoors. Luckily, it' s nice and
cozy inside your house. But keeping your house warm takes a lot of fuel. What can
you do to help conserve heat? Make a draft dodger!
A draft dodger (or stopper) will keep warm air from leaking out of heated rooms.
(Warm air is constantly being drawn towards cold air. When your parents shout, "
Don' t let all that cold air in!" they really mean " Don' t let all that
warm air out!" ) Make a draft dodger to place across thresholds and window sills
that lose a lot of heat.
Choose some tightly-woven fabric. Cut a piece 6" wide by at least 4" longer
than the threshold or sill it will span. With the right side of fabric folded to
the inside, stitch the fabric lengthwise, and across one end. Turn the fabric right
side out and fill with sand. Sew up the open end. There you have it! Put your draft
dodger in place. No more draft!
December 15
See if any Animals have Moved into Your House
Your nice, warm house is an open invitation to various small animals that neither
migrate nor hibernate. Do you suspect that any have moved in?
Mice are the most common uninvited house guests. Depending on where you live, you
might find shrews, rats, bats, and even squirrels moving right on in! These creatures
seem capable of entering homes through the tiniest cracks. Some make themselves right
at home within walls and ceilings.
Have you ever heard them chattering and running about late at night?
the patter of little tiny feet isn' t too much of a bother, but when mice start spoiling
food and leaving their droppings as they go, something has to be done. Use humane
traps to capture these wily critters. Peanut butter works well as bait. Keep the
animals for a day or so before returning them to the wild. Let them go, far away
from your home (or anyone else' s!); otherwise they' ll be back in your house before
you know it.
December 16
Participate in the Christmas Bird Count
In late December ever year, bird lovers of all ages pool their efforts and count
all the birds they can find throughout the United States (and part of Central and
South America.)
This event is known as the Christmas Count, and thousands of people participate.
Small groups are assigned a circular area 15 miles in diameter (177 square miles.)
On a single day of their choosing (within a sixteen day period), the groups note
how many birds are living in their prescribed circle. This information makes its
way back to the National Audubon Society, which hopes to learn as much as it can
about birds.
Ask at a local nature center or science museum if there are any groups you might
join. Even if you don' t know all the birds by sight and sound, you may be able to
help in other ways. A birding event such as this is quite an experience!
December 17
Make a Gingerbread Forest
ÎTis the season to be baking . . .! And nothing smells more inviting than gingerbread.
This year, bake a gingerbread forest scene, complete with trees, flowers, and woodland
animals!
You need a batch of gingerbread (have your mother help you find a recipe), some royal
icing (this is the hard kind that cements the pieces together), and an assortment
of candies that can be made into flowers. Shredded wheat and flaked coconut also
come in handy.
Cut animals out of the dough using cookie cutters, or trace around basic shapes you'
ve cut out of cardboard. Trees can be cut out, or three-dimensional ones can be made
by cutting smaller and smaller circles of dough. Stack the baked circles one atop
the other, separating them with a spot of icing or a small gumdrop. Spread lightly
thinned icing like snow, adding coconut for texture. Make some fanciful flowers sticking
out of the snow; shredded wheat looks like dried grass! Let your imagination run
wild, and have some fun!
December 18
Gather Some Greenery
Ancient people held evergreen in high esteem. To them, these plants (just by being
green during the winter) held the promise of spring renewal, and were considered
very special.
You can gather your own greenery to carry on the tradition. Depending on where you
live, you can gather balsam fir, pine and hemlock boughs. Avoid spruce boughs because
the needles are painfully sharp. You may also come across some holly if you live
in the southern part of the United States.
Keep the greenery outdoors until the last minute, if possible. Spray the boughs with
water now and again to keep them looking their freshest. You don' t need much to
make our house look festive. Use some to make wreaths; use the rest in a number of
creative ways.
Decorating with evergreens can be as simple as dumping an armload of boughs in a
big basket! You can use even little pieces in some surprising ways.
