I had a lot of fun sharing ideas for learning to read outdoors on Childhood 101 last year. Now Christie and I have put together another great series I think you’ll enjoy – this one on discovering math in the great outdoors. One simple outdoor math game The Little Explorer enjoys at the moment is a twist on a basic nature scavenger hunt. Instead of simply looking for certain … [Read more...]
In Our Library: The Secret Lives of Backyard Bugs
As you might have noticed from the recent posts about roly-polies and nighttime creature hunts, we’re big into getting to know our local backyard bugs at the moment. It seems like a good time to share a resource we’ve found helpful in our research and learning, The Secret Lives of Backyard Bugs. The Secret Lives of Backyard Bugs is written by the sister-and-brother … [Read more...]
Studying Backyard Animals: Roly-Polies
Both of The Explorers enjoy a good bug hunt. Not only do they like searching for backyard animals, they also love the chance to observe them up close for a while. Roly-polies are a fun backyard animal for kids to study. They are fairly easy to find – just check under rocks or potted plants – and slow enough for even the unsteadiest of hands to gently grab without … [Read more...]
Family Friendly Gardens in L.A.: The NHMLA Nature Gardens
We’re big fans of the Natural History Museum here in Los Angeles. What with dinosaurs, stuffed mammals and birds, plus tons of gems and minerals – not to mention the seasonal butterfly and spider pavilions – we can easily spend an entire day there. But guess what? There's an entire outdoor area you don't want to miss. In the spring of 2014, work on the NHMLA Nature … [Read more...]
50+ Easter Gift Ideas for Nature Kids
Spring is on its way, and Easter isn't far behind. Which means this mom is already giving serious thought to what goodies are going in the kids’ Easter baskets this year. When it comes to Easter gift ideas for nature kids, I've got a few up my sleeve. We keep it pretty simple around here. A book, a small toy, something educational and a favorite sweet treat are usually what … [Read more...]