Explore Native Plants With Your Children
When was the last time that you simply hung out
in your yard, strolled through your neighborhood, or played in
a nearby park with your daughters, sons, nephews, nieces, grandchildren,
or scouts? Studies have revealed that children who spend time
in nature learn an appreciation for it and better understand their
responsibility in preserving the natural environment that we all
live in. Spending time outdoors, investigating plants and animals,
can also have a calming, nurturing effect on even the wildest
child.
Native plants can be beneficial in that they
can thrive without the lawn and garden chemicals (e.g., insecticides,
herbicides) that are so much more dangerous to young bodies. Plants
that are native to Missouri can also grow well with our climate,
which seems to swing from heavy rain to drought. And these plants
are highly compatible with the animals that are native to our
area.
Consider conducting a native plant survey in
your yard, neighborhood, or park. Compare them with non-native
plants, which are sometimes referred to as “exotic,” “invasive,”
or “alien” species.
Materials Needed:
• Pencils
• Paper, for drawing and note-taking
• Rulers
• Digital cameras (optional)
Encourage
your children to discover five to ten plants. Guide them in drawing
pictures, writing notes, or taking photographs to record observations
about each plant:
• What colors are the flowers, leaves, fruits, nuts, etc.?
• How tall is it?
• How long are the petals or leaves?
• What shape are the petals or leaves?
• Are there any animals around or on the plant (e.g., birds, flying
insects, caterpillars, worms)?
Assist your children with reviewing their observations
to identify their plants. Reference books that are useful for
identifying plants that are native to Missouri include:
• Denison, Edgar. Missouri Wildflowers.
• Kurz, Don. Shrubs and Woody Vines of Missouri.
• Tylka, Dave. Native Landscaping for Wildlife and People: How
to Use Native Midwestern Plants to Beautify Your Property and
Benefit Wildlife.
Some Missouri native plant organizations and
their websites include:
• Grow Native! - Missouri Department of Conservation
Website: http://www.grownative.org
• Missouri Native Plant Society
Website: http://www.missouri.edu/~umo_herb/monps/index.html
• Missouri Prairie Foundation
Website: http://www.moprairie.org
Encourage your children to share their findings
with each other (or with you, if you studied your own plants).
Guide them in comparing and contrasting their drawings, notes,
and photographs:
• What native species were identified?
• What non-native species were discovered?
• How are the plants drawn or photographed by each child similar
or different?
Talk a walk, breathe for a moment, and check
out some plants with your children. They’ll thank you for it (sooner
or later).
