I'm a nut!
Time length: 30 -40 minutes

Materials
A collection of trees seeds and nuts. A gathering location that includes a flowering tree or shrub with plenty of blossoms, or ripening fruit to share. During May, use a wild plum or crabapple at the Arboretum.

Activity Walk
While walking,look for signs of flowers, seeds and fruits. Discuss how trees are different than herbaceous plants (thick bark, tall, woody stem). Gather the group in front of the blooming or fruiting shrub or tree.

~ Ask the group: "What is your favorite fruit to eat that comes from a tree?" Have everyone give an example of a tree fruit; usually apples, peaches, or cherries.

~ Bring out the collection of fruits and nuts. Keep it hidden and ask the group "I have a bag of fruits in my bag - what kind of fruits do you think I have?" Show them the nuts and seeds. Emphasis that every time a plant makes a package that contains a seed - that package is called a fruit. Pass around and name the acorns, walnuts, black locust seed pods and other tree seeds - they are all fruits.

~ Pick a single blossom from the fruit tree and tear off the petals to find the immature fruit inside, pass it around. If there are enough blossoms, have everyone pick one flower to find the baby plum or apple on their own. Work with the groups individually to find the fruit. Identify the pollen, pistils and stamens if they are present.

~ Teach the group the acorn song. Sing the song as an example, they have the group repeat each line to learn the tune. Sing the song together for a final rendition!

I'm a little acorn brown
Lying on the cold, cold ground
A squirrel came along and buried me
Now someday I'll be a tree.
I'm a nut, (click click) I'm a nut (click click)
I'm a nut I'm a nut I'm a nut. (click click)
(The clicks can be finger snaps, tongue clicks or the students can bang buckeye nuts together or shake locust seed pods.)