UNSCHOOLING DIY: BOTANICAL EXPERIMENT FOR MY BOY
Sometimes we face different phenomena and things and never think WHY and HOW they happen. They are around us every day, and they just have become a part of our routine, thus we don't notice them and don't think of these processes.
Nevertheless, some of them are so interesting and useful to know!
For example, this very experiment helped me to know some news about nature! I am a grown up, but belive me, I never think of it and never knew why it happened.
Do you know why pice cones are open and closed sometimes?
I never thad a thought about it! But unschooling for my son is my second education as well;))
For this experiment we need:
- some pine cones
- a glass
- water
- some hours of waiting
We found some pine cones in my son's room. Actually, there is nothing weird in it, cause he always bring home some stones, cones, sticks etc. It's his own treasures;)
We both didn't know what would happen with a pine cone if it would be put into the water.
And we did it.
At first we made it in the evening, and in the morning we saw.... an absolutely closed pine cone! It looked young and fresh!
I was sure we needed the whole night for the process of closing.
The next try was made in the morning, and....already in 1 hour the pine cone was closed!
It needs just 1 hours to close all its "doors".
We were surprised but happy we saw it.
Then we found the explanation, why it happened:
The thing is a pine cone makes it for saving its seeds! When it's too dry, and it's ready to share seeds and give them away to wind to be blown anywhere, it's opened completely.
When humidity is high, it's closed to save seeds for better times.
How wise our nature is!
We both liked this simple but so useful experiment that gave us more understanding of natural processes.
What a cool way to learn this fact!🌲
I imagine Vlad was amazed seeing his cone opening and closing, and how natural changes influence it. This experiment can be a starting point for many science lessons.
oooh how I am glad to see you again!!:)
oh yeah he had WOW reaction and widely opened eyes;))
Many different species of conifers (trees with pine cones) exist. There are a great many different conditions that cause pine cones to open and close, depending on the specifics of the environment the different species live in. Desert species like Bristlecone Pines (which are said to grow over 5000 years old!) may only open when there is water present, so the seedlings won't just cook in the dry dust but have a chance to grow (I am not saying this is the case for Bristlecone Pines, but stating a hypothetical case using them and their environment as an example). I have read that the Jack Pine's cones only open from a fire hot enough to reduce potential competitors of it's seedlings to ash, which also fertilizes the soil in which their seeds land.
What a wonderful experiment to perform on the species you have locally!
Thanks!
wow I didn't know reasons can be different. so we have a wide field of experiments to do;))
thank you for attention!
I really liked the experience you had with your son, a beautiful and simple way to learn. You have given me a great idea to teach my little boy, he is fascinated by nature. It is also a fun way to share knowledge and at the same time get out of the routine of technology. Great job
thank you! I like so simple experiments that anybody can do just at home, they really can teach us a lot!
Nature is quite the genius for sure! A lot of people think humans are the most intelligent but that’s simply not the case. So many wonders of the world are out there that we have no idea about! Really cool experiment here, glad you and your son learned on this one!
I love these pineapples! At home I have several that I collected on a trip to Trujillo, here in Venezuela and I always use them to decorate this Christmas season with my girls.
I liked what you said about them in terms of being closed and why it opens. Interesting!
Greetings and blessings.