She covered the paths and parks with a multi-colored cheerful carpet of leaves. How pleasantly they rustle underfoot ...
Somehow, my friends and I decided to go for an autumn walk in the park with the children. We have gathered the most wonderful company: three mothers of the same age and six wonderful mischievous boys, three of whom are classmates, and three of them are younger brothers with a difference of about six months between them.
Here we are in the autumn park with such a marvelous company with two strollers and a children's bicycle.
We could not get past the swings and sports equipment. We ran, jumped... and then a wonderful chestnut fruit caught our attention. But the chestnut is a great tool for development of fine motor skills! And we went in search of this miracle, so that everyone had enough :)
How fun passers-by had on Saturday afternoon when they saw three nine-year-old boys running around the park and looking for beautiful trees with seven leaf leaves. Having found this miracle, they call their mothers with babies. And now all six boys and their mothers are together sorting through the leaves and picking up the fallen hedgehogs of chestnuts ...
In general, we walked up and had plenty of fun! And most importantly, they came home with trophies - full packages of chestnuts and acorns!
This is how our funny acquaintance with chestnuts began. However, at home there was a sequel, no less interesting and fun. We got spontaneous Thematic lesson about chestnuts.
What is chestnut?
The introductory part of the lesson began in the park. We examined and studied the chestnut tree. The chestnut we met is called horse chestnut. He is not edible. The children were very interested to know that there is an edible chestnut, the fruits of which are tasty and highly valued by many peoples.
On Wikipedia, I found several versions of why this inedible chestnut was called horse. According to one version, the mature fruits (they are also seeds) of this plant resemble the skin of a bay horse in color and luster. The second version says that the leaf scars remaining on the shoots after leaf fall resemble a horseshoe in shape. A third source claims that the seeds were brought by the Turks as horse food and a cure for horse coughs.
One way or another, but horse chestnut- a beautiful slender tree. Remarkably early flowering. In the spring, it is impossible to pass by without looking at the cheerful white “candles” with small yellow specks up to 30 centimeters high. Bees love the nectar of chestnut flowers. And the chestnut itself helps the bees in their sweet work. Ask how? It is very interesting: yellow spots on the petals of flowers after the cessation of nectar release change color to red, thus signaling to the bees that they do not fly up to such flowers.
Chestnut fruits are no less interesting. The chestnuts themselves - the seeds are hidden in boxes. Boxes resembling walnut, green with very sharp numerous spikes. When a ripe fruit falls to the ground, the box opens and the chestnuts get enough sleep. They say that the maximum number of chestnuts in one box is 3 pieces. However, we opened one box and found as many as 6 seeds!
Here is such a horse chestnut! Why do we need chestnuts at home? Well, what for, chestnuts, like acorns - this is a wonderful natural material For all kinds crafts. In addition, chestnut is very pleasant to the touch and kids of all ages love to play with it, developing along the way. fine motor skills hands. We have come up with a lot educational games with chestnuts! We also planted a chestnut seed and an acorn in a pot. Let's see what grows :)
Children's crafts from chestnut
Fresh seeds are very malleable and soft. With a knife, you can cut all kinds of figures and notches. While Arseniy was sleeping after such a long walk, I tried my hand at carving. Here is such a basket and a fungus I got from chestnut seeds:
Tip: When cutting figures from chestnut, the cut points should be painted with white gouache. Otherwise, the flesh of the seed will turn black.
bear cub
For the chestnut bear cub, we needed plasticine and chestnuts. We selected two rounder chestnuts and connected them together with plasticine. Ears, eyes and a mouth of a teddy bear were built from plasticine. Here we have such a funny teddy bear made of chestnuts:
And we also created a chestnut snake Gorynych, and sent it to the competition, which I wrote about in this article.
Drawing with chestnut leaves
We tried this drawing a couple of days later, finding a horse chestnut not far from the playground and collecting wonderful leaves.
Surely, many of you have already tried this technique. My boys drew like this for the first time and they really liked it. Special Alyosha, having drawn a chestnut sun, he began to experiment with paints. And then we decided to combine the chestnut leaf and the rainbow, because the chestnut tree has seven leaf feathers, and the rainbow has seven colors. Well, how not to take advantage of this coincidence? Here are the leaves we got:
Then I decided to cut them out along the contour and decorate the children's room with autumn motifs.
And here is how we played with chestnuts.
Educational games with chestnuts
Building a train
We started our educational games from the construction of trains. Putting the chestnuts one after the other, like wagons, we got trains of different lengths. We touched on the topic long - short and counting.
