The Seymour Marine Discovery Center, located in Santa Cruz on the bluffs above the Monterey Bay, is a true gem. Don’t expect the grandeur of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, but be prepared for a smaller, quieter, more intimate experience here. The location is phenomenal. On a clear day, the views can’t be beat. Inside theContinue reading “Seymour Marine Discovery Center, Santa Cruz”
Category Archives: Homeschooling
Neighborhood: Lizard
We enjoyed a walk around our neighborhood yesterday, to look for some “signs of fall” and to collect leaves. It was another hot day here in the San Francisco East Bay… in the 80’s! This does not feel like November, but we can’t complain. The lizards are loving it, too! Also from this walk: Neighborhood: Continue reading “Neighborhood: Lizard”
Boo at the Zoo, 2012
Yesterday we attended the annual Boo at the Zoo event at the Oakland Zoo. Kids wear their Halloween costumes and participate in a bunch of fun activities. It was a hot day today (back into the 80’s), so I talked my son out of wearing his thick, black ninja costume. The highlight for myContinue reading “Boo at the Zoo, 2012”
Rockin’ Experiment 3: Make Metamorphic Cookies
The final project in our three-part geology series, tailored for early elementary aged kids, is about metamorphic rocks. The focus of this experiment is to show “rocks” can change through heat, compression, and time. The “rocks” in this project are actually cookies. We made cookies, making some observations about the “minerals” (ingredients) we put intoContinue reading “Rockin’ Experiment 3: Make Metamorphic Cookies”
Silent Saturday: Trail Through Time, Rock City, Mount Diablo
Photos from a hike in Mount Diablo State Park earlier this week with my Nature Time playgroup. We hiked a section of the Trail Through Time, from the Rock City parking lot to (and up) Sentinel Rock, allowing the kids to climb and play on and in the limestone rock structures and caves as muchContinue reading “Silent Saturday: Trail Through Time, Rock City, Mount Diablo”
Rockin’ Experiment 2: Make a Sedimentary Sandwich
This the second in our three-part exploration of rocks. I’m teaching my 5-year-old about the three kinds of rocks (igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic), what they are made of, and how they are created. All three science experiments are being conducted in the kitchen. Today, we’re learning about sedimentary rocks. *** First, discuss with your childContinue reading “Rockin’ Experiment 2: Make a Sedimentary Sandwich”
Rockin’ Experiment 1: A Lava-licious Igneous Meltdown
I found each of the experiments in this three-part geology series for young kids in the book, Kindergarten Success, by Jill Frankel Hauser. The first, from the book, is “Igneous Meltdown”, an exploration in how magma (rock melted deep in the earth from heat and pressure) flows out of the earth as lava, which, asContinue reading “Rockin’ Experiment 1: A Lava-licious Igneous Meltdown”
It’s Earth Science Week!
Earth Science Week is going on right now, this week, October 14th-20th. This international “event” is put on by the American Geosciences Institute (AGI) “to help the public gain a better understanding and appreciation for the Earth Sciences and to encourage stewardship of the Earth.” Sounds like a great time to teach our kids aContinue reading “It’s Earth Science Week!”
Devils Postpile National Monument
If you’re ever in the Eastern Sierras near Mammoth Lakes, you’ve gotta check out Devils Postpile. This place is incredible, and unlike anywhere else I’ve visited in California. The only other place I can personally compare it to is the Giants Causeway in Northern Ireland. Both places have these fascinating basalt hexagonal columns. You haveContinue reading “Devils Postpile National Monument”
A Fall Tradition: Corn Picking
For more information about the festival, see my post… This Weekend! Harvest Festival, Ardenwood Historic Farm
Nature Treasure Hunt: Autumn
I ready about going on a winter treasure hunt in Clare Walker Leslie’s book, The Nature Connection, and I thought it would be a fun thing to do during the fall, too, with some slight modifications. Here’s how you do it… On a sheet of paper (one for each child if desired or one paperContinue reading “Nature Treasure Hunt: Autumn”
Rock Art
Take a child into nature where there are rocks and watch what the child does. Either the child will pick them up and throw them or he’ll build rock statues. Photos taken Friday, October 5th, 2012, Tioga Lake, California.
Project FeederWatch
As I wrote the other day (Let’s Count Stars!), we enjoy participating in citizen science projects. It’s a fun way to contribute to scientific research and learn about science at the same time. I wrote earlier in the week about participating in the Great World Wide Star Count. Perhaps stargazing isn’t your thing, but you’dContinue reading “Project FeederWatch”
Let’s Count Stars!
I’m always on the lookout for citizen science projects that would be fun to do with my son. I believe it’s a great way to teach science and get kids involved in a real-life project. Of course, this isn’t just for kids! Participating in citizen science projects is a wonderful way for people of allContinue reading “Let’s Count Stars!”
Going on a Bug Hunt
While my husband was warming up for his bike race on Saturday (see post here… Cyclo-Cross, Monterey Style), my son recommended we follow one of the nearby trails and go bug hunting. Excellent idea! We keep exploration tools (bug viewer, magnifying glass) with us at all times, so we’re ready to go whenever inspiration strikes.Continue reading “Going on a Bug Hunt”
Environmentalism for Kids: Clean up the Neighborhood
For those of you who have been following my blog for a while, you know my son loves to take walks around the neighborhood to pick up trash. It’s a great, age-appropriate way to introduce young kids to helping the environment. Interested in doing this with your child? It’s about as easy as it gets. Continue reading “Environmentalism for Kids: Clean up the Neighborhood”
Top 5 Nature Activity Books for Families
Looking for a book filled with activities and advice to help you get into nature with your kids? I’ve listed five of my favorites here. I refer to these often in my daily outdoor activities with my now 5-year-old, and have been using a couple of these books since he was two or three. WhileContinue reading “Top 5 Nature Activity Books for Families”
First Signs of Fall
Yesterday, I wrote about taking your child out on walk to look for signs of Autumn (Take a “Signs of Fall” Walk). I didn’t feel the seasons changing yet as I wrote the post, but decided to head out for a walk around our neighborhood with my 5-year-old after I wrote the article. Here’s whatContinue reading “First Signs of Fall”
Take a “Signs of Fall” Walk
Saturday is the first day of Autumn. While it doesn’t quite feel like fall yet here in the San Francisco Bay Area, I know the seasons will begin to change soon. This is a great time to head outdoors with your child to look for the first signs of fall. This walk can be takenContinue reading “Take a “Signs of Fall” Walk”
Go Climb a Tree
We’re lucky to have a couple parks nearby that have great trees for climbing. The kids are drawn as much to playing on these trees as to the man-made play structures in the parks. This one is in Kolb Park in Dublin. Our other favorite climbing tree is in Shannon Park, also in Dublin. DoContinue reading “Go Climb a Tree”
hike.wander.wonder 