This post has a free printable for teaching about bogs. The book Big Belching Bog by Phyllis Root and illustrated by Betsy Bowen would be a good one to use in such a study, although other reference sources may be used.
Are you wondering how children will react to the belching in this book, The Big Belching Bog? They will have a hard time making an issue about it as no one has ever heard a bog actually belch. As plants break down in a bog, they create methane gas which slowly rises and bubbles up. Scientists are studying this secret. Maybe one of the children will grow up and learn the answer!
When I started making the freebie, I was thinking I knew about these plants and animals. I knew Pitcher plants trapped bugs, some for slowing digesting, some live, but none ever leave the plant. I know about moose and owls, for instance. However, this book was SO INTERESTING! I learned many new things and won’t look at the woods the same again.
We had a black spruce in our yard, and I never knew that is one of very few trees to be able to live in a bog. I never realized, before it fell in a storm, that is could survive such acidic and stagnant conditions. I didn’t realize Tamarack trees, which have needles that turn golden-yellow in the fall, could grow in bogs. I have a new appreciation of bog animals and plants. It is fun when a book delights children and also is enjoyable for parents to read.
Bog Study Matching Cards
My freebie for this book has 40 pages which include animal matching cards, plant matching cards, and a work page. The matching cards are 4-part so there is some choice about using them as pairs, 3-part, or 4-part sets. Younger children might play to match the pairs, and the more independent readers could match the 4 part sets which includes some factual information.
Thank you for reading, Carolyn Wilhelm, owner of Wise Owl Factory
