As Big Brother is getting older it's really interesting to see both his interests and skills develop into more specific skill sets. Lately he's been really interested in the building of things (mostly stemming from a love of Legos, Magnatiles, and our wooden railroad track.) As he leans that way I'm finding myself looking for other creative ways to develop those interests and skills. A few weeks ago he had the chance to observe a beaver dam up close with my husband on one of their nature walks. This lead to some great questions. A few days later I followed up with a drive to a local man made dam which he was able to inspect from a distance. When we came home I set up this building investigation in the yard. It was inspired by a great tinfoil river activity we did last year from the amazing book 101 Kids Activities That Are the Bestest, Funnest Ever by the team over at Kids Activities Blog. Similar to that experience, we used tinfoil to create a river (this time on our lawn.) This time we set it up on slight slope. The boys and I also collected natural materials from around the yard that might be useful in building the dam. We collected sticks, acorns, rocks, and old reeds from lilies. I added in a few non-natural materials I also thought Big Brother might want to use: modeling clay, popsicle sticks, and lumber scraps. Big Brother's goal was to be able to get his dam to hold enough water so that these three acorn boats could float. It was so interesting to watch his process, which mostly involved trial and error. First he started with just a pile of the wooden natural materials. When he observed the water move through those, he decided to try using more rocks. With each trial he would tweak his design a little, before trying again. In the end I encouraged him (although I was really trying to let it be his process to try using a little clay. I led him to the idea that he had seen mud on the beaver dams.) He started to get into the idea of building a space for the water to collect. He never quite got to the place where all the boats could continuously float, although his last design definitely best slowed down the water. He continued to tinker on his dam a few more days, and even brainstorm other materials he would like to add in. (Including trying to find some clay like mud on our property.) We'll definitely be looking for other ways to invite building experiences. What do your children like to build? This post may also have been shared at some of these terrific link parties.
We turned a recent walk in the forest into a lesson on symmetry- such a fun, hands-on way for kids to learn math! We searched for symmetry outside and even created our own symmetry art using nature we had found on our walk! Follow our Math for Kids Pinterest board! Learning opportunities are everywhere you look. …
Make A Birds Nest STEAM Challenge. Can you build a nest using natural materials just like real birds do? No glue or tape allowed!
Do you love exploring nature with your children and teens? Are you looking to add more nature study to your homeschool routine? If so, I have some fantastic ideas for you. From nature study programs and curricula to incredible nature books, to learning with games, to creating your very own nature explorer backpack. I've got you covered, nature lovers! Our family loves to explore and learn about nature via hikes, fantastic nature books, educational games, and more! We are a family of nature lovers. Each one of us would prefer to be outside than indoors. We hike all the time.
Explore different soil samples to discover the rocks, sediments and natural materials that make it up with this simple earth science experiment for kids.
Regenerative design: meet the creatives taking a rooting interest in learning from nature
Nature is fascinating but easily overlooked. Exploring nature with children is such a fun family activity. So explore with iMOM's conversation starters.
Children use their design thinking skills and powers of observation to create and construct a bird nest.
Montessori & Waldorf Inspired Homeschool Room full of natural materials to explore and discover all day. THE BEST WAY TO LEARN & PLAY, Natural Beach Living
Welcome to the world of tiny houses with lofts! These small yet mighty homes have taken the world by storm, offering a unique and affordable way to live in style. With their clever use of space and innovative designs, tiny houses with lofts are perfect for those who want to downsize without sacrificing comfort or […]
Nunzio Paci is an artist from Bologna, Italy, who creates paintings exploring the relationship between humans and nature. On his website Nunzio states: “My whole work deals with the relationship between man and Nature, in particular with animals and plants. The focus of my observation is body with its mutations. My intention is to explore […]
Mini Wave Model: A little wave goes a long way! The mini wave model is small but mighty. With just a few minutes of set-up, it's just as good at demonstrating as its bigger siblings. This is a great model for waves that move, reflect, stand, and wiggle, perfect for…
Explore different soil samples to discover the rocks, sediments and natural materials that make it up with this simple earth science experiment for kids.
What's the best way to learn anatomy? Tinkering.
Sprouting House What would it be like to live in a home that didn’t protect you from the weather? Photo Essay Slideshow Full Screen Supplies (Adult help needed) 4 colorful sponges scissors toothpicks small bowl shallow dish 3 tbsp. seeds (chia, alfalfa and/or wheat berry) water misting spray bottle Step 1 Cut three sponges in…
Life cycle, in biology, the series of changes that the members of a species undergo as they pass from the beginning of a given developmental stage to the inception of that same developmental stage in a subsequent generation. Learn more about life cycles.
To make magical fairy wind streamers of your own, all you need are a few strips of old material and a stick and you’re ready to go. No wind required!
Are you looking to bring the beauty of nature into your school routine? Check out our free nature book list! This list contains over 100 beautiful nature books that make celebrating the changing seasons special.
Innovative construction methods are always exciting, and this Pumice house in New Zealand used 200 bales of barley straw, a waste product, to create an innovative sculptural vacation property. The house has a gorgeous first-floor bedroom with a roll-away TV, and a unique bathroom with a scultped shower stall. The bales are covered in a [...]
A tree holds immense beauty in all its seasons of life. Flowering blossoms in bright hues adorn a tree in springtime. Lush green leaves on the tree reach out for the sun of summer while casting their cooling shade across the fields. Brilliant red, orange, and yellow leaves glow like embers with the shortening days
I always enjoy the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch and I always organise events at school for the Big Schools’ Birdwatch. I watch birds every day, all year, both in my garden and via all my live ca…
These tree bark boats are a simple and fun way to keep your children occupied outside! All the materials you need are already out there...go get started!