Help make your house look festive by tucking greenery in all sorts of places. Slip
a few pieces behind mirrors and paintings on he walls; gather up some handfuls and
hang them from the catches of all your windows.
Don' t forget to add some greenery to your room, and the bathroom! The high moisture
level will keep the greens looking fresh for weeks.
Make lots of little wreaths to hold back curtains (slip the curtains right through
the holes.) Make an arrangement to put on the dinner table. What other ways can you
think of using evergreens to bring the sight and smell of nature indoors in winter?
Think of it as " green magic!"
December 19
Make an Evergreen Wreath
Evergreen wreaths are a traditional wintertime decoration. You can easily make your
own! You need some evergreen boughs, a wire coat hanger and a roll of fine gauge
wire.
Untwist the coat hanger and form it into a circle. (You can make a smaller wreath
by scrunching down the hanger and forming a double-wire circle.) Cut the evergreen
boughs into uniform lengths. Gather two or three pieces together. Place them on the
wire circle, and wrap some wire around one end. Flip he wreath over and wrap another
bundle on the other side. Continue wiring bundles of greenery to first one side and
then the other. (Don' t cut the wire between bundles.) Work around the circle until
you reach the beginning. Tuck the last bundle under the bushy part of the very first
bundle you put on.
This makes a full wreath that can be hung from either side. Add some cones, if you
like, and a bright bow!
December 20
Look for Some Mistletoe
Mistletoe can be found growing throughout the United States. It' s a parasitic plant
(one that gets it nourishment from another plant) that grows in rounded clumps on
tree branches. Fortunately it doesn' t harm the trees it grows on.
Mistletoe is usually only hung up at Christmastime (watch out, someone might try
to kiss you!), but long ago it hung in homes all year long. It was thought to ward
off evil spirits, and bring good luck to friends, and peace with enemies.
The plant figures in many Norse legends, Greek and Roman myths and Druid rituals.
Most likely all these stories served to explain why the plant flourished in the dead
of winter when so many other plants appeared lifeless.
Look for mistletoe growing on the branches of deciduous trees that get full sun.
The white berrylike fruits are covered with a sticky substance that is poisonous
to people, but that doesn' t bother the birds in the least. Cedar waxwings and bluebirds
are among the birds that eat the fruits.
December 21
First Day of Winter!
The first day of winter falls on or about the 21st of December. It is, in the northern
hemisphere, the shortest day of the year. It is also known as the winter solstice,
a day when the sun seems to stand still in the sky. (The summer solstice is its opposite,
falling on or about June 21.)
The seven days before and after the winter solstice are known as the Halcyon Days.
Long ago it was thought to be a time of peace and quiet in nature, when animals and
birds stayed in their dens and nests.
For many people, this is a welcome day. Little by little they will watch the days
lengthen, bringing spring! But that' s a long way off, and winter is a wonderful
season. Familiar landscapes take on a magical quality when they are blanketed in
snow. If you dress properly, there' s nothing to prevent you from spending time outdoors,
playing and exploring.
Ancient peoples made huge bonfires on this day to encourage the sun to shine throughout
the long winter months. You can honor the solstice this way, too. Ask your parents
if you can have an indoor fire tonight; or one in a fireplace indoors. Or at least
light some candles!
Draw up near the fire and read one of the winter stories or poems. Winter is full
of wonders!
December 22
Read a Story or Poem About Winter
What is your favorite thing about winter? Do you like the quiet that descends with
the snow? Or do you like the challenges the season presents?
The Guest from Owl at Home
Arnold Lobel (story)
I Heard a Bird Sing
Oliver Herford (poem)
Up North in Winter
Deborah Hartley (story)
Winter from The Four Seasons
Jack Prelutsky (poem)
Winter Clothes
Karla Kuskin (poem)
Winter Harvest
Jane Chelsea Aragon (story)
December 23
See How Nature Figures in Christmas Customs
Many Christmas customs pay tribute to plants and animals and nature in general.
