For Botany, we have been doing Leaves, a perfect topic for fall. DD spent a week making a poster/giant lapbook entitled “Why Leave Change Colors”. It's so cool. I learned so much too about pigments like xanthophyll and anthocyanin. Like did you know that while oranges, yellows and browns are already in the mesophyll part of the leaves, reds (and purples) are not? I used to think that when the chlorophyll fades away, all the colors are then displayed. But no, not the reds! To put it simply, the red pigment (anthocyanin) is produced when water no longer flows into the leaves and glucose in the leaves no longer flows out of the leaves. ( Around fall, the Lord dictates that the leaves from deciduous trees form a little scab between the branch and the petiole). Cold nights and lots of sunshine in the day promote the red pigment to thrive. And then when the chlorophyll decays, yeah, you see all the marvelous reds!

God is truly magnified in fall (as in ALL seasons).

And to celebrate fall, I'm going to share two fall poems my daughter wrote recently.

'Nippy Fall Weather' was written in late October when the weather became cooler after a long hot summer. She was sitting on the porch thinking. That was also the day I decided to just not do school and relax.

               Nippy Fall Weather

When the chilliness of fall is in
the air,
Leaves turn colors
Everywhere.

The air that blows
Is cool and fresh.
And then you can take a
Nice deep breath.

The air gets nippy,
Then we're told
To get out coats, scarves, and hats
Because it's getting cold.

Asters are growing
In a pot, the yard, a bin,
And then we go outside
And bring them in.

But soon winter is coming
It will be chilly.
So enjoy right now
When it is only nippy.

Fall 2007 Copyright Michiko Gibson

"Rainbow of Leaves" was written sometime last week. We were doing school in the kitchen when she said she felt like playing in the yard. Ah, a chance for me to check my email so I said sure! And while she was outside, she wrote this little charming poem as well as another one about her 'baby' brother.

(II) Rainbow of Leaves

            Brown leaves, orange leaves, purple, yellow, red.
            They float down gently   
            And land on my head.

            Red leaves
            And purple leaves,
            What a pretty scene!
            And it is so beautifully
            It seems like a dream.

            Yellow leaves   
            With orange leaves.
            Green leaves
            And brown.
            They float from the treetops  
            Down, down, and down.

Fall 2007 Copyright Michiko Gibson

She was not inspired to write a fall poem in 2006, but two falls ago (2005), she wrote the following which I thought was lovely. I remember that evening well. She said she was going to write something on fall  for her then monthly newsletter, the Honeycomb.She went to the bathroom for a while and  when she came out, she took a piece of paper and wrote out the following.  :)

            Fall

            Fall is a time
            Of crisp cool air,
            And little fall flowers
            Everywhere.

            The leaves are falling
            The birds are flying too.
            Right beneath
            a sky of blue.

            Squirrels are scurrying,
            Getting food.
            Just like us
            Getting winter wood.
            Bears are getting
            In their dens.
            Ready for the chilliness
            That winter sends.

            Fall 2005 Copyright Michiko Gibson

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Posted by onecrazymom

These are so good Miiko! Your daughter has such a gift for putting the right words together into a lovely flow. I can't wait to share this with my kiddos. Might be just the inspiration they need to begin a little poetry writing of their own. ( :

Love,
Mandi

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Posted by LadyPoet33

Your daughter is quite talented. I can feel the nip in the air and see the colors so clearly. She has a gift for imagery.

Nice job!

LadyPoet33

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