Read & Explore 78: Beautiful Roses

Roses have a long history. The rose is, according to fossil evidence, 35 million years old. In nature, the genus Rosa has some 150 species spread almost all over the world. Roses grow in the form of shrubs or vines. The stems usually have sharp thorns. So be careful when you handle roses.

Roses range in size from tiny miniatures of 8 inches tall to tree climbing giants that will reach 50 feet or more. The flowers vary in color and size. They may be from 0.5 inch to 7 inches across. There are at least twenty-four shades of roses, pink, red, orange, yellow, white, and so on. Wild roses usually have five petals. Roses grown by people often have many sets of petals. The petals grow out from a fleshy and fruitlike structure known as a hip.

Roses are grown for their beautiful bloom, for a source of perfume, or for medicinal purposes. Roses make pretty decorations. People use the fragrant oil from rose blossoms in perfumes. They also use rose hips to make jams and herbal tea. Rose hips are a rich source of vitamin C.

Are you interested in growing roses? Roses prefer a sunny spot that has a very good air circulation. So make sure that your roses can receive at least six to eight hours of direct sun a day. Morning sun is especially important because it dries the leaves, which helps prevent disease.

Activities:

1. Why are roses grown? Are you interested in growing roses someday? Discuss with your learning partners.

2. Roses are beautiful. Can you make a rose from paper? Have a try.

3. Are you curious about the uses of roses? Watch the video to learn more about how roses are used. 

Read & Explore 77: How to Make Compost

Do you know that people all over the world keep worms to change their garbage into rich soil called compost? Compost help plants grow better. Worms eat food scraps. Two pounds of worms can eat a pound of garbage every day. Worms also help clean our environment. How do you keep worms to work? Actually, it is quite easy.

You will need: red worms (also called red wigglers), a large plastic container, about 12 inches deep, plastic bag or loose cover for the container, newspaper, leaves, and soil to make the bedding, water and food scraps.

After you gather all supplies, follow the steps below:

1. Prepare the container: Poke small holes through the bottom of the container.

2. Prepare the bedding. Fill the container about three-quarters full with small pieces of torn newspaper. (Do not use any colored or shiny newspaper.) Add about a handful of soil. You can put in some dead leaves, too, if you like.

3. Pour water on the bedding. Make sure all the bedding is damp, but not soaking wet.

4. Add the worms. Gently move the worms into their new home.

5. Feed the worms. Bury the food scrapes in the bedding.

6. Cover the bin. Make sure air can still move in and around the bin.

7. Harvest the compost. Worms eat their bedding as well as their food. When the bedding is mostly gone, push what’s left to one side and add fresh, damp bedding to the other side. Bury the food scraps in the new bedding. The worms will move to the food so you can harvest the compost without taking all the worms with it.

8. Use the compost. Add it to potted houseplants or to your outdoor flower or vegetable garden.

Activities:

1. Illustrate how to use worms to make compost. Then describe your illustration to your learning partners in simple English.

2. To make five hundred grams of compost, find how many worms you need.

3. Are you interested in making compost for your garden? Watch the videos to learn more about making compost.

Reading & Sing 21: Roses Are Red

Roses are red,

Violets are blue;

Sugar is sweet,

And so are you.

Activities:

1. How are roses and violets alike? How are they different? Discuss with your learning partners.

2. Work with your partner to make rose shapes by tangram pieces. 

3. Draw pictures to illustrate this poem. Then watch the video and sing along.