Sorting
Mixed chestnuts and acorns in one bowl. Arseny diligently and inquisitively laid out each seed in separate cups.
musical seeds
When chestnuts and acorns ended up in different cups, Arseny wanted to shake them. Throwing seeds in one cup or another, the son learned that heavy chestnuts make a louder and more sonorous sound than acorns.
fun slide
They placed the lid of the box obliquely and began to roll the chestnuts over it. It seemed like such a simple task! But the child took a very long time! In addition, playing like this, you can arrange a competition whose chestnut rolls faster. Along the way, we studied some properties of objects. Rounder chestnuts roll faster, while flat ones slower.
The most accurate
Alyosha joined our games and we arranged competitions for accuracy. To do this, they put the bowl at a short distance, divided the chestnuts equally (they repeated the division with Alyosha :)) and began to throw the chestnuts into the bowl one by one. Whoever scores the most goals wins! And this, it turns out, is not as easy as it seems, because cheerful chestnuts, once in a bowl, immediately jump out of it from the other side. We got a friendly draw :)
Working on a car
Arseniy began to carry chestnuts in the back of a car. I build a "house" and ask him to bring one, two or three chestnuts. Sometimes she asked me to give me "as many" chestnuts as were laid out in front of him.
Well, in the evening before going to bed, remembering how we ran around the park in search of chestnuts, my mother was born Fairy tale chestnut hunters. But I will publish it in the next article. Do not miss and subscribe to updates, or by entering your e-mail in the box under the article. Do not forget to confirm your desire to receive new articles by clicking on the link in the received letter.
This is what happened to us thematic lesson about chestnuts
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Some sources say that his homeland is Europe, while others - Australia. However, there are 14 to 30 varieties in the world. Most of them can be found in China, Japan, North America and European countries.
Without the slightest flaw
If you organize a beauty contest among the trees, then the chestnut, no doubt, would take one of the prizes. The refined and extraordinary beauty of inflorescences, leaves and a luxurious crown look harmoniously with the formidable appearance of this titan. Such a paradoxical combination can be characterized by the following series of magnificent features:
These perennials they love the sun so much that they grow up to 15-30 meters. Of course, such a result can be expected only after a few decades. In this regard, many are interested in how long the chestnut tree grows. It is worth knowing that in 12 months the trunk of this giant increases by 30-50 cm. Therefore, by the fourth year of its existence, its growth will be about 1 meter. At the same time, the tree will be able to meet the 10th spring of its “life” with charming flowering and luxurious fruits.
The powerful root system and dense bark allows the chestnut to endure severe frosts. At the same time, trees adapt to different types soil. Still, it is better for them to choose non-saline, well-drained and moist soils.
Three nuts for Cinderella
From the usual brown fruit a beautiful and mighty chestnut tree can grow. Planting and caring for his seedling at home are very simple, but have some subtleties. Gardeners know two options for germinating a nut: autumn and spring. In this case, you need to harvest after the fruits fall to the ground. 
It is necessary to choose hard nuts with a perfectly even edge and without damage. Before autumn planting it needs to be stratified. For this you need:
If the grower plans to plant for the spring season, then the container of sand and nuts should be stored in the basement/refrigerator all winter. Some advise to dig this container somewhere in the garden.
However, losses are inevitable. If the gardener wants to plant only one copy, he should prepare three or more nuts. Extra seedlings can always be donated to neighbors.
Spring planting boom
7 days before the landing, which may fall at the end of February or March, a container with valuable genetic material must be removed from the basement. Over the next 5 days, the fruits are soaked in warm water. In this case, the fluid should be constantly changed, because it can deteriorate. Thanks to such a “spa procedure”, the peel becomes softer, and the embryo wakes up. When a white sprout appears, a chestnut can be planted in a small pot with soil, taking into account the following wishes:
After half a month, the gardener can already admire the first shoots. When the danger of night frosts has passed, and this is the second half of May, then the seedling can be transferred to it. permanent place residence".
It should be borne in mind that the chestnut tree is a real titanium. Therefore, the distance between seedlings must be increased to 3 meters. As a result, the crown of each of them will be thicker, the flowering period will be longer, and the fruits will be tastier.
Secret technique
Of course, there is a lot of debate about when is the best time to plant these trees. However, each of these options has its own advantages. Autumn "natives" sprout faster. Nevertheless, spring specimens are characterized by intensive growth, frost resistance and a healthier appearance. Among other things, important role in this case, the landing process itself plays. Here is what experts advise in this regard:
Don't forget the importance of nutrition. It is carried out both in spring and autumn. In the first case, it is diluted urea or mullein (15 g per 10 liters of water), and in the second, it is added (the same proportions).
