How to do Botany in 

Extremely Cold Climates

Though Exploring Creation with Botany was designed to include primarily indoor activities, there are a few lessons that are best done when the outdoor world is green. For most people, this does not require a change in the sequence of the book. For some, the cold weather hits early and plant life seems to disappear for months. Because you will create an indoor greenhouse structure, you will be able to grow and experience plant life all year long. However, there are a couple of chapters that are more enjoyable when the student can encounter the flora in nature. Because of this, I have created an altered schedule for doing Botany in extremely cold climates. Some of the chapters are cumulative and must follow other chapters. Others are not as cumulative and could be done out of order.

You will find a one-year schedule and a half-year schedule below (both halves represented). Ideally, doing the book in one year allows for the least amount of juggling the chapters and the greatest retention. However, I have provided this for those wishing or needing to complete the study in half a year.

Before choosing a schedule, allow me to briefly explain the lessons and any relevant information about each.

For older children, Lesson 1 should be done first. For younger students, you can read the lesson and explain the general idea to them. Lesson 1 explains the study of Botany, classification, and the different plant groups that will be covered in the course. Lesson 2 covers seeds. This should be done before doing Lesson 3 or 4, the flower section. It is wonderful to do the flower section before the first freeze, as studying flowers up-close adds to the student's learning. Lesson 5 is about the fruits that flowers produce. This is great to study in the Fall, as that is when they are present, though some plants will produce fruits in the Spring and Summer as well. The fruits are usually littered upon the ground in the Winter. Unless the world is under a thick covering of snow, you could do Lesson 5 anytime. Lesson 6 is about leaves and must be done when leaves are present. This lesson should be scheduled as the second lesson you will do, before seeds and flowers. Lessons 7 - 10 are about roots, stems, trees and gymnosperm. These lessons work quite well in any season; roots and trees are best done in Winter. Lesson 11 and 12 are best done in the Spring, Summer or Fall as sporangia are usually not prevalent in the Winter. Lesson 13 is about nature journaling and can be completed any time during the year.

  

 

 

August: Lessons 1, 6

September: Lessons 2, 3

October: Lessons 4, 5

November: Lesson 7

December: Lesson 8

January: Lesson 9

February: Lesson 10

March: Lesson 13 (This could be inserted anywhere between November and March)

April: Lesson 11

May: Lesson 12

 

 

August: Lessons 1, 6, 11

September: Lessons 12, 2, 3

October: Lessons 4, 5, 7

November: Lessons 8, 9

December: Lessons 10, 13

 

 

January: Lessons 1, 2, 13

February: Lessons 3, 4, 5

March: Lessons 7, 8

April: Lessons 9, 10

May: Lessons 6, 11, 12