Surely, many of us associate the image of whole Russia with the appearance of an ordinary white birch. Her descriptions are often popular with poets, musicians, painters and other artists, attracted by the simple beauty of the Russian tree.
"The country of birch chintz"
As it is clearly noticed by many beloved great poet. Birch is used as a metaphorical detail, even compared with the soul of the great people of our country.
Numerous songs, poems, paintings, passed down from generation to generation, are dedicated to the beauty and originality of the beautiful birch.
Perhaps that is why the description of birch for children, including in fine art, since school days is so important for their spiritual growth and the formation of a sense of patriotism, the expansion of their emotional responsiveness, as well as the formation of love for nature. It is important that the vocabulary is significantly replenished after meeting with unique picturesque images.
Love for beauty, which is the nature that surrounds us, formed in early childhood, can protect the soul from callousness, make it kinder and more responsive. Beauty will save the world! And this is an undeniable truth.
And the main question that arises before the teacher and not only is how to help children see and hear the world around them. Therefore, it is no coincidence that a descriptive image of a white beauty is used in raising a child.
Where to begin?
Birch is always good. Any season of the year makes it unique and elegant. Everyone knows her green earrings, silk pigtails, silver dew, white bark. All this is such a characteristic description at all times. The birch tree has retained its appearance from time immemorial.
And at the same time, each season has its own characteristics and images.
The tenderness of spring foliage, the luster and aroma of spiky leaves are lovely. The pink reflections of the awakening sun rays, timidly running through the snow-white bark, enchant the gaze.
The greenery of sprinkled garlands on the long thin branches of the branches falling to the ground in the summer confirms the triumph of nature, blooming in all its glory.
A description of a birch leaf with its unique carving at any time of the year often becomes the central theme of many lyric works.
Gold of birch “clothes”, shining under the blue azure of the autumn sky, decorates the whole earth with stunning shades, saturating the farewell ceremony until spring with a unique colorful decoration. No wonder that autumn was the favorite time of the year of our great poet, Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin: "... Eyes charm! ... Magnificent wilderness of nature, forests and scarlet clad in gold ..."
And, of course, a fabulous winter, which turns a beautiful birch tree into a huge fountain of snow splashes and ice floes frozen on the branches and sparkling with brilliant brilliance in the sunshine on a clear frosty day.
Historical reference
Characteristic and quite interesting is the description of birch for children that can be conveyed through folk signs and peasant folklore.
The sacred tree, as considered by our common ancestors, the Slavs, personified the beauty, radiance of light and purity of a woman.
The white-barrel beauty was honored on a holiday specially designated for her, according to church canons - Semik, when she received special attention. Young girls decorated the birch with ribbons and flowers, woven wreaths on their heads, sang songs and led round dances around it.
In addition to the festivities dedicated to the folk tree, there were many peasant signs and sayings identified and invented by farmers and simple observers of nature.
Many signs were associated with sowing. So, they sowed bread when birch catkins burst, and oats when leaves were already blooming.
If in the spring they tried birch sap, and it turned out to be tasteless, then it was believed that there would be a rich harvest of bread.
About how the summer will be, the birch also suggested. If she leaves her leaves before the alder, then the summer will be dry. If on the contrary, then rainy.
The tree also spoke about spring and winter with great coincidence. Early spring came if the top began to turn yellow, and the late spring came from the bottom. And the snow covered the ground late, if in the early days of October the birch was still dressed.
As can be seen from the examples, much is said about the birch in riddles, and in fairy tales, and poems.
"February blue"
It would seem, where does the birch? But here, it turns out, it is easy to raise the level of education for children by expanding their horizons when meeting a very famous work of painting.
Often attracted many painters a snow birch, a brief description of which can be found if you study the reviews, the history of creativity and directly the paintings of great domestic artists.
This is also Igor Emmanuilovich Grabar. He painted a picture widely known to the public, and not only in Russia, under the picturesque name “February Azure”.
Having created his masterpiece and telling after the story of its writing, the landscape painter recalled that at that time there were wonderful, sunny February days: “Something unusual was happening in nature. It seemed that she was celebrating some unprecedented celebration of the azure sky, pearl birches, coral branches and sapphire shades on lilac snow. ”
Therefore, at least once looking at this work, you can easily remember the image of birch and quickly transfer to the fresh winter mood that its author put into the picture.
Memorable images of birch
The description of birch trees for children of the 3rd grade, as well as other age categories, can be continued by precisely noticed characteristic "birch" features, some of which have become almost inextricable phrases - blond birch, sticky leaves, tender spring greens, earrings and an emerald-colored outfit, silk curls , white-barrel beauty, lace foliage, solemn garlands ... This list can be continued indefinitely, comparing a slender and bright beauty with poetic images.
Children can be given an example of other varieties of terms used in science, including such a characteristic phrase as “hanging birch,” a description of which can be read in biology textbooks.
About the name
The word "birch", in Latin betulus, is translated as "blessed", "blessed." This is associated with the healing power of birch sap, which has a magical effect.
As a version, there is an assumption of the formation of the name from batuere - “slash”, “beat”. Most likely, because the rods of the tree served as convenient devices for punishment.
The third assumption is based on the similarity of the name and the word bhe, meaning "white", "light", "pure".
Biology of Birch
Description of birch for children can be continued by listing biological characteristics.
Crohn, trunk and roots are the main components of a tree, as well as other similar species. Distinctive features are: clearly defined trunk, the presence of side branches and apical shoots. This is its basic biological description. At first, the birch tree grows at a relatively slow pace, but after a few years the development becomes rapid.
Biologists have about 120 species of birches. In height, the tree grows up to 40 meters. However, there are varieties of it as a shrub, including one developing by its shoots on the ground.
The root system of birches is represented by powerful surface and deep underground branches, due to which the tree is quite stable. However, the central core is dying off. Further vital activity is carried out due to lateral shoots, forming a large number of roots.
The white color of the tree bark is due to the presence of betulin, which is a white resin. Outside, the bark of the main part of the trunk is covered with smooth birch bark that can be easily separated. At the bottom, the tree has a dark-colored trunk with large cracks giving a rough look.
The description of birch for children can be given through comparison with other similar representatives of groves. Where there are many different trees - young, old, and thin-stemmed, and low, and tall - a bright bark stands out. A birch grove seems weightless and full of freshness and purity.
Tree use
Scientists who study history are especially fond of birch. It is known that in ancient times the cost of parchment reached sky-high heights. And birch bark and its properties made it possible to use it as a material on which various letters were placed. It is thanks to them that information about ancient life and life features was able to reach us.
Boxes, car bodies, boats, shoes were also objects that can only be obtained thanks to this tree.
Birch is also beneficial to humans as a simple plant. It cleans the air, gives coolness on a hot summer day. In addition, it is also a valuable material from which you can get boards, furniture, paper.
In conclusion, I want to say that the birch was, is and will be a symbol of our great Motherland. She is good both in the summer and in the winter. And it will be pleasing to the eye for a long time if we maintain a good attitude towards nature.