BraveWriter Keen Observation Assignment : Descriptive writing using the five senses. Hot Chocolate.
Category Archives: Homeschooling
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 to head outdoors for some writing. The assignment? The daily focus may vary, but every day, my son is to take a walk and then complete a 10-20 minute freewrite about the experience. What isContinue reading “Freewriting Fun: Take it Outside”
Photography 101: Treasure
While drinking my morning tea, just a few minutes after I looked up the photography theme for today, my son ran in from the backyard and excitedly said, “look at these treasures I just found!” Perfect! The challenge? WordPress Photography 101: Treasure
Treasures: A Nature Basket
My son collects soooo many sticks, rocks, feathers, nuts, and other cool stuff during our outings that his “treasures” have become a bit overwhelming. In order to provide a space for his favorite discoveries, I gave him a basket. We call it his “nature basket”, and it’s where the best finds are kept. *** WordPressContinue reading “Treasures: A Nature Basket”
Birding: American Kestrel
I’ve been spending a lot of time at home lately with my son, who’s now sick with his third cold (flu?) in four weeks. Today we had to get out for some fresh air. At around lunchtime, we heard our local Great Horned Owl hoo-hooing. I know it isn’t a typical night-time owl walk, butContinue reading “Birding: American Kestrel”
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 witness a heavy migration, the bay area is still full of spots for birders to see some beautiful wild bird species. Whether you’re a local looking to quench your bird watching craving before the migrationContinue reading “5 Best Places to Bird Watch in the Bay Area”
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 two and three, we visited the center regularly for their awesome toddler wildlife classes (for 1-3 year-olds). I found it was the best place in the San Francisco East Bay to give my son hands-onContinue reading “Animal Fun! Sulphur Creek Nature Center, Hayward”
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 Cooking Science kit. After a week of higher than 100 degree Fahrenheit heat, the weather finally cooled down to a high of 80 degrees on Friday…. cool enough for us to head outside for aContinue reading “Solar Cooking Science: Melting Marshmallows”
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 (see this post about a similar kit, also made by 4M.. Paleontology Play: Dinosaur Skeleton Excavation Kit – Velociraptor). My son is super into rocks and minerals these days, so this was a timely gift. Continue reading “Geology for Kids: Crystal Mining Excavation Kit”
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 best is through building toys. We have three different kinds… Magna-Tiles, Magformers, and Geomag. I credit my son’s strong understanding of geometric shapes to playing with these magnetic toys. Geomag building kits come with magneticContinue reading “Fun with Magnets: Geomag”
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 the pattern? Yep! No matter where we go, he’s playing in the dirt. Photos taken May 5th, 2013 *** Weekly Photo Challenge: Pattern
Connecting Kids With Nature: How Grandparents Can Help
Are you a grandparent who would like to help connect your grandchild(ren) with the natural world? Check out these great tips from Richard Louv… Grand Ideas! 21 Great Ways Grandparents and Grandfriends Can Connect Kids to Nature. What wonderful ways to bond! My dad and my son, then three, gardening together (Tip #9: Create aContinue reading “Connecting Kids With Nature: How Grandparents Can Help”
Fun! Great American Backyard Campout
The Great American Backyard Campout is coming up on June 22nd, 2013. It’s time to start planning now! What is the Great American Backyard Campout? It’s an event created by the National Wildlife Federation and their “Be Out There” campaign to reconnect kids with nature and the outdoors. On the 4th Saturday of every June,Continue reading “Fun! Great American Backyard Campout”
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. Instruction was provided. Apparently, once these are made, they’ll keep indefinitely, as long as they are misted with water daily. We won’t be able to find out… my son had fun using the ones theyContinue reading “Create-With-Nature Earth Day Celebration: Sand Globes”
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, these are made for meditation, but that’s not how my five-year-old used it. He had so much fun running around and around and around the winding path. Either way, the design was appropriate for theContinue reading “Create-With-Nature Earth Day Celebration: Beach Labyrinth”
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 information about the celebration, visit the official website… 9th Annual Free Create-With-Nature Earth Day Celebration. All photos taken April 20th, 2013.
Three Classic Backyard Games: Fun For Kids and Adults
It can be tough to find outdoor games that are truly fun for both children and adults. Here are three of our family favorites…. Croquet, Bocce, and Cornhole. My brother and his wife always have these games set up when they have parties at their home. So fun! Croquet I grew up playing Croquet inContinue reading “Three Classic Backyard Games: Fun For Kids and Adults”
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. Here’s what we saw on day eight! Interested in making your own root viewer? Check out the directions here… Kid Science: Make a Seed Viewer. *** Weekly Photo Challenge: Change
Fun! Rope Swing
Photo taken April 13th, 2013
hike.wander.wonder 