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nature

Fun Kids Activity How to Make Wildflower Seed Bombs

March 8, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

This fun wildflower seed bomb activity can be done anytime of the year. Check out more ideas too at Free Wildflowers Unit Study & Lapbook.

Are you spending some time in nature in your homeschool? Gardening? Exploring wildflower fields or forest trails?

Fun Kids Activity How to Make Wildflower Seed Bombs

Making wildflower seed bombs is an easy and fun way to teach kids about plants.

Even when you can’t get outdoors due to weather or you just need to stick close to home you can have a lesson in nature that also turns into a pretty little art project and then a functional thing to enjoy! 

Making homemade seed bombs is a great fine motor activity and can be used as a springboard to talk to your child about how pollinators help keep our food supply going.

Dropping these seed bombs in your garden or container around the yard will draw in beautiful butterflies and bees and they also make lovely homemade gifts.

You can expand on this activity by adding additional activities, books and different themes like butterflies, bees, flowers, and gardening.

Check out these books that I found that match up great with this DIY project.

6 Books About Pollination

Whether you’re learning about how seeds spread or about pollinators, add some of these books to your home library.

What If There Were No Bees?: A Book About the Grassland Ecosystem

Grassland ecosystems can be found on nearly every continent. Countless animals and plants live in them. So what difference could the loss of one animal species make? Follow the chain reaction, and discover how important honey bees are.

Save the Bees (Save the Earth)

Journey with a bee & two inquisitive children to discover the importance of pollinators!

From exciting and adventurous to educational and captivating, Save the Bees tells the story of three friends working together to make Clover's pollination route easier!

This engaging children's book that is perfect for Earth Day teaches about pollination and includes activities after the story is over to interact with the reader directly!

Animal Pollinators (First Step Nonfiction ― Pollination)

Many plants depend on animals to help move pollen around so that the plants can reproduce. Readers will see how hummingbirds, mice, bats, and other animals play a big role in pollination. Simple text and supportive photos and diagrams help readers understand key ideas and details about this important science concept.

What is Pollination? (Big Science Ideas)

Pollination has been in the headlines for the past few years because it directly affects the food supply on Earth. Flowering plants produce fruit or seeds only after pollination. Pollination by insects is a critical function of all land ecosystems. Most orchard fruits, vegetables, and some field crops are pollinated by insects. Pollinators are threatened by pesticides, invasive species, and habitat destruction, but they are especially threatened by a lack of awareness about their importance. This informative book filled with stunning photographs will focus on the critical fact that protecting pollinators means having food to eat. It will help children look at insects in a very different way.
Teacher’s guide available.

A Seed Is Sleepy: Nature Books for Kids

Turn each page to explore the amazing world of these garden wonders through watercolor illustrations that bring to life nature landscapes filled with seeds, flowers, plants, leaves, and trees. A NATURE BOOK TO TREASURE: From tiny redwood seeds to giant coconut seeds, from bright red-orange mountain laurel seeds to pods of fluffy milkweed, curious kids will find a wealth of information and inspiration in this fascinating picture book.

We Are the Gardeners

In the #1 New York Times bestseller We Are the Gardeners, Joanna Gaines and the kids chronicle the adventures of starting their own family garden. From their failed endeavors, obstacles to overcome (bunnies that eat everything), and all of the knowledge they gain along the way, the Gaines family shares how they learned to grow a happy, successful garden.

Whether you have preschoolers or highschoolers they are sure to enjoy this hands-on project and study that pairs nicely with a wildflower unit study.

Seed Bomb Activity

Fun Kids Activity How to Make Wildflower Seed Bombs 2 at Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Garden Crafts for Kids

Here is what you will need:

  • silicone mold
  • hole punch
  • craft paper
  • wildflower seed mix

Homemade Seed Bombs

I like a mix of wildflowers best for seed bombs as vegetables and many other flowers need more spacing, but you can choose from many types to choose yours.

In the spring you might even find them 2 packs for $1 at Dollar Tree.

Some of the best types for seed bombs are poppies, cornflower, marigold, cosmos; hollyhocks, verbena, or wildflower mixes. 

Seed Activity for Kids

Use a hole punch or tear out small pieces of paper from each paper color you would like to use.

Fun Kids Activity How to Make Wildflower Seed Bombs at Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus 2

Even younger children can get a good fine motor workout punching out paper dots for the seed bombs.

We used the hole punch until our hand got tired and then went to tearing.