Animals are given special privileges during the holiday season. Farm animals all
over the world are given extra rations -- in the Czech Republic, a part of each course
of the Christmas dinner is shared with the animals. In Denmark, suet and bread are
hung from the trees for the birds; in rural areas sheaves of grain are lashed to
poles.
Plants also figure in many customs. In some countries, trees are sprinkled with food
to insure a good harvest the following year. In Costa Rica, the Christmas season
begins with the orchid harvest; in Mexico the poinsettia figures in many celebrations.
In many countries the appearance of the evening star on Christmas Eve signals the
start of the festivities, in honor of the star that guided the three wise men to
the stable in Bethlehem. Light itself is important, symbolizing the light of warming
fires, and welcoming lanterns. The Yule log, set ablaze on Christmas Eve (from the
remains of last year' s log) dates way back in time when bonfires were lit to encourage
the sun to overcome the powers of darkness.
And not everyone celebrates Christmas, of course. Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that
takes place every year some time during November or December. Hanukkah, also known
as the Feast of Dedication and the Festival of the Lights, commemorates the victory
of the Jews over the Syrians over 2,000 years ago.
For each of the eight days of the celebration, candles are lit in memory of the sacred
oil in the Jewish temple that miraculously burned for eight days (even though there
was only enough oil to burn for one day.) The candles are held in a candelabra called
a menorah that has nine candle holders - -one for each night, plus one for the Shammash
(" servant candle" ) which is used to light the others. There is much feasting
during Hanukkah, as well as game playing and an exchange of presents.
Less widely known is a relatively new holiday started by some African American communities
in the 1970s. It is called Kwanza, and is based on African harvest celebrations.
The holiday runs for seven days, from December 26 to January 1.
December 24
Make a Straw Star
The wise men who journeyed to Bethlehem were supposedly guided by a star that mysteriously
appeared in the sky. Astronomers have puzzled over what star this could possibly
have been. They have reached no conclusions, but that hardly matters! The star will
always be an appropriate symbol.
You can cut stars from paper, or you can make some six-pointed stars from straw (thought
to have magical powers of its own!). You can also use slender twigs. Cut three pieces
of straw the same length (4" to 6" is good), and cross one piece over another
in the middle. with some colorful yarn or string, wrap these two straws together;
then add the third. With a different colored yarn, wrap around each of the six spokes
in turn, going completely around each straw before continuing on o the next. Continue
wrapping the spokes until each is wrapped about 6 to 8 times. Tie the yarn on the
back of the star, making a loop to hang the star from a window or ceiling.
December 25
Merry Christmas!
This is a joyous time of year for a lot of people. Traditions that have been passed
down for centuries add meaning to a special time for sharing.
Start your own family traditions that include activities everyone can join in. Adopt
some of the customs that include nature and wildlife, too.
Sing carols that celebrate nature. The Holly and the Ivy and The Friendly
Beasts are two traditional English carols you may know. O Tannenbaum (O
Christmas Tree) is a German carol about a very special tree!
Set the dinner table in an unusual way. Do what' s done in Poland and the Czech Republic,
and spread some hay on the floor and even under the tablecloth, like a stable.
Make sure to get outdoors at some point. Bring some scraps from the table for the
birds. Warm up by the fire with a cup of herb tea. Offer to feed the animals at a
nature center. The little things you do together, and for others, will make the day
a very memorable one.
December 26
Warm Up With Some Herb Tea
A nice cup of herb tea is just the thing after an outing on a cold winter' s day.
Herbs have been steeped in water and savored for centuries -- often for their medicinal
value. Nowadays, most people drink herb teas because they are simply delicious!
You can find all sorts of herbal teas in the supermarket, but you can brew your own
teas from herbs you have grown and harvested yourself. Many herb teas are a blend
of two or more dried herbs, but some of the best teas are made from just one herb,
such as mint or chamomile. Add a spoonful of dried leaves (or flowers, in the case
of chamomile) to a cup of boiling water. Let steep for about five minutes, then strain
through a fine-mesh sieve. Sweeten with a bit of honey, if you like.