Kensington Palace has shared snaps of green-fingered Kate hard at work during the landscaping process of her creation for the Chelsea Flower Show - a 'Back to Nature' garden.
Tree of Life, ecofriendly A3 Print, Wall Art Poster, Infographic, Correspondence Chart, Celtic, Pagan, Druid, Tree of Life print. ~°* Details *°~ This infographic poster and correspondence chart can be used as a resource for learning and deepening your practice of Nature-based spirituality. It can also be used as a beautiful wall art poster. In ancient Earth-based religions including Celtic, Druid and Pagan practices, trees were often seen as the bridge between the worlds. This wall art poster illustrates this aspect of universal Shamanic cosmology and introduces you to a way of working with the tree image to navigate consciousness. The tree itself acts as a map to travel to different inner dimensions, like the nine worlds on the Norse World-tree Yggdrasil. The poster also has instructions for a powerful centring practice that is highly beneficial to anchor and ground us before and after any ritual or healing work. ~°* Material *°~ You will receive a high-quality eco-print on 250gsm uncoated poster paper, printed by a professional UK-based eco-printing company in Devon. ~°* Size *°~ A3, 29.7 x 42 cm or 11.7 x 16.5 inches. ~°* Shipping *°~ Posted in a sturdy mailing tube on a weekly basis by Royal Mail, fast and reliable, free UK delivery included. ~°* Policy and Commitment *°~ In the unlikely case of loss or damage during delivery, I am committed to resending a second copy of the print without any additional costs to my customers after a six-week waiting period to accommodate potential delays. ~°* Forestheart *°~ To be part of my unfolding exploration of nature-inspired creativity and magical artwork, as well as workshop offerings and storytelling events, please feel free to connect with me and follow my work on social media or via my website: Website ~ https://www.forestheart.co.uk Facebook ~ https://www.facebook.com/yannick.dubois.1986 Instagram ~ https://www.instagram.com/forestheart.art Etsy ~ https://www.etsy.com/shop/forestheartcelticart
Tristan Gooley, author of THE NATURAL NAVIGATOR demonstrates how it is possible to connect profoundly with the lands we travel through. In THE NATURAL EXPLORER he combines the work of the some of the most insightful travellers of the past two thousand years with his own experience. From the author of How To Read Water, The Sunday Times Book Of The Year. The most rewarding travel experiences do not depend on our destination or the length of our journey, but on our levels of awareness. A short walk can compare with an epic journey, when we take the time to focus on the things that dramatically enrich each journey. Exploration is no longer about hardship or long distances, it is about celebrating the sense of connection and discovery that is possible in all our travels.
Flowers 'n' spice and everything nice went into these lovely little mandalas!
Educational nature and wildlife activities you can enjoy with children of all ages, using natural found materials or everyday items you can find at home. Exploring trees and woods 30+ activity idea…
WOW Wonders of Water is part of It's Your Planet-Love It series. 1. Explore the wonders of water by finding out more about its importance and how it's used around the world. 2. Plan a Take Action project, such as making informative posters, promoting recycling at school, or planting low-water gardens. 3. Earn 4 leadership awards: The LOVE Water Award, the SAVE Water Award, the SHARE Water Award, and the WOW! Award. If you're a Girl Scout volunteer, go to Volunteer Toolkit for complete meeting pl
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. I love loose parts. I love playing with loose parts and sharing loose parts with other educators. My hope is when adults mess about with loose parts that there will be…
Using these ten free nature study lessons, you'll learn just how wonderful nature study can be for your homeschool in any season.
Enjoy this list of free nature notebooking printables and resources. This page will be updated regularly, so be sure to Pin or bookmark! Last updated 6/2/16 General notebooking pages, logs, observation sheets Donna Young Nature Journal Ranger Rick’s Nature Notebook Homeschool Helper Notebooking Handbook of Nature Study Pages Notebooking Nook Nature Explorations Field Journal Highland [...]
To introduce my students to the concept of different materials (and that materials have different purposes depending on what they are being used for) we began with a hunt around our classroom. I wanted to see if students understood what “materials” meant and also how many different ones they could identify. I was impressed with […]
Explore the natural materials of Grapat Joguines! This set of 3 Dark Wood Nins in warm colors is a beautifully rich material to offer children for imaginary play. What can a child do with a set of Nins? Gather a town full of friends Tell a story featuring these colorful figures Engage in dollhouse or castle play Count or sort into groups Peg people don't have faces nor gender allowing for children to develop their own ideas and narratives.
How to Carve a Flax Boat: Today I am going to show you how to carve a flax boat out of a New Zealand flax seed stalk and a few of its leaves. This seed stalk is a light-weight material that has a hard outer layer with soft wood in the center. The main tool you will need for …
Teaching heredity in elementary school can be really fun and informational for younger students! This post shares a fun activity for teaching heredity.
How does a group of more than twenty 5 - 7 year old children write a story together that they all feel they proudly authored in the end? Slowly, as an adult listens carefully, and with lots of time to play. That is how this year's Lantern Walk story came...
Discover the benefits of nature-based early childhood education, activities, and curricula. Foster a lifelong connection with nature.
Cosmic Creations coalesce consciousness through the exploration of the Quadrivium. The goal is to understand the nature of reality, while purging materialism from the collective unconscious, uniting duality, and returning harmony to the Noosphere. "The harmony of the world is made manifest in form and number, and the heart and soul and all the poetry
