Outdoor Hour Challenge - More Nature Study #1 Milkweed

Welcome to the first challenge in the new series of Outdoor Hour Challenges! I will be posting one new challenge each Friday and you are welcome to jump in and work through the challenges as you have time. You can post your blog entries at any time and then send me the link for the Outdoor Hour Challenge Blog Carnival entry that will post on the last day of the month. I look forward to seeing your autumn nature study and sharing our family's experiences as well.

More Nature Study 
Challenge #1 Milkweed (or any other autumn blooming plant)

Where to find it? Showy Milkweed and Common Milkweed

Showy Milkweed in Bloom Earlier In The Summer

Inside Preparation Work:

• Read in the Handbook of Nature Study pages 491-493 (Lesson 128) on the milkweed plant. Glean some ideas from Lesson 128 for your milkweed observations. This plant is still in bloom in many areas of the country but even if it is past bloom, the seed pods should be present and a wonderful nature study lesson all on their own. Lesson 128 in the Handbook of Nature Study gives some interesting suggestions for observations.
• If you have a field guide for wildflowers, you may wish to look up milkweed in the index to learn more about your local milkweed.

Outdoor Hour Time:

• As part of your Outdoor Hour this week, look for milkweed to observe.
• Make observations of the flowers, the leaves, and/or the seed pod. If it is appropriate, break off a leaf or cut a stem to see the rubbery “milk”. Did you see any insects on or near your milkweed?
• If you don’t find milkweed, check for other fall blossoming wildflowers to observe like: Jewel Weed (Lesson 134), Late blooming Goldenrod (Lesson 132), or Asters (Lesson 133).

Follow-Up Activity:

• Give the opportunity for discussion of the Outdoor Hour time and the details of your milkweed or wildflowers nature study and then follow-up with a nature journal entry, a notebook page, or a coloring page (ebook users) to finish your nature study for the week. Note: If you downloaded the September 2011 Outdoor Hour Challenge Newsletter, you have a custom notebook page to use along with any weed study.
• Advanced follow-up: Compare the seeds of the milkweed, the dandelion, and/or the cattail.
• Advanced follow-up (Ebook users only): See the Upper Level notebook page for suggestions for additional research. Use the blank notebook page to record your information.

You may also be interested in taking a look at my Autumn Squidoo Lens for additional ideas across the curriculum. I list autumn themed poetry, autumn paintings by great artists, and autumn inspired music to listen to on YouTube. I have also updated the lens since last year with additional links for easy autumn nature study projects.