Surely for many of us the image of the whole of Russia is associated 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 Russian wood.
Country of Birch Calico
As it is vividly noticed by the great poet loved by many. 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 uniqueness of the beautiful birch.
Perhaps that is why the description of birch for children, including in fine arts, from the school bench is so important for their spiritual growth and the formation of a sense of patriotism, expanding their emotional responsiveness, as well as the formation of love for nature. It is also important that the vocabulary will be significantly replenished after getting acquainted with the unique picturesqueimages.
Love for the beautiful, which is the nature around 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 the undeniable truth.
And the main question that confronts the teacher and not only how to help children see and hear the world around them. Therefore, it is no coincidence that when raising a child, a descriptive image of a white beauty is used.
Where to start?
Birch is always good. Any season of the year makes it unique and elegant. Everyone knows her green earrings, silk braids, silvery dew, white bark. All this is a description so characteristic of all times. The birch tree retains its appearance from time immemorial.
And at the same time, each season has its own features and images.
The tenderness of spring foliage, the brilliance and aroma of spiky leaves are lovely. The pink reflections of the awakening sun rays, timidly running through the snow-white bark, enchant the eye.
The greenery of the strewn garlands on the long thin rods of the branches falling to the ground in the summer confirms the triumph of nature blooming in all its glory.
Description of a birch leaf with its unique carving at any time of the year often becomes the central theme of many lyrical works.
Gold birch "clothing", shining under the blue azure of the autumn sky, decorates the whole earth with stunning shades, saturating the farewell ceremony until spring with unique colorful decoration. No wonder that autumn was the favorite season of our greatpoet, Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin: "… Eyes of charm! … Lush nature withering, forests dressed in crimson and gold …"
And, of course, a fabulous winter that turns a beautiful birch into a huge fountain of snow splashes and ice floes frozen on the branches and sparkling with a brilliant shine in the sun of a clear frosty day.
Historical background
Characteristically and quite interesting description of a birch for children can be conveyed through folk omens and peasant folk art.
The sacred tree, as our common ancestors, the Slavs, considered the birch, personified beauty, the radiance of light and the purity of a woman.
The white-barreled beauty was honored on a holiday specially allotted for her, according to church canons - Semik, when she received special attention. Young girls decorated the birch with ribbons and flowers, wove wreaths on their heads, sang songs and danced 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 the leaves were already blooming.
If birch sap was tasted in the spring, and it turned out to be tasteless, it was believed that there would be a rich harvest of bread.
The birch also suggested what the summer would be like. If she dissolves her leaves before the alder, then the summer will be dry. If vice versa, then rainy.
The tree also talked about spring and winter with great coincidence. Early spring came, if the top began to turn yellow first, late - from the bottom. And the snow covered the ground late, if in early October the birch was still dressed.
As can be seen from the examples, a lot is said about the birch in riddles, and in fairy tales, and poems.
February Blue
It would seem, where is the birch? But even here, it turns out, it is easy to raise the level of education for children by expanding their horizons when they get acquainted with a very famous work of painting.
Often attracted many painters to a snowy 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.
So is Igor Emmanuilovich Grabar. He painted a painting widely known to the public, and not only in Russia, under the picturesque name "February Blue".
Having created his masterpiece and telling the story of his writing afterwards, 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 holiday of the azure sky, pearl birches, coral branches and sapphire shadows on lilac snow.
Therefore, having looked at this work at least once, you can easily remember the image of a birch and quickly transfer yourself to that fresh winter mood that its author put into the picture.
Memorable images of birch
The description of birch for children in grade 3, as well as other age categories, can be continued by accurately noticed characteristic "birch" features, some of which have become almost inseparable phrases - blond birch, sticky leaves, delicate spring greens, earrings and outfit emerald colors, silk curls, white-trunked beauty, lacy 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 "drooping birch", the description of which can be found in biology textbooks.
About the title
The word "birch", in Latin betulus, is translated as "blessed", "happy". 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 - “cut”, “beat”. Most likely, because the bars 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", "clean".
Biology about birch
Description of birch for children can be continued with biological characteristics.
Crown, trunk and roots are the main components of a tree, like other similar species. Distinctive features are: well-definedtrunk, the presence of side branches and apical shoots. This is its basic biological description. The birch tree grows at a relatively slow pace at first, but after a few years, development becomes rapid.
Biologists have about 120 species of birches. The tree grows up to 40 meters in height. However, there are varieties of it as a shrub, including those that develop with their shoots on the ground.
The root system of birches is represented by powerful superficial and deep underground branches, thanks to which the tree is quite stable. However, the central main rod dies off. Further vital activity is carried out due to lateral shoots, which form 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, easily separated by strips. Below, the tree has a darkly colored trunk with large cracks giving it a rough appearance.
Description of birch for children can be given through comparison with other similar representatives of groves. Where there are many different trees - both young and old, and thin-stemmed, and low, and tall - the bright bark stands out especially. And the birch grove seems weightless and saturated with freshness and purity.
Benefits of wood
Birch is especially loved by scientists studying history. 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 were placed various letters. It was thanks to them that we were able to reach information about ancient life and features of life.
Boxes, boxes, boats, shoes were also items that could only be obtained through this tree.
Birch is also useful for humans as a simple plant. It purifies 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 would like to say that the birch was, is and will be a symbol of our great Motherland. It is good both in summer and in winter. And it will please the eye for a long time if we maintain a good attitude towards nature.
