Outdoor School

Outdoor Preschool Norway
This feature shares a new but perhaps very old idea of learning.  Nature and experience being the teacher.  My son will start an outdoor pre-school once a week this fall.  I hope he gains all the magic that these Norwegian children are experiencing.

a solstice gift

Happy Solstice!  This year our family made some hanging bird feeders as gifts for family and friends.  It was a messy and fun project that winter birds in your area will appreciate.  There are lots of tutorials all over the internet on different methods to use.  We could not find lots of large pine cones so we recycled toilet paper rolls and they worked just fine.

We started by making holes in the top of the toilet paper roll and tying a ribbon or yarn through them.

Slathering on the peanut butter.

and then rolling them in a birdseed mix.

wrap in cellophane and tie with a ribbon.

A lovely gift for the birds and probably a few squirrels depending on where you hang it.
Wishing you a happy solstice and a wonderful festive season.
See you in 2012.

A Wonderful Autumn Project

Just a fun link to share of a fall wreath project to display the bounty of the season!

Nature Collage Frame at Rhythm of the Home

Learning about time with collage

Hello all!
I wanted to share a little project that my 3 year old and I did recently.  He has developed an interest in time: "When will I be 4?"
"When will it snow?"
"When does soccer class start?"

So in the interest of helping him understand time passing, seasons, months and weeks we made a simple collage with calendars and activities recorded.  Granted he can't read yet but we can look at it together and learn from the images and words.

This can be as elaborate or simple as you want and we created this from what we had on hand.  I found the calendar template here, we used old magazines for images, coloured paper, a pressed maple leaf and crayons.  You could also incorporate stickers, family photos or other artwork. Bristol board, a long roll of paper (what we used) or even fabric could be used for the background.

Things can be added throughout the season, you can make them reusable for next year or recycle them and start fresh.  I plan to do this project each season this year so I'm keeping a look out for any materials we can use in the future.

This is also a great way for kids to learn to use scissors, glue or other mediums like paint or pastels.  The beauty of this is that we did it in a day sporadically.  If you have more than one child you can make one for each of them so that the dates or holidays that they consider special can be highlighted.  Right now ours is in the family room but I think we'll move it into Kyan's room in a few weeks.

 
What I love about collage is that there is no "right" way to do it.  Any child at any age can participate and make this project their own.  As an added bonus I found this book at the library this week.  It delves into the concept of time from seconds to seasons and has deepened the conversation.  

I came across this amazingly powerful challenge a bit too late in the year to implement with my kindergarten students, but wanted to share for all you homeschooling mamas & papas.  Looking at your environment now gives you plenty of time to plan ahead for a future project that would benefit our planet.

Here is what the site says about Siemens:

Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge is "the only national sustainability challenge that empowers students in every grade level to develop and share environmental solutions that just may change the world!"

The process seems simple:

• Go online.  Create a team. 
• Brainstorm with your children an environmental change that needs to be addressed in your home, classroom or school. 
• Come up with a plan to address the problem and implement the plan.

I really want to do something with lunch waste... both recyclable and compostable.  Not sure exactly how to gather data and what to do yet, but I guess that is what next year's kiddos will help me decide.

Please go check out the challenge and consider signing up next school year.  The environmental impact alone is enough of a reason for me, but there are prizes too... really BIG prizes. 

I could list the prizes for you here, but I really want you to take a look at the site for yourself.  I think you just might be interested.

What environmental issue do you think your children could address?

Nature Bag for the Kidlets

Honoring the earth and loving nature is at the essence of all my pagan beliefs.  With that being said, I want my children to love Mother Earth and all she has to offer as much I do. 

My mom got the boys the coolest gift.  I know it will travel many places with my little ones and get much use as we explore the wonderful outdoors.

The Nature Bag is amazing.  Not only is it made from organic cotton, but the contents are all recycled, organic, and fair trade items.

The bag contains...

• all season activity booklet
• hemp twine
• recycled notebook
• 8 colour cards
• organic cotton blindfold
• recycled pencil
• rubberwood magnifying glass
• soy based crayons &
• 2 leaf viewers.

Read this excerpt from the website...
"Nature bag - the little (organic) nature activity bag that can.......

• connect children with their natural environment
• offer a hands–on, curiosity led alternative to TV and video games
• support the psychological and emotional well being of children through their interaction with nature
• create for our planet, stewards of the future
• contribute to the source of income of families in KV Kuppam, a district in Southern India, through the manufacturing of the organic cotton bag and bandanna in their factory
• provide you with the choice of buying an earth-friendly product."

Little J and I already put the bag to the test.  JJ gave it two thumbs up. 

As we hiked in the woods, he would stop and pull out various items to use in his exploration.  He was so cute during our journey.  He even made a point to move branches and thorns, so that I could meander my way through the brush.

I have not had the chance to sit down and really delve into the contents, but as soon as I do I'll let you know.  I am going to plan a couple activities that will get the boys acquainted with the contents of the bag.  I hope this will encourage their exploration even further.

So, what gifts did your children get over the holiday?

What gift just left you thinking... Wow, what a great idea?

Seasonal Scrapbook

An activity that has become one that my daughter enjoys immensely is filling in our family seasonal scrapbook.  She is very particular about what she likes to put in it and doesn't really like to listen to my suggestions but the important thing is that it really gets her thinking about and discussing the seasonal changes that can otherwise easily pass us by. Above is her first exploration of autumn.

What I think is lovely about this idea is that everyone in the family can contribute and think about it. As time passes we can look back over the pages and compare the ideas and impressions we came up with. The possibilities are endless and I have found this a really valuable tool for both developing a link for children with nature and working on their other skills of writing, communication and creativity.

Blessings of the season to all of you, I hope you all have a wonderful Mabon.