de coster] THE BEECH TREE 307 



Observations to precede the story of the beech tree — The beech 

 leaves should be pressed and mounted on a card or they may be 

 traced on paper to impress upon the child's mind that they have 

 toothed margins, straight veins, and a short leaf stem. Note the 

 smooth bark of the tree which is usually dappled light and dark 

 gray; the light gray color of the smooth branches; the long, thin, 

 smooth, pointed buds which hold next year's leaves. 



OUTDOOR LESSON FOR LATE FALL OR WINTER — THE BEECH TREE 

 TELLS THE STORY. 



"Good morning, children," says the beech tree as she nods 

 her branches. "I am very glad to see you again. You see I have 

 lost my green summer dress and am ready for the cold and snow. 

 If I kept my leaves all winter the snow would pack so heavy on 

 them that its weight would break my beautiful branches. Do 

 you not think my gray bark is very beautiful ? Feel how smooth 

 it is, and see the spots on it. I think it is a very neat dress and 

 I think I am quite as pretty as I am with my leaves on. See how 

 tall and strong I am. My wood is very hard, and my branches 

 very strong. See how graceful they are as they sway in the wind." 



"I kept some of my yellow leaves on for I like to hear them 

 rustle in the breezes. Just listen to them. When the snow comes 

 I shall have to let most of them go. But I shall have some new 

 leaves early in the spring. I have them all ready; can you find 

 where they will grow? Are they not beautiful buds, so long and 

 slender? See how tightly their scales overlap like shingles. They 

 keep the cold and snow and rain from getting inside to spoil the 

 little young leaves all folded up there. As soon as it gets warm 

 in the spring the little leaves all folded up will grow and push the 

 scales off." 



"I see you like to walk about on my leaf carpet. My leaf car- 

 pet protects my roots and also hides some of my nuts that the 

 squirrels didn't find. The nuts will sprout next year and become 

 tiny trees." 



"Have you visited my sister trees here on the hillside? They 

 will be glad to see you. All of us beech trees look very much alike, 

 so you can tell us from other trees. I have three sister trees near. 

 See if you can find them all. Come again in the spring and I will 

 show you my blossoms and let you see my leaves unfold and grow." 



Let the children all say good-bye to the beech tree and promise 

 to visit her in the spring. 



