Writing from Experience: Hot Chocolate
BraveWriter Keen Observation Assignment : Descriptive writing using the five senses. Hot Chocolate.
Category: Educational Activities
Freewriting Fun: Take it Outside
Walking and writing… this is our writing focus this week. We’ve been experiencing beautiful, warm fall weather, an ideal time
La Brea Tar Pits: Page Museum
Over the holidays, we made the trek down to Los Angeles to visit family. As soon as my son heard
5 Best Places to Bird Watch in the Bay Area
Thank you to guest writer, Ernie Allison, for sharing this article! *** Even though summer isn’t the peak season to
Halloween Fun: Spooky Night Hike
Saturday evening, we went on a fun “spooky night hike” at Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont. My son was
Mono Lake: Panum Crater
Due to the government shutdown during our visit to Yosemite National Park last week, we decided to head over to
Autumn Walk: Acorns
Looking for sings of fall just outside of Yosemite this past weekend… my son was fixated on acorns.
Animal Fun! Sulphur Creek Nature Center, Hayward
I’ve been wanting to write about the Sulphur Creek Nature Center for a long time now. When my son was
Solar Cooking Science: Melting Marshmallows
We had a bit of fun on Friday afternoon, melting marshmallows to make s’mores, using the Thames & Kosmos Solar
Framed: Step Into Art Exhibit, Bay Area Discovery Museum
If you are in the area and have the opportunity, I highly suggest you take your little ones to the
Geology for Kids: Crystal Mining Excavation Kit
My son recently received the 4M Kidz Labs Crystal Mining science kit for his birthday. He LOVES these excavation kits
Fun with Magnets: Geomag
We’ve used some fun magnet science kits in the past, but the way my son likes to play with magnets
Pattern: For Love of Dirt
Three photos of my son from our walk through the UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley last week. Can you spot
Create-With-Nature Earth Day Celebration: Sand Globes
Photos of my husband and son making sand globes, from the Create-With-Nature Earth Day Celebration, 2013, at Stinson Beach, California.
Create-With-Nature Earth Day Celebration: Beach Labyrinth
Photos of the labyrinth created in the sand, from the Create-With-Nature Earth Day Celebration, 2013, at Stinson Beach, California. Usually,
Create-With-Nature Earth Day Celebration: Rock Towers
Photos of the evolving outdoor sculpture gallery, from the Create-With-Nature Earth Day Celebration, 2013, at Stinson Beach, California… For more
Weekly Photo Challenge: Change (Seed Update)
Some of you requested that I post updates about the growth of the seeds we planted in our root viewer.
Observe: Insect Activity
What cool insect, arachnid (spider), or mollusk (snail) activity can you find around your yard? Has your child watched a
Kid Science: Make a Seed Viewer
Seeds… how incredible that plants of all sizes can grow from such a tiny thing. If you’ve gardened with a
Kid Science: Owl Pellet Dissection
Owls are fascinating creatures. They have a special organ (gizzard) that stores the undigestible parts of their prey, preventing these
Great book! Friends of the Earth: A History of American Environmentalism
In preparation for Earth Day next month, I’m currently reading a wonderful book… Friends of the Earth: A History of
Photography for Kids: Fun with an iPhone
I enjoyed a fun walk around our neighborhood on Monday with my son, looking for signs of spring. My son
Looking for Signs of Spring: A Walk Around the Neighborhood
After school on Monday, we went for a walk around our neighborhood to look for signs of spring. As an
Paleontology Play: Dinosaur Skeleton Excavation Kit – Velociraptor
My son has played with a few of these kits in the past, and he absolutely LOVES them. This one,
Citizen Science: FrogWatch 2013
As I sit here at my computer with the backdoor open to allow some fresh air into our home, I’m
Paleontology Play: The Magic School Bus Fossil Science Kit
For those of you with kids in the 5-12 age-range, I highly recommend you check out The Magic School Bus
The Calming Effect of Nature on Children
One of the great things about playing in nature is that bouts of exertion and excitement are often interspersed with
More Fun with Animal Tracks
This past weekend, we attended a fun nature class at Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont. This free class for
Nature Walk: Animal Tracks
A fun activity to do a few days after a good rain is head to a nearby creek and look
Seymour Marine Discovery Center, Santa Cruz
The Seymour Marine Discovery Center, located in Santa Cruz on the bluffs above the Monterey Bay, is a true gem.