Fun Kids Activity How to Make Wildflower Seed Bombs at Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus 4

Place paper in small bowls and soak them in water, you can mix colors for a rainbow effect if you like or keep them separated.

Let them sit for about 20 minutes, no worries if you forget them for a while, it will still be fine.

Fun Kids Activity How to Make Wildflower Seed Bombs at Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus 5

Flip paper and water into a fine mesh strainer and drain, remove as much of the moisture as you can, this will help them dry out faster in the mold.

Squeeze if needed to remove the excess water.

Fun Kids Activity How to Make Wildflower Seed Bombs at Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus 6

Return to bowl and stir each color together with a small pinch of seeds.

Fun Kids Activity How to Make Wildflower Seed Bombs 7 at Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Press firmly into silicone mold getting it pressed into all the edges so you have a nice clean mold. Fill to the very top.

Fun Kids Activity How to Make Wildflower Seed Bombs 8 at Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Flip mold over on a towel or several layers of paper towel to dry, leaving it in place while it dries.

Wildflower Seed Bombs

Allow to dry completely, it will probably take them overnight to dry fully depending on the size of mold that you use, put them out in the sunshine to dry quicker.

Fun Kids Activity How to Make Wildflower Seed Bombs

Pop each seed bomb carefully out of the molds and store in a pretty jar until you are ready to use them.

Wildflowers are normally the easiest to grow and it’s such a fun payoff for learning about gardening. What easy gardening activities are you doing with your kids?

You’ll love these other gardening and nature activities for kids:

  • Wildflowers Unit Study & Lapbook 
  • Foraging and Feasting Nature Unit Study and Lapbook 
  • Kinder Gardening to Celebrate Nature and Science
  • Hands-On Mixed Media Flower Art Fun Nature Study
Fun Kids Activity How to Make Wildflower Seed Bombs

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Nature Based Activities Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, nature, nature study, science

Frozen Nature Ice Sun Catcher for Preschool Play and Fun

November 15, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Create a beautiful nature-filled ice sun catcher with your preschooler by taking a nature walk in the woods, a local park, or even your backyard. Also, look at this Simple and Easy Instant Ice Kids Activity Homeschool Science Experiments post and my page How to Homeschool Preschool.

It is a fun way to explore the outdoors and finish up with a neat nature-filled ice sun catcher to remember it (at least as long as the ice lasts).

Frozen Nature Ice Sun Catcher for Preschool Play and Fun

Fill it with colorful flowers, berries, small pinecones, interesting pebbles or twigs, and leaves.

You can use your ice sun catcher to learn about the objects that they find but also as a different science lesson talking about ice and why and how it melts.

The best part about this activity is that it can be repeated over and over with different results each time.

For example, add food coloring, different items, and different types of water and explore the various results with your preschooler.

Books About Winter

While exploring nature, don’t forget to take along a favorite resource book like Nature Anatomy and see if you can spot any of your finds in the pages.

Preschoolers really love looking through books with good illustrations to compare to.

29 Winter Books to Read to Kids and For Kids Who Love to Read

Add in a few books to make your winter unit study complete. Add books for all ages.

Winter Is Coming

Day after day, a girl goes to her favorite place in the woods and quietly watches from her tree house as the chipmunks, the doe, the rabbits prepare for the winter.

As the temperature drops, sunset comes earlier and a new season begins.

Hanna's Cold Winter

Hanna was a hippopotamus in the Budapest Zoo. Hanna and the other hippos thrived in the warm springs which flowed from the ground. One winter, however, it was so cold that the river froze.

Over and Under the Snow

Part of the acclaimed nature book series that includes Over and Under the Pond, Over and Under the Rainforest, and Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, this volume takes readers on a cross country ski trip through the winter woods to discover the secret world of animals living under the snow.

Over the snow, the world is hushed and white. But under the snow lies a secret world of squirrels and snow hares, bears and bullfrogs, and many other animals making their winter home under the snow. This beloved nonfiction picture book reveals the tunnels and caves formed beneath the snow but over the ground, where many kinds of animals live through the winter, safe and warm, awake and busy, but hidden beneath the snow. 

ENCHANTING AND EDUCATIONAL: A charming story and beautifully rendered illustrations invite readers of all ages to explore and learn about the "subnivean zone" (the space between the colder snow and the warmer ground) where many animals live in the winter, opening a fascinating window into the natural world.

The Snow Day

A young rabbit wakes up to wonderful news: A snow day! School is canceled, and the day that follows is rich with the magic and delight of the falling snow.

Animals in Winter

This is a clear and appealing book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. Introduce kids to basic science ideas as part of discussions about the seasons and animals.

