The Outdoor Hour Winter Series #5 Pine Trees

A view from The Lake
Yes, I was actually standing on a Great Lakes
when I took this picture.

This week we went to the Lake to study Pine Trees.
We took a small detour onto the Lake itself,
it was tons of fun, but we all froze our little bums off.



Three little Popsicles

Sugar Plum Rock collecting Z train in a crevasse

Jo Bean trying not to smile Moca showing off his new find


In an Ice Cave pretty cool!


We found some color in the snow

The Challenge#5: Spend 15 minutes outdoors this week with your children in your own yard or on your own street. This week you will have two suggested activities. If you have a pine tree of any variety in your yard or on your street, use the ideas from the lesson on page 674 and 675 to guide your observation of the pine tree.

Here is what we found...

The Ten Common Pine Trees of North America

eastern white pine
western white pine
sugar pine
red pine
pitch pine
jack
longleaf pine
shortleaf pine
loblolly pine
Virginia pine


We found this pine a short walk from the shore


Here are the needles


And here is one of the buds
It will become a pine cone in the spring


And this is a baby pine of the same variety

We answered these questions...

• What is the general shape of the pine tree?
• Z train: "A puffy triangle shape."
• Is there one central stem running straight up through the center of the tree to the top?
• Jo Bean: "Yes, but it isn't exactly vertical."
• What color is the bark?
• Moca: "Brown and green."
• Is the bark ridged or in scales?
• Z train: "Ridged, but kind of smooth too."
• Study the pine leaves. Why are they called needles?
• Moca: "They look just like sowing needles."
• How many needles in the bundle?
• Jo Bean: "Some have four, some five all clumped together."
• Does it have a cone?
• Z train: "No, but there is a bud."

After researching pine trees
we think this is an eastern white pine


Weather Statistics for February 9, 2010

Sunrise: 7:27 AM
Sunset: 5:49 PM
10 hrs and 22min of daylight-tomorrow will be 2 minutes longer
High temperature: 27 degrees F
Low temperature: 26 degrees F
Winds: From the East Northeast at 8 mph
Precipitation: 1 in. 100%
Pollen Count: No Activity
Moon Cycle: waning crescent with 16% of the Moon's visible disk illuminated

*If you'd like to learn more about Outdoor Hour Winter Series just click the icon at the top of this post.