At first, an unprotected seedling should be constantly watered, and periodically loosen the ground. With the onset of cold weather, the branches should be wrapped in burlap, and the roots should be protected with a large “pillow” of dried leaves and humus. At the age of four, pruning should be carried out. First, it is desirable to shorten the main rod by ¼ of its length, and then the side branches. Thanks to this, the crown will grow thick and symmetrical.
Particularly dangerous diseases and pests
Like any other tree, the chestnut is not immune to disease, and rusty leaves are the first and most common problem. Withered brown foliage makes majestic giants pitiful and helpless. Such a sad picture can be observed in many cities in the middle of summer. Experts distinguish the following types of spots:
Spraying procedures are carried out in the evening to avoid the appearance of additional burns.
In addition to these diseases, the chestnut tree suffers from a tree mite, ( white coating in the form of a web) and chestnut moth. To combat them, it is advised to apply phosphate or potassium top dressing. Leaves affected by dew should be removed and burned, and the crown should be treated with fungicides every 2 weeks. Of course, it is necessary to fight these dangerous pests / diseases on early stage because they are rapidly progressing. Such measures will help maintain the external attractiveness of a perennial plant.
Chestnut diseases - video
Belongs to the beech family. Scientists suggest that it existed in the Tertiary period. In the past, its distribution area was much larger than today: it grew in Sakhalin and the Caucasus, in Greenland and North America, on the shores of the Mediterranean. The birthplace of the chestnut is considered to be Asia Minor and the Caucasus.
Impressive beauty
The modern chestnut tree is about 2 meters in diameter, and grows up to 35 meters in height. There are exceptions, for example, in Sicily, the "Chestnut of a Hundred Horsemen" of gigantic size grew, it was almost 20 meters in diameter. The leaves of the tree are quite large - up to 25 cm long, 8 cm wide. On the shoots, they are spirally arranged. The color of the leaves changes with the seasons. In spring they are brown-red, in summer they turn green, in autumn they become golden yellow. In adults, it starts from a height of at least 7 meters, the lower branches fall off. After the leaves bloom, the plant immediately begins to bloom.
Fruits are the main wealth
People in ancient times realized that the chestnut tree can be used for their own purposes. Its nuts in some areas of the planet where it is impossible to grow cereals, were the main component of people's food. Fruit flour by availability
Nutrients exceed wheat, and by mixing them, it was possible to greatly improve the taste and quality of bread. The nuts themselves were also eaten - they were boiled, fried, dried.
In the service of man
widely used today. Its fruits are used not only in Food Industry, but also in medicine, and made of wood magnificent furniture. Chestnut is an excellent honey plant, one adult tree can produce up to 20 kilograms of honey. Wood is also used in construction, and natural dyes are obtained from the bark and leaves. But the main wealth of the chestnut is its fruits. The annual world production of nuts reaches one and a half million tons.distant relative
The right to be called a real chestnut, or noble, has the right only (Castanea sativa). But he has a relative who is popular
significantly inferior to its counterpart, but well known in Russia. This is an ordinary chestnut, in our country called horse. In these two species, only the fruits are similar, but the leaves and flowers are completely different. They even belong to different families. The real one belongs to the beech, and the horse belongs to the horse chestnut.
Tree - a traveler from the Balkans
Until recently it was rare to find middle lane Russia. And although the city of Kyiv was already all decorated with these magnificent trees, in the territories north of the capital of Ukraine, he was considered a heat-loving guest performer. Today, chestnut, the cultivation of which has become commonplace in our country, is considered native in many Russian cities. And few people remember that forests are its real homeland. In Europe, horse chestnut has long been revered as an outstanding tree that can decorate any park. An impressive stocky trunk, grayish-white bark and large seven-fingered leaves give it a special charm.
The chestnut is found in the northern hemisphere between the Tropic of Cancer and 45°N. sh. in three separate regions in the Mediterranean, in East Asia and on the Atlantic coast of the United States. In Western Europe, due to mild winters and high humidity air extends to Scandinavia. Cultivated in the Caucasus, Crimea, Moldova and western Ukraine. In Central Asia, it does not grow well.
City chestnut, or Japanese chestnut (lat. Castanea crenata) In nature, the species range covers Japan, China and Korea. Naturalized in North America and Western Europe. American chestnut, or toothed chestnut (lat. Castanea dentata). In nature, the range of the species covers North America
The softest chestnut, or Chinese chestnut (lat. Castanea mollissima). In nature, the species range covers China, Korea and Vietnam. Naturalized in North America. Chestnut undersized (lat. Castanea pumila). In nature, the species range covers North America from the southern regions of Pennsylvania to the northern part of Florida and Texas.