Miss Maple's Seeds

What happens to seeds that don't sprout? Fortunately, they have Miss Maple to look after them.

Every year, she rescues orphan seeds, taking them to her cozy maple tree house. All winter long, she nurtures them and teaches them the ways of seeds and the paths.

Breadcrumbs

Once upon a time, Hazel and Jack were best friends. But that was before he stopped talking to her and disappeared into a forest with a mysterious woman made of ice. Now it's up to Hazel to go in after him. Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen,"

Brave Irene: A Picture Book

This winning heroine will inspire every child to cheer her on as she ventures through a bitter cold snowstorm in William Steig's classic Brave Irene.

Icefall

Trapped in a hidden fortress tucked between towering mountains and a frozen sea, Solveig, along with her brother the crown prince, their older sister, and an army of restless warriors, anxiously awaits news of her father's victory at battle.

Poetree

The poem is indeed about the yearly cycle in the life of a tree. But it is also an intriguing poetic concoction.

The initial letters of each line in each stanza spell out a word that pertains to that tree's life cycle - SEED, GERMINATE, SHOOT, ROOTS, LEAVES, FLOWERS. It's a kids' acrostic.

Moominland Midwinter

Everyone knows the Moomins sleep through the winter. But this year, Moomintroll has woken up early.

So while the rest of the family slumber, he decides to visit his favorite summer haunts. But all he finds is this strange white stuff. Even the sun is gone! Moomintroll is angry: whoever Winter is, she has some nerve.

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow

Blessed--or cursed--with an ability to understand animals, the Lass (as she's known to her family) has always been seen as strange.

And when an isbjorn (polar bear) seeks her out, and promises that her family will become rich if only the Lass will accompany him to his castle, she doesn't hesitate. But the bear is not what he seems, nor is his castle, which is made of ice and inhabited by a silent staff of servants

If Polar Bears Disappeared

The freezing ecosystem in the far north of the globe is home to many different kinds of animals.

They can be Strong, like a walrus Tough, like a lemming Resilient, like an arctic fox.

But no arctic animal is as iconic as the polar bear.

The Very, Very Far North

An inquisitive polar bear named Duane befriends an array of animals as he discovers where he belongs in this charming classic-in-the making

The Longest Night

It is the longest night of the year, and the snow lies deep. All through the forest, animals long for dawn's warmth.

Strong and clever creatures boast that only they can bring back the sun. But the wind knows better.

The Adventures of a South Pole Pig: A novel of snow and courage

Flora the pig was born for adventure: “If it’s unexplored and needs to get dug up, call me. I’m your pig,” she says.

The day Flora spots a team of sled dogs is the day she sets her heart on becoming a sled pig.

Before she knows it, she’s on board a ship to Antarctica for the most exhilarating—and dangerous—adventure of her life.

Wolf in the Snow

A girl is lost in a snowstorm. A wolf cub is lost, too. How will they find their way home?

The Snowflake Sisters

Crystal and Ivory snowflake take full advantage of this beautiful snowy evening in New York City as they travel to the park, fly through Time Square, journey past the Statue of Liberty, and more before coming in for their final landing of the day.

Mr. Popper's Penguins

A classic of American humor, the adventures of a house painter and his brood of high-stepping penguins have delighted children for generations.

One Snowy Night (Percy the Park Keeper)

Percy the Park Keeper always feeds the animals in the park where he lives.

But one cold winter’s night Percy discovers that his little friends need more than food and he must find a way to help them find a warm place to sleep for the night.

Dog Driven

From the author of Ice Dogs comes a riveting adventure about a musher who sets out to prove her impaired vision won't hold her back from competing in a rigorous sled race through the Canadian wilderness. Perfect for fans of Gary Paulsen.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

There are more animals to find among the trees, and the kindly figure with his "promises to keep" exudes warmth as he stops to appreciate the quiet delights of winter.

Stranger in the Woods: A Photographic Fantasy (Nature)

Forest animals, awakened by the birds' warning that there is a stranger in the woods, set out to discover if there is danger and find, instead, a wonderful surprise.

Owl Moon

Late one winter night a little girl and her father go owling. The trees stand still as statues and the world is silent as a dream.

Whoo-whoo-whoo, the father calls to the mysterious nighttime bird.

Here Comes Jack Frost

One cold morning a lonely boy wishes for something to do. His animal friends are hibernating, and he has nobody to play with―even all the birds have flown south.

