Bursting Buds

Trees buds, though actually formed during the previous summer, begin to swell and open the following spring. Until the buds start to open they are covered by scales, specialized leaves that keep the miniature leaves inside protected until they are ready to grow.

Go outside and go on a nature walk around your schoolyard or neighborhood. Look for buds on trees and shrubs. Do the buds still have their scales? Are they starting to open? Compare buds from several different types of trees and shrubs. See if you can identify the different parts of the buds and twigs.

Have each student choose a tree. Visit the tree weekly to observe the buds and to cut a bud open. Dry the buds each week and mount chronologically so show the bud development and growth.

For more fun ideas and the full activity use Project Learning Tree’s “Bursting Buds”.

Young Child Extension
Take children on walk to look for buds on trees, and shrubs. Do any of the plants have new leaves or flowers? Do any of them have buds? What do they look like? Describe them (color, texture, size). What do you think the buds will grow into? What do you think they will look like? Make plans to periodically return to the plants that have unopened buds over the next few weeks to watch for new growth.

Collect twigs with buds from plants that have been pruned. Using plastic knives encourage the children to take the buds apart. Provide magnifying glasses. Questions to ask: What do you think the buds will grow into? Leaves or flowers? Why? What do the plant materials smell like? Feel like? Describe the inside of the buds. What do you think would happen if we put the twigs with buds in water? Try putting a few of the twigs in water. Observe what happens.

For more great ideas use Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood’s “Bursting Buds”.

Book List
Grades PreK-2
Behn, H. and J. Endicott. 1994. Trees. Henry Holt & Company, Inc.
Bernard, R. 2001. A Tree for All Seasons. National Geographic Society.
Blackaby, S., and C. Delage. 2003. Bud and Blossoms. Coughlan Publishing.
Bourgoing, P. 1992. The Tree. Scholastic First Discovery Books.
Burnie, D. 2005. Plant. DK Publishing, Inc.
Burns, D.L. and J.F. McGee. 1996. Berries, Nuts, and Seeds (Take-Along Guide). T&N Children's Publishing.
Burns, D. and L. Garrow. 1998. Leaves, Trees and Bark (Take-Along Guide). NorthWord Books for Young Readers.
Canizares, S. and P. Chanko. 1997. Look At This Tree. Scholastic, Inc.
Charman, A. 2003. I Wonder Why Trees Have Leaves and Other Questions about Plants. Houghton Mifflin Company.
Dixon, M. 1998. Plants around Us. Smart Apple Media.
Downden, A.O. 1984. From Flower to Fruit. Thomas Y. Crowell Co.
Eckroat, L. W. 2009. The Life of Bud. Tate Publishing & Enterprises, LLC.
Gibbons, G. 2002. Tell Me Tree: All About Trees for Kids. Little, Brown Young Readers.
Gibbons, G. 1984. The Season of Arnold’s Apple Tree. Voyager Books.
Gove, D. and M. H. Mallory. My Mother Talks to Trees. Peachtree Publishers.
Hewitt, S. 1999. Plants and Flowers. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Kalman, B. 2000. What Is a Plant? Crabtree Publishing Company.
Lyon, G. 1996. ABCedar: an Alphabet of Trees. Scholastic Inc..
Orme, H. 2003. Why Do Plants Grow in Spring? Gareth Stevens Audio.
Royston, A. 2001. Plants, Flowers, Fruits and Seeds. Heinemann.
Saunders-Smith, G. 1997. From Bud to Blossom. Coughlan Publishing.
Schwartz, D. M., and D. Kuhn. 1998. Plant Blossoms. Creative Teaching Press, Inc.
Worth, B. 2006. I Can Name 50 Trees Today!: All about Trees. Random House Publishing Group.