Description Deciduous tree, up to 25 m high, some forms are found in the form of shrubs, reaching m. The chestnut leaf is large, complex, five to seven fingered, with a long petiole. Chestnut leaves form a dense crown. The flowers are bell-shaped, bisexual, asymmetric, irregular, fragrant. Trunk with deep furrowed, brownish-brown, thick bark.
Inflorescences are large, pyramidal, erect racemes. The axis of inflorescences and legs are pubescent. The flower cover consists of a green cup with 5 sepals fused at the base and a whitish corolla with a pink base with 5 free petals, one of them is located between 3 and 4 sepals, small, sometimes completely absent. 7 stamens with long and bent filaments. The pistil consists of 3 carpels. Flowering lasts from May to June.
The fruit-bearing boxes of the noble chestnut are densely covered with small needles, which are similar to hedgehogs. Each such box contains several smaller nuts than those of horse chestnut with pointed tops. The fruits of the edible chestnut are tasty and are used for making cookies, salads, soups, snacks, ground into flour, which surpasses even wheat in its properties and nutrient content. When raw, their taste is similar to a nut, but after cooking, the taste is more like
Ecological needs Edible chestnuts are very thermophilic. In culture, they usually do not grow north of Kyiv, do not tolerate dry air, are shade-loving (do not grow on southern slopes), require acidic fresh soils and cannot tolerate lime. Chestnut grows relatively quickly, has a large overgrowth ability from a stump, which it retains until old age. The largest known specimen is the Hundred Horse Chestnut, 24,000 years old, with a trunk circumference of 57 m.
Chestnut tolerates the urban environment very well, purifies the air of sulfur dioxide, and retains dust. One has only to regret that it is still not very common in urban landscaping. It is especially good in planting wide city and park alleys and boulevards. Its presence is desirable in the landscaping of schools, universities, highways. And, of course, its resistance to smoke and gases makes it a welcome guest in the landscaping of factories, industrial zones, energy facilities, etc.
Diseases of the tree The main diseases of the chestnut tree are as follows. On trunks and branches: endothiosis caused by the fungus Endothia parasitica. Blackberry necrosis is caused by the imperfect fungus Cytospord ceratophora. dangerous pest branches and trunks of the chestnut tree is the Caucasian unpaired bark beetle Xyleboris pollicosua. The greatest harm fruits are caused by chestnut codling or codling moth, which damage up to 30% of the crop.
Application The chestnut plant has decorative value, it is used for landscaping streets, creating alleys, parks and squares. It has a dense, spreading, beautiful crown and patterned large leaves. It is especially attractive during flowering, during this period its crown is decorated with numerous erect inflorescences resembling candles in shape. Blooms profusely on edges, lawns and in single plantings. The chestnut fruit is a nut used to make women's jewelry. Chestnut seeds are used to produce drugs that have a venotonic, antithrombotic effect, as well as medicines used for venous congestion and varicose veins. The wood of the tree does not have commercial value, but it is durable and light, so small household utensils, boxes and souvenir crafts are made from it. The bark of this plant contains tannins. The leaves are rich in vitamins C and B. The wood of this tree is very durable, so it is often used in carpentry as an array and in the form of veneer. The structure of the chestnut is oblique, the wood itself is grayish. The structure of the chestnut resembles an oak, but in the context, unlike this massive tree, it does not have a characteristic sheen. Edible chestnut is used in the manufacture of furniture, it is well sharpened and cut, it is easily subjected to any processing. Its soft wood has a uniform density, well polished, varnished and tinted. Products made of oak and chestnut differ only in weight; outwardly, with appropriate toning and selection of structure, it is difficult to distinguish them.
BIRCH
In a white dress
With handkerchiefs in pockets
With beautiful clasps
With green earrings.
(A. Prokofiev)
It is the birch that is considered the symbol of our country. Since ancient times, songs and poems have been composed about this tree:
There was a birch in the field
Curly stood in the field.
* * *
White birch under my window
Covered with snow, like silver,
On fluffy branches with a snowy border
Tassels have blossomed with a white fringe.
(S. Yesenin)
Birch is unpretentious, grows both on dry sands and on marshy soils. It can be found in the forest, and in the field, and in parks.
In early spring when buds swell on the trees, flowers appear on the birch - inconspicuous earrings. In summer, they noticeably increase, turn brown. Each ripe earring contains several hundred small seeds. And on a whole adult tree in harvest years, they can ripen up to several million. The smallest fruitlets, similar to a very small butterfly with open wings, are carried by the wind over long distances and germinate next spring for suitable soils. That is why birch is one of the first to occupy free land.
