Next Time You See a Maple Seed

Have you ever thrown a maple seed into the air and watched it helicopter to the ground? What would happen if you took the “wings” off of the seed — would it still fly? Isn’t it remarkable that a big, beautiful maple tree lives inside the tiny seed?

Emily Morgan, author of the Next Time You See book series, explores these and other questions in her beautiful book Next Time You See a Maple Seed. As a lover of maple trees, this book holds a special appeal to me.

But all of the other books in the series are just as enchanting — and informative. Each one focuses on a common element of the natural world, many of which we see every day — a sunset, seashell, pill bug, firefly, and the moon.

These nonfiction books have it all — easy hands-on experiences, fascinating information, beautiful photography, and heart-opening inspiration.

The back cover says the books are appropriate for grades K-6; but as an adult, I love reading them too!

I encourage you to visit Emily’s website where you can find lessons for each of the books, like this one Maple Seed Journal Activity. It includes guided observations, experiments, and even space for wondering. I think it’s the perfect follow-up activity to the dandelion “seed dispersal” lesson from my blog last week.

The following video will give you a sense of the beauty of this book.

(BTW: Emily and her co-author Karen Ansberry have created the Picture Perfect Science series of curriculum guides…they’re fantastic! Be sure to check them out, too!)

Follow