Pinecone Secrets

I am delighted to present a popular program that uses the wonderful book The Pine Cone's Secret by Hannah Barnaby. This poem does a wonderful job of teaching children the value of the pinecone. Children will learn the life cycle of a conifer, what a pinecone actually is, its value in nature, and realize by the end of the book and presentation that pine cones are a gift given to us and to the creatures that depend on them for food and eventually shelter when the cones become trees. Additionally, each child will create a peanut free pinecone bird feeder gift to the over wintering birds that will tie into the holiday season of giving and remind the participants that all of nature is a gift for us to nurture and carefully share. To extend learning we will read or recommend, depending on time, the wonderful book Night Tree by Eve Bunting.