When he meets Jack Frost, the last thing he expects is to make a new friend . . . or to discover how enchanting winter can be!

Twelve Kinds of Ice

With the first ice—a skim on a sheep pail so thin it breaks when touched—one family’s winter begins in earnest. Next comes ice like panes of glass. And eventually, skating ice! Take a literary skate over field ice and streambed, through sleeping orchards and beyond.

Blizzard

With accounts from the survivors and period photos, a tale by the author of the Newbery Honor book, The Great Fire tells what is was like to live through the Great Blizzard of 1888 that crippled New York City with its fierce winds and blinding snow.

Grandmother Winter

Grandmother Winter lives all alone with her snow-white flock of geese. All through the spring, summer, and fall, Grandmother Winter tends her geese and gathers their feathers. Why?

To bring snowfall as soft as feathers and bright as a winter moon. To the woodland and all of its creatures, the arrival of winter is a gift.

Wild Child

Lynn Plourde's text snaps and crackles like the leaves of fall as Mother Earth gently gets her daughter ready for bed.

And Greg Couch's extraordinary illustrations take readers from the soft greens of late summer through the fiery oranges of a fall sunset to the peaceful blues of early winter's eve.

Also, look at these other fun sun catchers to do in winter.

6 Fun Sun Catchers to Do in Winter

While you may not think of sun catchers for winter there are plenty of engaging and pretty ideas for indoors and out and I have 6 more for you to check out

  1. I just love this Arctic Animal Sun Catcher Craft to go along with studying snowy animals like polar bears and penguins.
  2. These pretty Snowflake Sun Catchers are a great way to highlight how unique snowflakes are.
  3. Here is a completely different take on a sun catcher, using beads to reflect the light with this Pinecone Sun Catcher Craft.
  4. Mitten Sun catchers can launch a good discussion about what kind of clothing is needed for winter and how to protect ourselves from extreme temperatures.
  5. Make a Winter Tree Suncatcher using tear art for a lovely nature-themed craft.
  6. Snowman Sun Catcher is just too sweet and makes a simple but pretty craft to decorate your windows.
Frozen Nature Ice Sun Catcher for Preschool Play and Fun

Frozen Nature Ice Sun Catcher

You will need:

  • Nature items:  leaves, twigs, bark, pinecones, flowers, etc.
  • Shallow container
  • Water
  • Ribbon
Frozen Nature Ice Sun Catcher for Preschool Play and Fun

First, add a length of ribbon or rope to the top to hang it from.

Frozen Nature Ice Sun Catcher for Preschool Play and Fun

After gathering plenty of items for your ice sun catcher let your child lay them out however they like in your shallow container, you could even make multiple small ones by using a muffin tin.

Frozen Nature Ice Sun Catcher for Preschool Play and Fun

Once it is full of nature it is ready for the next step.

Frozen Nature Ice Sun Catcher for Preschool Play and Fun

Let your preschooler carefully fill with water.

Frozen Nature Ice Sun Catcher for Preschool Play and Fun

Place in the freezer overnight.

Carefully remove it from the container, you may need to flip it over and run warm water over the back for a minute or two to loosen it.

Frozen Nature Ice Sun Catcher for Preschool Play and Fun

Carry it outside.

Frozen Nature Ice Sun Catcher for Preschool Play and Fun

Hang from a tree and enjoy if the weather stays cold enough to keep it frozen!

Go back outside often as it melts and watch the changes.

Ask your preschooler how long does it take?

And ask your child questions like “Do you think the sun makes it melt faster?” to encourage critical thinking.

Here is how the backside looks with the sun shining through it.

Tip- for super clear ice use filtered water instead of tap water.

Frozen Nature Ice Sun Catcher for Preschool Play and Fun

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolinginwinter, ice, nature, nature study, preschool, seasons, winter crafts, winter season

7 John Muir Environmentalist Facts and Fun Teaching Ideas

August 18, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have 7 John Muir environmentalist facts and some fun teaching ideas. You’ll also love the John Muir Spring Unit Study (and Hands-on Geography Ideas).

The national park system’s development is largely due to John Muir environmentalist, naturalist, author, mountaineer, and political activist.

It is widely agreed that he is the “Founding Father of National Parks”.

And his contributions are celebrated through many landmarks named after him like hiking trails, glaciers, highways, and monuments.

7 John Muir Environmentalist Facts and Fun Teaching Ideas

National Park Service Founders Day is August 25th and I can’t think of a better way to learn about the National Parks than through the man who helped found and educate people about them.

