We want children to have positive experiences when they visit the center and making learning fun while engaging the students is “huge” in my mind. No child ever came up to me and said, “Thanks for doing that worksheet with me. … I will never forget it!”

But I have been thanked by children who have held a worm or tasted sun-warmed berries or played in a puddle. Children are going to remember “exploding” popcorn right before their eyes — no microwave popcorn for us — far longer than remembering the worksheet we did about seed coats. And touching jewelweed seed pods and watching them explode — that’s something they are going to remember and it makes for a positive connection to nature.

One of the programs we do with visiting second-graders is all about seeds and plants.

My favorite activity focuses on explaining how tough some seed coats are by using the popcorn popper to “explode” popcorn kernels.

Of course, eating those exploded seeds is fun, too. In order to reinforce the lesson, the rule is no one eats the popcorn until we figure out where the seed coat “went” and what fluffy “stuff” actually is.

In nature with the right conditions there are tiny explosions going on all around us if we stop long enough to notice them. And that leads to another activity when we go hiking with the children.

Jewelweed is an annual plant that reseeds itself quite well.

The plants can be found in areas where the soil is on the damp side growing in either direct sun or in the partial shade, depending on the species. It grows to a height of between 3-5 feet and has large, bright green, glossy leaves that have a greasy feel. The bottom sides of the leaves are covered with tiny air bubbles that cause the leaves to appear to be silver or “jeweled” when held underwater. These plants can be found near the rivers, swamps, woodlands, edges of the forests and areas near the roads.

Jewelweed grows quickly and easily and in some places is classified as invasive species. Blooming from late spring to early fall the flowers are trumpet shaped and hang above the foliage. Most of us are familiar with this common plant with its orange flowers and dark red dots and lines. This plant is also known as “Touch-me-not.”

All that is needed is a very gentle touch of the seed pod to make the pods burst open, propelling the seeds 4 to 8 feet away from the mother plant. These little pods never cease to amaze the second-graders every time one “explodes.”

And, honestly, it’s fun for us, too. Honeybees, bumblebees, hummingbirds and various butterflies are responsible for the pollination of this plant and for spreading seeds.

Jewelweed is best known for its skin healing properties. The leaves and the juice from the stem of jewelweed are used as a treatment for poison ivy, poison oak and other plant-induced rashes.

Jewelweed works by counter-reacting with the chemicals in other plants that cause irritation. Poultices and salves from jewelweed are a folk remedy for bruises, burns, cuts, eczema, insect bites, sores, sprains, warts, and ringworm.

So these “weeds” are beautiful, help pollinators, have medicinal qualities and delight us with exploding seed pods. Not bad for a weed. One of my favorite author’s quotes sums it up nicely: “Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them.” — A.A. Milne