Experiment with blending different herbs (and spices) to make other teas. Check the
labels of herbal teas in your supermarket for the ingredients that make up some of
the commercial blends. And don' t forget another natural treat, birch tea.
December 27
Trim a Tree for the Birds
Carry on a centuries-old tradition and put out some special treats for the birds!
Decorate a tree in your yard with edible ornaments.
Make the tree especially festive for the holiday season. Use cookie cutters to cut
out shapes from stale bread, and spread them with peanut butter. Hang them from the
tree with cotton or wool yarn (it will eventually decompose, or be used by the birds
to build their nest come spring.) Hang pretzels from the branches, or even donuts!
Scooped-out orange halves can be filled with seed or suet and hung. When you take
down our indoor Christmas tree, remember to save any edible decorations to add to
the birds' tree.
What other ways can you think of sharing the holiday spirit with wildlife?
December 28
Donate Some Time or Money to Help Nature
Would you like to give a lasting gift to nature? You can! You can spend some of your
time, and some of your allowance, helping support groups that are concerned with
wildlife and the environment.
This is a good time of year to give both time and money. Many nature centers and
zoos have small staffs that care for all the animals. They only get time off if volunteers
offer to help feed the animals and keep an eye on things (especially over the holidays.)
All the efforts made toward preserving land, saving endangered species and promoting
an understanding of nature take money. Millions of Americans donate money each year
to pay for these projects, but more is always needed. Donations are usually tax-deductible
-- your parents will know how that affects them.
This may be the best tradition you and your family can adopt -- giving what you can
to the groups that are working so hard to protect the earth and all its inhabitants
for generations to come.
December 29
Recycle Your Christmas Tree
Don' t forget that you can recycle your or your neighbor' s tree in a number of ways.
First off, put any edible ornaments (cranberry and popcorn garlands, and cookie ornaments)
outdoors for birds. Then decide what you want to do with the tree itself. The simplest
thing is to set it in a corner of your property.
Many animals and birds will use it for shelter. (Point this out to your parents if
they object!) You can also strip the branches from the tree and use them to protect
your garden plants.
If you haven' t had a chance to count the rings of a tree yet, do so now. Saw the
trunk straight across for a clear view. Most conifers are 8 to 10 years old when
they are felled and sold as Christmas trees. How old is this tree?
December 30
Look Back at Your Nature Discoveries
Now is a good time to look back (with the help of these activities) to see what you'
ve learned about nature this past year. Can you believe all the things you did?
What were some of your favorite projects? Where did you enjoy exploring the most?
If you weren' t able to finish some of the projects suggested throughout the year,
maybe you can finish them now. If you didn' t get a chance to get to the beach, or
to the mountains, ask your parents if you can plan a trip to one of these places
next year. All of these excursions make good family outings.
What is the most important thing you' ve learned about nature this year?
Are you still scared of snakes? Well, that' s okay, as long as you know that you
don' t have to fear most of them!
Do you see beauty in a spider' s web? Do you see how everything in nature fits together
like a jigsaw puzzle? Do you know that you are one of the most important pieces?
December 31
Make a New Year' s Resolution
Do you make New Year' s resolutions every year? And do you keep them? Well, this
year you can make a resolution that you can keep. Resolve to respect and enjoy
nature in the years to come!
The fate of the earth, and all living things on it, is in human hands. Your hands!
You and your family, and all your friends and their families, must do your part to
keep the earth a healthy place to live. But the rewards for your hard work and care
are great. The enjoyment you' ve gotten from discovering plants and animals you never
knew existed is yours forever!
The pleasure of drinking from a bubbling brook, or smelling a rose, is one
you can have year after year.
Whether you live out in the country or in a city, every morning the sun is there
to greet you. Every night the stars come out to shine. Every spring the flowers burst
into bloom. There' s magic everywhere! Each new day when you step outside your door,
look around you and say, "This is my home!"
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