Symbiosis with nature
1. modul
Cycles in nature 1. – Changing of seasons
Climate and weather
Since when people have been studying the change in weather?
From the begining of the history of mankind, from the time it gave up the
migrant, hunter-gatherer lifestyle and started to grow plants and farming, it
has been a key to be able to predict the weather changes. We can find
evidence of weather observations even in the first written documents of
mankind. Anecdotal evidences played a big rule later on to help predict
weather changes and make it easier for farmers to plan ahead. Some of these
sayings still exist: „Ha Katalin kopog, karácsony locsog”, „Sándor, József,
Benedek, zsákban hozzák a meleget”, or e.g. jégtörő Mátyás napja. Passing on
these long lasting experiences helped people to predict a weather period, even
without the modern technology we use now, such as the internet or satelite
pictures.
What is the difference between climate and weather?
Climate is a measure of the average pattern of a geographical area’s weather
conditions. Weather is always defined by short term, momentary conditions
and always only refer to a small area’s conditions.For example, Hungary’s
climate is continental in a large part of it’s area, defined by the large Eurasian
land. Although sometimes there are noticeable oceanic and mediterranean
climate effects.
What kind of weather elements can we observe in our environment?
Most of them we can experience directly with our senses, but there are also
special machines available: to measure the wind, the quality and quantity of
the percipitation, and the temperature are the most common elements we
observe. However, we can also measure the atmospheric pressure and
humidity.
What kind of weather conditions desrcibe the seasons in Hungary?
Originally in Hungary the four seasons are clearly distinct. Summer is
generally dry and hot, autumn is rainy, foggy and it lasts untill the arrival of
the first frosts. In winter it usually snows, but extreme cold weather is not
common. At the end of spring, when the weather has already warmed up, in
May and June, around the day of Medárd rain becomes again very frequent.
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Symbiosis with nature
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The life of the plants from spring to spring
How do plants know that it is time to wake up?
The first messengers of the awakening nature are the flowers which appeare at
the end of winter (snowdrop, winter aconite), and the germinating seeds. Plants
need two important condition to be able to sprout: one is the suitable
temperature, the other is the sufficient amount of water. The primary sign is the
daytime warming – one part of the plants that can store some water in their body
for the winter time – can wait untill the spring rains in case the melting of the
snow is belated. In a portion of our forests, spring is the most colourful season
of all: where the foliage is very closed, the plants which have flowers can only
get enough sun before the trees start leafing again. Light can be an advantage
and a disatvantage at the same time: for some plants it stimulates germination
while for others it inhibits germination.
How do flowers attract their visitors?
Most of the flowers that bloom during summer attract the pollinator insects by
their colours and scent too. Part of the colours and patterns are invisible for
human eyes, like the ultraviolet patterns on the white flowers’ petals. Those
scents that plants use to lure their pollinators are not always pleasant. For
example the arum smells like urine, accordingly flies are the ones, who pollinate
this flower instead of bees.
Why do leaves fall during autumn?
Most of the leaves in our climate can only function and help the growth of the
mother plant during the period of spring-summer. As they have a high level of
water content, they would freeze easily and so would die during the cold period
and would also be waisting precious water by evaporation. So the deciduous
plants get rid of them at the end of the season by growing a little tissue between
the petiole and the stem. This closes the leaf’s water and nutrition supply, it
changes colour and then falls down.
Can plants sleep?
Deciduous plants during the winter period are not able to take up any nutritions
and water from the frozen ground, so we can consider this time as a kind of
hibernation. The same thing happens to the evergreen pine trees. This resting
period is also shown inthe difference of the summer andwinter growth-rings.
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Symbiosis with nature
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How do animals adapt to different seasons?
Why do migratory birds fly south in autumn?
It is proven, that birds - which are warm blooded animals – do not necessarily
fly south because of the cold weather. For example, those storks that live in
the bird hospital of the Szeged Zoo and would be able to fly away, will not do
so, because they are regurarly fed. Although the lack of food makes lots of
birds to move. Firstly those fly away whose food disapperare because of the
cold weather: insect-eaters and the ones who eat the green parts of the plants.
Those who stay can find their food under the snow or in the remains of plants.
They are the granivorous and carnivorous birds. However, there are always
exceptions.
Is it allowed to wake up the hibernated bear?
Although bears hibernate in our climate, sometimes they interrupt it and wake
up when the weather become warmer to eat something. According to a
common belief, they wake up 2nd February and if they see their shadow (so
spring arrived too soon) they get afraid of it and go back to sleep. Female
bears give birth to their cubs in their lair during the winter period. This is also
a good reason for not disturbing the sleeping bear. Smaller animals that
hibernate store even more fat in average than a bear. Dormouses sleep the
longest and they store almost two times more than what they normally weight.
