Starting around the end of March through the end of April, the wildflowers are in full bloom in Texas. We like to take this time to pack a picnic lunch and head to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, TX for a visit and we always have a wonderful day. This is a great time for nature notebooking. And don’t forget your field guides and field packs! Here are some great books to read and fun activities to do while out exploring wildflowers, especially in the hill country of Texas during Spring!
READ ALOUD: Miss Lady Bird’s Wildflowers: How a First Lady Changed America
ACTIVITY: Here is an activity pack Miss Lady Bird’s Wildflowers Activity Kit by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center to go with the book Miss Lady Bird’s Wildflowers: How a First Lady Changed America
WEBSITE: www.wildflower.org
WEBSITE: www.kidsgardening.com
READ ALOUD: Miss Rumphius
READ ALOUD: Bloomin’ Tales: Seven Favorite Wildflower Legends
READ ALOUD: The Legend of the Bluebonnet
The Bluebonnet Girl
POEM: This is a nice poem about the Legend of the Bluebonnet.
The Legend of the Bluebonnet
The Texas fields are covered
With a blanket of deep blue.
But for a little Indian girl,
This would not be true.Texas land was buried and dry.
Rains just would not come.
Indians danced and prayed for rain,
And beat upon their drums.The Chief made a proclamation.
He appealed to one and all.
A prized possession must be sacrificed
Before the rains would fall.The Indian camp was silent,
While each person searched his heart.
But when it came to sacrifice,
With possessions they would not part.Suddenly a little girl stepped forth,
Holding her blue-clad doll.
She placed it in the roaring fire
and raindrops began to fall.The rain brought forth the grass,
Among its blades, flowers of blue.
To be a sign for all the time
Of a love so pure and true.– Author Unknown
MUSIC: I have always loved this song to go along with the Legend of the Bluebonnet. Click the lyrics to link to the song…
Bluebonnet, bluebonnet
With your coat so blue
Your bright eyes are shining
Through the silvery dew
I know you’re a dolly
Offered for the rain
I know you’ll return again
To Texas in the spring.
ACTIVITY: Literature Comparison
Compare the many versions of the legend of the bluebonnet.
READ ALOUD: The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush
READ ALOUD: Wildflower ABC: An Alphabet of Potato Prints
ART: Make our own wildflower potato prints.
ART: Favorite Wildflowers Coloring Book
ART: Designs for Coloring: Wildflowers
ART: Peterson Field Guide Coloring Books: Wildflowers
GAME: Bingo Wildflower
Live The Perissos Life!
Blessings,