Grades 3-5
Behn, H. and J. Endicott. 1994. Trees. Henry Holt & Company, Inc.
Bernard, R. 2001. A Tree for All Seasons. National Geographic Society.
Blackaby, S., and C. Delage. 2003. Bud and Blossoms. Coughlan Publishing.
Bourgoing, P. 1992. The Tree. Scholastic First Discovery Books.
Burnie, D. 2005. Plant. DK Publishing, Inc.
Burns, D.L. and J.F. McGee. 1996. Berries, Nuts, and Seeds (Take-Along Guide). T&N Children's Publishing.
Burns, D. and L. Garrow. 1998. Leaves, Trees and Bark (Take-Along Guide). NorthWord Books for Young Readers.
Canizares, S. and P. Chanko. 1997. Look At This Tree. Scholastic, Inc.
Charman, A. 2003. I Wonder Why Trees Have Leaves and Other Questions about Plants. Houghton Mifflin Company.
Dixon, M. 1998. Plants around Us. Smart Apple Media.
Dow, L., S. Addario, and R. C. Carolin. Incredible Plants. Time-Life Custom Publishing.
Downden, A.O. 1984. From Flower to Fruit. Thomas Y. Crowell Co.
Eckroat, L. W. 2009. The Life of Bud. Tate Publishing & Enterprises, LLC.
Gibbons, G. 2002. Tell Me Tree: All About Trees for Kids. Little, Brown Young Readers.
Gibbons, G. 1984. The Season of Arnold’s Apple Tree. Voyager Books.
Gove, D. and M. H. Mallory. My Mother Talks to Trees. Peachtree Publishers.
Greenaway, T. 2000. Plant Life. Raintree Publishers.
Hewitt, S. 1999. Plants and Flowers. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Julivert, M.A. 1993. Life of Plants. Chelsea House Publishers.
Kalman, B. 2000. What Is a Plant? Crabtree Publishing Company.
Lyon, G. 1996. ABCedar: an Alphabet of Trees. Scholastic Inc..
Orme, H. 2003. Why Do Plants Grow in Spring? Gareth Stevens Audio.
McEvoy, P. 2003. Plants. Chelsea House Publishers.
Miller, D. 2003. Are Trees Alive? Walker Books for Young Readers.
Notkin, L. 1997. The Magic School Bus Gets Planted: A Book About Photosynthesis. Scholastic Paperbacks.
Royston, A. 2001. Plants, Flowers, Fruits and Seeds. Heinemann.
Saunders-Smith, G. 1997. From Bud to Blossom. Coughlan Publishing.
Schwartz, D. M., and D. Kuhn. 1998. Plant Blossoms. Creative Teaching Press, Inc.
Spilsbury, L. 2002. Plant Parts. Heinemann Library.
Stewart, M. 2003. Plants. Capstone Press.
Worth, B. 2006. I Can Name 50 Trees Today!: All about Trees. Random House Publishing Group.
Wyatt, V. 2000. Wacky Plant Cycles. Mondo Publishing.

Grades 6-8
Arnosky, J. 1992. Crinkleroot’s Guide to Knowing the Trees. Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.
Cassie, B. and M. Burns. 1999. Trees. Scholastic, Inc.
DK Publishing. 1992. Plants. DK CHILDREN.
Garelick, M. & Brenner, B. 1979. The Tremendous Tree Book. Four Winds Press.
Howell, L. 2002. World of Plants. E.D.C. Publishing.
Kershner, B., et al. 2008. National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Trees of North America. Sterling Publishing.
Parker, R. 2003. Introduction to Plant Science: Revised Edition. Thomson Delmar Learning.
Massa, R. 1997. Breathing Earth. Steck-Vaughn.
Simon. S. 1973. A Tree on Your Street. Holiday House Inc.
Silverstein, A. 1998. Photosynthesis. Lerner Publishing Group.
Staub, F.J. 2004. Photosynthesis. Creative Company.
Walker, Alan. 1999. A Leaf in Time. Portland Press.

Grades 9-12
Farndon, J. 2002. 1000 Things You Should Know about Plants. Mason Crest Publishers.
Greenaway, T. 1999. Plant Kingdom: A Guide to Plant Classification and Biodiversity. Raintree Publishers.
Heinrich, B. 1998. The Trees in My Forest. HarperCollins Publishers.
Kershner, B., et al. 2008. National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Trees of North America. Sterling Publishing.