John Muir helped create several of our national parks like Sequoia National Park in California, Mount Rainier in Washington, and The Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.

John Muir Environmentalist Books, Resources, and Teaching Ideas

Too, these are some of the books we’ve used and love to help teach about him or create your own unit study.

11 John Muir Resources

The mountains are calling, and I must go -John Muir

In observance of National Park Service Founders Day and the care and work John Muir put into helping it become a reality, put together a unit study with a book or two, a video, a game, and a few hands-on activities like visiting the closest national park to you. There is plenty to choose from below.

John Muir Wilderness Box Set

A collection of John Muir’s best-selling writings and essays collected in 1 set.

Part of John Muir's appeal to modern readers is that he not only explored the American West and wrote about its beauties but also fought for their preservation. His successes dot the landscape and are evident in all the natural features that bear his name: forests, lakes, trails, and glaciers. Collected here in 1 set are some of Muir's finest wilderness essays, national park observations, travels throughout Alaska, and writings about working in the Yosemite Valley. 

A Thousand Mile Walk to the Gulf

John Muir, one of America’s great environmentalists, has inspired nature lovers for generations with his writings.

A Thousand Mile Walk to the Gulf by John Muir is the adventure that started it all.

Walk with John from Indiana through Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. A story that is sure to inspire your own adventures and love for nature and the off beaten path.

John Muir: Candlewick Biographies: America's First Environmentalist

John Muir loved the land. Born in 1838, he was a writer, a scholar, an inventor, a shepherd, a farmer, and an explorer. But above all, he was a naturalist. John Muir was particularly devoted to the high cliffs, waterfalls, and ancient giant sequoia trees that, through his careful influence, were set aside as Yosemite, one of the first national parks in America. Here is the life story of the man who, moved by a commitment to wilderness everywhere, founded the Sierra Club in 1892, a conservation group that carries on his crucial work to this day. Back matter includes an epilogue, a bibliography, and information about the Sierra Club.

A Passion for Nature: The Life of John Muir

"I am hopelessly and forever a mountaineer," John Muir wrote. "Civilization and fever and all the morbidness that has been hooted at me has not dimmed my glacial eye, and I care to live only to entice people to look at Nature's loveliness. My own special self is nothing."In Donald Worster's magisterial biography, John Muir's "special self" is fully explored as is his extraordinary ability, then and now, to get others to see the sacred beauty of the natural world. A Passion for Nature is the most complete account of the great conservationist and founder of the Sierra Club ever written. It is the first to be based on Muir's full private correspondence and to meet modern scholarly standards. Yet it is also full of rich detail and personal anecdote, uncovering the complex inner life behind the legend of the solitary mountain man. It traces Muir from his boyhood in Scotland and frontier Wisconsin to his adult life in California right after the Civil War up to his death on the eve of World War I. It explores his marriage and family life, his relationship with his abusive father, his many friendships with the humble and famous (including Theodore Roosevelt and Ralph Waldo Emerson), and his role in founding the modern American conservation movement.

National Geographic Complete National Parks of the United States, 400+ Parks, Monuments, Battlefields, Historic Sites, Scenic Trails, Recreation Areas, and Seashores

National Geographic’s wide-ranging travel guide to recreation areas, trails, historic sites, nature hikes, seashores, camping, and campgrounds is geared to everyone who loves outdoor recreation. This 544-page reference is the ultimate travel planner for all things national parks, filled with full-color photos, detailed maps, historical background, and practical facts on the location of the park system properties, as well as the best times to visit and top-rated activities.

Our National Parks

ohn Muir (1838–1914) ranks among America's most important and influential environmentalists and nature writers. Devoted to the preservation of wilderness areas, Muir founded the Sierra Club and was active in the establishment of Yosemite National Park. Our National Parks, originally published in 1901, includes ten articles that previously appeared in The Atlantic Monthly. Muir wrote them in hopes of exciting interest in the parks, certain that visitors would fall in love with the scenic grandeur as he had—and that their enthusiasm would ensure the parks' preservation.

National Parks Scratch Off Map of United States Poster, ALL 63 Parks

UNIQUE DESIGN…ARROWHEAD SHAPES: Scratch off each beautifully designed US National Park as you visit them, like Acadia, Zion, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Olympic, Grand Canyon, Arches and others!

National Parks Trivia: A Card Game: 400 Questions

Get to know America's 63 national parks with 390 wide-ranging trivia questions that cover their iconic geography, ecology, geology, history, wildlife, and botany—from the authors of Scenic Science of the National Parks.

