Celebrate EARTH DAY! and the natural world all around us with simple supplies. Try making “Layers of Soil” dirt cups!
Simple materials, and using fine motor skills and cognitive recognition — {{{Great for preschoolers, kids, tweens, teenagers, and grandparents}}}
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I think I might be considered “a nag” – but nagging about cleaning-up, recycling, clutter management, and opportunities to reuse old items, and so forth – seems absolutely reasonable when presented with books and learning about how to care for our global communities and planet. “What A Waste” by Jess French, is another great book designed for kids about recycling and renewables.
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It’s time to rock & roll! If you are often at a desk, or living within a city or suburb – getting outside, breathing in crisp clean air, and taking in the lush landscape of a tucked away Nature Center can feel like a spa, if not even surreal. The friendly forest vibe makes for an awesome escape, and kids love it too. There are stones to throw, sticks to race, creatures to chase, and sometimes a stream to touch. Make a day of it, you will not be disappointed.
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They fly above our heads, nest in the trees, feed at the feeders, and graze the grass looking around for wiggly worm snacks – all the while singing beautiful sounds. Birds! What is not to be curious about?! “The Big Book of Birds” by Yuval Zommer is a beautiful reference for some unanswered inquiries, or just simply reading to find out more.
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Seasonal transition is such a magical time, particularly when the transformation is from cold-and-barren to lush-and-abundant. To celebrate Plum, Almond or Cherry Blossoms is a noteworthy ritual, with their blooms announcing annually that “Spring is Springing!” – It is a observance that is incredibly rewarding to experience.
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An optimistic, although “not-so-fun-fact” book for kids about recycling and waste management. Opportunities exist, but this book does explore the reality that most people do not individually follow-through. As discouraging as this transformation process can be, the moment for collective action has never been better.
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Cities are pretty fascinating. So much goes into the development, care and maintenance of our collective living space. They are such a natural curiosity for kids – recycling and waste management trucks, electrical wires and poles (where birds and shoes sometimes rest), ongoing construction, bridges – and more. Cities are literally STEAM is applied form: science, technology, engineering, art & design, as well as mathematics! This book is a fun play on book design as well, with liftable flaps for showcasing some of the “hidden gears” at work within a city, as well as making the entire reading experience more interactive, by way of fine motor skills usage and gentle care.
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Well, it’s not Rocket Science – it’s Natural Science! And it is all around us, all of the time. Getting the ball rolling on the realities of our natural world is not just some hippie nonsense – it is science! And science is knowledge – inconvenient truths an all.
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Worms are a notable part of childhood. They are crawling in the dirt, and sometimes on the sidewalk. They can be something that grosses you out, or something to pick-up and explore. Whatever the case, they are an important part of our eco-system! Finding out more is a pleasure with this informative book by Wendy Pfeffer, with lovely illustrations from Steve Jenkins.
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A take along guide, or recap opportunity. Children do observe nature – from spotting nests and birds in the trees, to finding a robin’s egg shell on the ground – it is really fun exploring our natural world. Mel Boring’s “Take-Along Guide” series introduce a certain academic element – documenting everyday observances with fun facts and easy-to-try experiments.
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