Squirrels get ready for the time when they wake up during winter: in several
points they hide food stocks that they can snack on.
Can animals hibernate also during summer?
Part of the animals hibernate for the same reason the birds fly south: lack of
food. So those species that do not have enough food supply, can also
hibernate during summer time. For example, some snails retire to their shell
and they close it by a thin layer of lime.
How does human presence influence animals’ behaviour during different
seasons?
Sadly, some people’s actions can influence the animals’ normal rhythm in a
bad way. Those species that can always find food around people, tend to
forget migration or hibernation. Pets are even more independent from them.
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Symbiosis with nature
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Folk customs and traditions
How did traditional lifestyle adopt to the seasons?
The time before industrialization, most people were living and farming
according to the change of seasons. They ate what they could grow during
that season or what they found in nature. They did the work that was due and
needed during that period of the year. The whole year had it’s own rhythm,
the way that one activity was followed by an other, linked to the actual
season. The most important aspect was to save their energy. They did not
have the money or even the time that could be wasted on anyrhing
unnecessary.
How could our ancestors live without a fridge?
The food that is produced by the agriculture can only stay fresh for a very
limited time. That is why the concept of the seasonal fruits and vegetables
became very important. There was a special period of time also for pig
slaughter. Our ancestorst tried to find different methods to preserve food so
they keep it longer. The primary methods were drying and salting or for the
meat and cheese products: smoking. They also preserved food in fat and oil.
The oldest fridges were holes under the ground, where they used the constant
11 °C temperature and blocks of ice – they collected them from the frozen
lakes - put between straw.
What kind of folk customes are linked to different seasons?
The most important days were Saint George’s (when they herd the animals to
the pasture) and Saint Michael’s day (when they herd them back from the
pasture in autumn). Many folk customs and later religious holidays are built
on food preserving methods. Such as the carnival, the harvest festival and
others connected to the new wine and grape harvesting.
How do seasons influence our life?
Unfortunately, modern man have lost the living connection with nature’s
natural rhythm, thanks to technical civilization. We are able to do constant
activities even in the most extreme conditions, our cities are awake and lit up
day and night. This independence require tons of energy and humans, as
biological beings, can suffer from many civilization deseases because of it.
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The content of this tutorial does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union
Symbiosis with nature
1. modul
1. Classify the natural phenomenas! One letter can be put to more than
one group!
A. leaf fall, B. begining of harvest, C. freeze, D. grape harvest, E. melting of
snow, F. ripening of strawberry, G. fog, H. blooming of apricot trees, I.
arrival of crows, J. green plants, K. deer rutting
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter
2. Make a note of the daily weather changes!
Make a chart from your observations! Use the following points: 1. temperature,
2. precipitation, 3. clouds, 4. wind force, 5. obseved natural phenomenons
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Symbiosis with nature
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3. During your learning walk pay attention on the leaves of trees and
bushes!
Draw accurately as many leaves as you can with different shapes and colours!
With the help of your teacher or the plant identification book, find out which
species u saw.
4. Wake the sleeping plant up!
The seeds of pulses (beans, lentil) are kind of easy to germinate. In a small
bowl, kept between two wet tissue paper, the little seedlings start to grow very
fast. Draw their development, make a note from your observations!
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Symbiosis with nature
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5. Decide if the statements are true (T) or false (F)!
1. Barn swallows eat mosquitos, that is why they fly south in autumn.
.....
2. Storks gather in July with their young ones and then fly south.
…..
3. Dormouses have the longest winter hibernation time in Hungary.
…..
4. Rabbits go to their underground tunnels and hibernate for winter.
…..
5. All fish hibernate in the muddy bottom of rivers and lakes.
…..
6. Reptiles were named after freezing completly during winter.
…..
7. According to a folk costume, 2nd February bears
come out looking for their shadow. …..
8. In reality, bears do not hibernate.
…..
9. Squirells store food in different places for their spring born babies.
…..
6. Try to find signs that animals left behind in nature!
What did you find that refer to the animal’s home or hiding place? What
species does it belong? Do these species you found hibernate during winter?
Draw a map according to your observations!
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The content of this tutorial does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union
Symbiosis with nature
1. modul
7. Make menu for a winter day!
Collect ingredients for breakfast, lunch and dinner – you can only use
ingredients for your menu that do not require to be kept infridge!
8. Make a four seasons list!
Collect object and tools in your house that help to adopt to the changing of
seasons!
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The content of this tutorial does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union