Professor Noggin's Wildlife of North America Trivia Card Game

  • PLAY & LEARN: Professor Noggin’s series of educational card games encourages kids to learn interesting facts about their favorite subjects.
  • FUN FACTS: Journey through the Wildlife of North America discovering facts about our continent’s most interesting animals. From Polar Bears to Pronghorns, from Alligators to Bald Eagles, this game is perfect for young nature lovers.

Our National Treasures Matching Game USA National Parks Memory Game for Kids. Yosemite, Yellowstone, Arches, Denali and More

What you get – Our National Treasures Matching Card Game comes with 52 tiles (26 pairs) and instructions

Clear instructions – Easy to learn memory card game. Learn to play in less than five minutes!

Develops critical skills – card games for kids help preschoolers practice their focus, memory, & matching skills.

Trekking The National Parks -The Perfect Board Game for National Park Lovers

Wildly Popular National Parks Game - Winner Of The Mensa And Parent's Choice Award

Created By National Parks Enthusiasts - This couple traveled to every single national park and then worked with their son to make the game.

Fun + Educational - It’s the perfect recipe for a family game night! Appeals to a wide range of people: outdoor lovers, board game players, and gift givers. A great board games for kids!

Next, look at some facts about the life of John Muir.

7 John Muir Environmentalist Facts

  1. John Muir traveled to every continent except Antarctica.
  2. John founded the Sierra Club, an acclaimed American conservation organization.
  3. Muir temporarily lost his sight due to an accident at 29 due to a factory incident that pushed him to make a  change and be a wilderness explorer.
  4. A 211-mile-long hiking trail in the Sierra Nevada was named John Muir Trail in his honor. 
  5. In September of 1867, John walked 1000 miles from Indiana to Florida, this journey is retold in his book- A Thousand-Mile Walk to the Gulf. 
  6. Throughout his life, John Muir wrote 300 essays and 12 books.
  7. Because of Muir’s vision and work, you can now visit almost 400 National Park Service sites. What a legacy he left behind for so many generations to appreciate and enjoy.
7 John Muir Environmentalist Facts and Fun Teaching Ideas

Also, look at some videos..

Videos about John Muir

  • John Muir- Father of National Parks
  •  For a quick birds eye view of 25 Best National Parks at once check out this YouTube video.
  • Biography of John Muir   
  • John Muir Father of The National Parks- 1 Minute History
  • How The National Park Service Got Started

More John Muir Activity Ideas

Finally, here are some more fun ideas when learning about the life of John Muir.

  • Learn what an environmentalist is. An environmentalist is defined as one who is concerned with or advocates for the protection of the environment.
  • Grab ideas from John Muir Spring Unit Study (and Hands-on Geography Ideas).
  • Try using the John Muir Laws How to Teach Nature Journaling to improve sketching and watercolor skills combined with your nature walk. While this is not the same John Muir nor is he related to him, his appreciation for nature and its beauty reflects the same mindset. His mother was a lawyer for the Sierra Club, which the original John Muir was the founder of, and she insisted her sons middle name be Muir. Use the beautiful pictures for ideas for water coloring or nature journaling.
7 John Muir Environmentalist Facts and Fun Teaching Ideas
  • Learn the 7 principles of Leave No Trace, especially if you enjoy camping and hiking. Writing them down would make for an excellent copy work assignment.
  • Find ways that you can volunteer in your area to help the environment, beach clean-ups, park clean-up days, recycling, ways to reduce and reuse items, conserve water, etc.
  • Play nature-themed games to focus on the flora and fauna that he studied.
7 John Muir Environmentalist Facts and Fun Teaching Ideas

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Science, Teach Homeschool Science Tagged With: homeschoolscience, life science, nature, nature journaling, nature study, science

10 Egg Carton Crafts For 2 Year Olds and Fun Nature Color Match Activity

August 4, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have 10 egg carton crafts for 2 year olds and a fun egg carton color match activity. Look at this Cutest Ever Egg Carton Sea Turtle Craft and Learning Activities for Kids.

This easy and open-ended nature color match egg carton crafts for 2 year olds has several benefits to it.

First, they get to create a simple colorful craft and then use it to explore colors and nature while they get fresh air and exercise.

10 Egg Carton Crafts For 2 Year Olds and Fun Nature Color Match Activity

Simple fun activities are the way to go with toddlers, identifying and sorting colors is an important early math skill.

As children get older, they can have more ownership in their egg carton crafts by choosing them, cutting, and coming up with their own ideas.

