Pinecone Weather Station
Ages 18 months-4 years
It is a perfect time for a walk as fall approaches! No matter your age, nature walks can be a great chance to practice science in a fun way. It is an especially valuable way to introduce very young children to scientific inquiry. Today, we are going to be setting up a science experiment with pinecones.
Pinecones are interesting because huge pine trees grow from the tiny seeds that are hidden inside the cone. Since the seeds are so small and vulnerable, the pinecones predict the weather, waiting for the right temperature and setting before they release the seeds. The small seeds will be carried by the wind on a nice day, and not sprout right next to the large tree. When it will be cold and rainy, you can see the pinecone scales (the little bristly parts on the outside) close. When it will be warm and sunny, they open so that the seeds can escape, travel on the breeze, and sprout far away. They do this before the weather has shifted!
