Teachers' Corner 



The whole object of a tree is to develop its fruit, therefore much 

 stress should be placed upon the fact when teaching about the 

 nuts which interest children as much as they do squirrels in the 

 autumn. 



Each kind of nut is protected differently from any other, 

 and is different in form, and each has its own way of finding a 

 place where it can plant itself and grow successfully. The follow- 

 ing are suggestions for studying the more common nuts. 



The Chestnut 



Where on the branch is the bur borne? How does the green 

 chestnut bur look? Why is this prickly exterior beneficial to the 

 fruit? Does the bur open easily when green? What causes the 

 chestnut bur to open? Into how many lobes does it open? 

 Describe an open bur outside and in. 



Where in the bur are the chestnuts set? How many in one 

 bur? How can you tell by the shape of the chestnut whether 

 it grew as a twin or single in a bur? Are there ever three in a bur? 

 If so, what shape is the middle one? Do the burs fall when the 

 chestnuts are ripe? 



Take a single chestnut. Describe its shape and color. What 

 is the mark on its large end? Describe the coloring and covering 

 of the tip. Open the shell and note the lining. Describe how the 

 meat is finally protected. Can you see where the germ is? Plant 

 a chestnut and watch it grow. 



The Hickory Nut 

 Describe the outer husk of the nut. Into how many sections 

 does it open? Does it cling to the nut and fall with it to the 

 ground? Is the nut angled and pointed, or is it roundish and 

 without angles? Is the kernel sweet or bitter? 



The Acorns 

 Describe the acorns which grow on your oak. Has the acorn 

 a stem, or is it set directly on the twig. How much of the acorn 

 does the cup cover? Are the scales on the cup fine or coarse? 

 Is the cup rounded inwards at its rim? What is the length of 

 the acorn including the cup? The diameter? Are there acorns 

 on your oak in winter? If so, why 5 Is the kernel of the acorn 

 sweet or bitter 5 Plant an acorn and watch it sprout. 



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