Egg cartons make a great art supply item in either styrofoam or cardboard as they are a free resource and have so many great uses, especially for young children.

10 Egg Carton Crafts For 2 Year Olds

Start saving your egg cartons for this great list of egg carton crafts for 2-year-olds I have rounded up for you below. You might even ask friends and family to collect for you too so you try all of these ideas.

Egg Carton Crafts for 2 Year Olds

Here are 10 more precious egg carton crafts for 2-year-olds to explore together.

Photo Credit: buggyandbuddy.com

Egg Carton Bee Craft for Kids

Make this cute, little bee craft using an egg carton and yarn! This easy insect activity is great for preschool and kindergarten and perfect to do in the spring, summer, or for Earth Day.

Photo Credit: www.iheartartsncrafts.com

Egg Carton Flowers

I’m going to show you how to make these colorful egg carton flowers that are perfect to display or make as a gift.

Photo Credit: poofycheeks.com

Egg Carton Caterpillars

 I am sharing a super easy, completely kid friendly and very cheap craft – egg carton caterpillars.

Fun Kids Hands-on Egg Carton Sea Turtle Life Cycle Activity

I have a hands-on way to show a sea turtle life cycle activity. Add my fun From Egg to Sea Turtle Nature Unit Study & Lapbook to make it for multiple ages.

This sea turtle life cycle activity lets your child create a unique art project while also including some marine science in their lessons.

Photo Credit: www.momdot.com

Mess Free Painting with Egg Carton

My kids paint nearly every day. We have used all sorts of things to hold the paint: jars, paper plate, glass plates, the floor… but none work as well as a cardboard egg carton. We get the brown eggs from the store and they come in the cardboard containers. 

Photo Credit: taminglittlemonsters.com

Easy Egg Carton Color Sort Activity for Toddlers

This Egg Carton Color Sort is a fun and easy activity for toddlers. All you need are a few recyclables, craft supplies and 5 minutes in your busy schedule.

Photo Credit: mandapandaprojects.com

Egg Carton Pumpkin Wreath

Egg carton crafts are the perfect way to turn those empty cartons from trash into craft, and this Egg Carton Pumpkin Wreath is no exception!

Photo Credit: www.toddleratplay.com

Egg Carton Wildflower Garden

Do you save egg cartons? This Egg Carton Wildflower Garden is a fun recycled activity you have to try! 
Photo Credit: www.stillplayingschool.com

Egg Carton and Cupcake Liner Dinosaur Craft

Cutest Ever Egg Carton Sea Turtle Craft and Learning Activities for Kids

Create the cutest little sea turtles to put together a lesson that would be perfect for preschool or kindergarten.

Photo Credit: craftyartideas.com

Easy Egg Carton Butterfly Craft For Kids

Are you hoarding those old egg cartons for the next time you need them? We love making recycled crafts with kids and these egg carton butterflies are so cute. Learn how to make this fun butterfly craft with your kids with our simple steps.

Photo Credit: www.thecrafttrain.com

Egg Carton Monsters

There’s something about repurposing rubbish that makes me happy and these cute little monster treat holders are no exception.

Look at some more preschool resources and activities.

More Preschool Resources and Activities

  • Cute and Simple Snowman Story Stones Winter Art Activities For Preschoolers
  • A Unique Flexible and Beautiful Preschool Homeschool Planner
  • How to Teach Homeschool Preschool From the Inside Out (And Preschool Skills)
10 Egg Carton Crafts For 2 Year Olds and Fun Nature Color Match Activity

Finally, look at how to make this fun nature color match activity for your 2 year old.

Nature Color Match Egg Carton Crafts For 2 Year Olds

Now onto the directions for making and utilizing today’s craft.

Grab a colorful book to use as a field guide, even young children can flip through a nature book.

10 Egg Carton Crafts For 2 Year Olds and Fun Nature Color Match Activity

Nature anatomy is a fantastic option as it truly grows with your child and is appropriate for toddlers to look at the pictures up through high schoolers.

10 Egg Carton Crafts For 2 Year Olds and Fun Nature Color Match Activity

You will need:

  • Cardboard Egg Carton
  • 12 different colored craft paints
  • Paintbrushes

First, be sure that you are starting with a clean carton, free of dried egg. If you want to sanitize it you can spritz it lightly with a spray sanitizer.

Choose your 12 colors.

I like to use rainbow colors and then add white, black, brown, light blue, and light green.

If it is fall you might change up your colors a bit to more oranges, browns, and yellows.