The white bark of birch - birch bark - reflects the sun's rays and protects the tree from overheating. Since ancient times, birch bark has been used for the manufacture of household products. Raw materials were harvested in the spring. At this time, "birch bark sheds", that is, it is freely separated from the wood. The raw materials were dried in the shade and smoothed under pressure. Tueski, mugs, bread bins, boxes and other household items were made from birch bark. Bast shoes, baskets, trunks were woven from the inner part of the birch bark - bast.
When people did not yet know how to make paper, they wrote on birch bark. Birch bark letters, which are 700–800 years old, have survived to this day.
Birch is still beneficial today. Furniture is made from its wood. Birch buds have healing properties They are used to make medicines.
MYSTERY
sticky buds,
green leaves,
With white bark
It stands above the mountain.
(Birch)
OAK
rain and wind oak
Not afraid at all.
Who said that oak
Scared to catch a cold?
After all, until late autumn
I stand green.
So I'm resilient
So it's hardened.
Oak is a powerful, majestic tree. The trunk is thick, covered with brown-gray bark with winding cracks. The older the tree, the deeper the cracks. Oak is considered the personification of heroic strength. In Greece, the oak branch was a symbol of strength, power and nobility. Oak was dedicated to the patron of the arts - the god Apollo. IN Ancient Rome acorns were considered divine fruits. The ancient Roman scientist Pliny the Elder wrote about oaks like this: “Untouched by centuries, of the same age as the universe, they amaze with their immortal fate, like the greatest miracle of the world.”
Oak was considered a sacred tree by the Slavs, it was dedicated to the god of lightning and thunder - Perun.
Oak - the king of all trees,
He has a big role.
(I. Goryunova) 
In the middle lane there are no trees that would be larger than oaks. Oaks live 400–500 years. Single specimens reach an age of about one and a half thousand years. The oldest oak grows in Germany. Its age is about 1400 years.
Oak is a light-loving tree. Pay attention to the oak branches? They are repeatedly curved, as if twisted; old oaks have bizarre curves. The fact is that the branches are constantly stretching towards the sun, towards the light. So they change the direction of growth depending on the lighting.
Oak trees bloom in May. Fruits - acorns - ripen in autumn. Many forest inhabitants like to eat acorns: wild boars, deer, field mice, jays.
Oak has valuable wood: dense, hard, durable with a beautiful texture. It is used in shipbuilding, furniture, carpentry.
PUZZLES
I got out of the crumb-barrel,
Roots started up and grew,
I became tall and powerful
I'm not afraid of thunderstorms or clouds.
I feed pigs and squirrels -
Nothing that the fruit of my chalk.
(Oak)
* * *
Into this sleek box
Bronze color
Hidden little oak tree
Next summer.
(Acorn)
CHESTNUT
The sun rose early
Looked into the house.
The chestnut trees have blossomed
Behind my window.
The bird sings
Close, close, somewhere
So it's coming
Golden summer.
(G. Boyko)
Horse chestnut is a majestic tree with a spreading, dense, uniform, highly arched crown. The trunk of mature trees is very strong, usually straight. This tree reaches a height of 25-30 meters.
Horse chestnut deservedly enjoys the fame of one of the most beautiful park trees. It is often planted in parks and gardens, near houses and cottages. In early spring, large sticky greenish-pink buds appear on the chestnut. A few days later, original large leaves appear from them, divided into 5–7 leaflets. 
In early May, the chestnut blossoms. His flowers are very beautiful - pyramidal panicles up to 30 centimeters high, consisting of large white flowers with yellowish or reddish drops of juice. Flowers, reminiscent of candles on a Christmas tree, give the tree a unique look. Chestnut fruits also look attractive: green, with numerous spikes, spherical boxes, each of which contains 1-3 shiny, dark brown seeds.
In the southern regions, the noble chestnut grows. It is so different from the horse chestnut that scientists attribute them to different families. They are similar only in appearance, in both species they are shiny, brown, like polished nuts, enclosed in almost identical shells, only in the edible it is brown with thorns, and in the horse chestnut it is bright green with tubercles. It is difficult to say exactly why the chestnut began to be called horse chestnut. There are two versions. According to one of them, after the leaf has fallen off, a scar remains at the place where the petiole is attached to the branch, resembling the trace of a horseshoe. According to the second, there is a gray spot on the dark brown surface of the fruit, similar to the print of a horse's hoof. Horse chestnut wood is used in furniture production for the manufacture of high quality barrels. The extract prepared from the bark is used for tanning leather, dyeing cotton, wool and silk fabrics in dark brown and olive color. Baskets are woven from young branches.