Add a squirt of paint to the bottom of each egg cup.

10 Egg Carton Crafts For 2 Year Olds and Fun Nature Color Match Activity

Let your child spread the color around in the bottom of each cup, using a clean paintbrush for each one.

10 Egg Carton Crafts For 2 Year Olds and Fun Nature Color Match Activity

Allow the paint to dry completely, this might take a few hours, if you wipe out the excess paint you can speed up the process a bit.

If you want to start with a smaller goal for your child, you can cut your egg carton in half or just paint 2 cups each color instead of just 1.

Nature Color Match Egg Carton

If you like you can add the name of the “game” to the top with a permanent marker.

10 Egg Carton Crafts For 2 Year Olds and Fun Nature Color Match Activity

Get your book and your color hunt box and head out to the great outdoors, even your backyard is a great place to explore nature.

Let your little one fill each cup with matching colors- flowers, rocks, leaves, bark, eggshells, or whatever they can find.

10 Egg Carton Crafts For 2 Year Olds and Fun Nature Color Match Activity

Some colors may fit into more than one category, this is a great opportunity to develop language skills by talking about the colors and deciding where to sort it.

10 Egg Carton Crafts For 2 Year Olds and Fun Nature Color Match Activity

This was a completely unprompted photo where I laid Nature Anatomy out next to the book for him to look at and he pointed and said, “There’s a white flower like mine!”

We ended our little walk with a bounty of beautiful nature items and a sweet memory to store away!

10 Egg Carton Crafts For 2 Year Olds and Fun Nature Color Match Activity

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool preschool, nature, nature study, preschool, preschool skills

15 Hands-On Nature Math Ideas to Make Learning Come to Life

July 31, 2023 | 1 Comment
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I have 15 hands on nature math ideas for your younger kids. Also, you may love Hands-On Nature Study: Bird Color Bar Graphing Activity.

If you have a child who would rather be out filling their pockets with rocks than sitting still at the kitchen table learning to count, I have some fun hands-on nature math ideas for you.

But they are also great for kids who get bored on nature walks and need a little more structure.

Too, these ideas work if you feel like you haven’t accomplished any school this week, but you want to sit outside and enjoy the weather.

There are so many wonderful ways we can incorporate hands-on nature into many subjects, but have you ever considered math?

15 Hands-On Nature Math Ideas to Make Learning Come to Life

You can very easily enjoy nature study while learning math with your children.

Yep, there are lots of things you can do to work on math skills while in your own backyard, at the beach, walking around the neighborhood, in a field, at the park, or while hiking.

So, the next time you head out on a nature walk take a few of these ideas below along with you so that you are getting double the benefit out of your time.

Nature Items for Math Manipulatives

I not only have ideas for manipulatives but ideas for math tools to take with you on nature walks as well as some specific activity ideas to get you started.

You can use these items out in the field or bring them home for rainy days or just days that are too hot to get outside.

10 Nature Items to Use for Math Manipulatives

  1. Leaves
  2. Rocks
  3. Shells
  4. Acorns
  5. Seed pods
  6. Nuts
  7. Fruits
  8. Sticks
  9. Pinecones
  10. Feathers
15 Hands-On Nature Math Ideas to Make Learning Come to Life

Those items are great teaching for basic counting but there are a whole lot more ways to use nature items for math.

Real-world learning at its best.

Books to Include In Your Nature Study

Also, add some of these books to your day if you want to include a complete nature unit study.

6 Nature Study Books and Resources

Add one of these resources or books to your study about nature. They all give you a starting point or use one or two of them as a nature spine.

Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World

See the world in a whole new way! Acclaimed illustrator Julia Rothman combines art and science in this exciting and educational guide to the structure, function, and personality of the natural world. Explore the anatomy of a jellyfish, the inside of a volcano, monarch butterfly migration, how sunsets work, and much more. Rothman’s whimsical illustrations are paired with interactive activities that encourage curiosity and inspire you to look more closely at the world all around you.

Handbook of Nature Study

The Handbook of Nature Study is a classic Charlotte Mason text. A big book full of information on pretty much every area of nature study from tools to birds, weather, and rocks.

The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady

This beautifully packaged facsimile of Edith Holden’s original diary is filled with a naturalist’s masterful paintings and delightful observations chronicling the English countryside throughout 1906. As one of the few true records of the time in print, the handwritten thoughts and paintings contained in The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady transport readers to a more refined, romantic, and simpler time.

Botanicum

Filled with both recognisable, and tropical flora, Botanicum is the ultimate companion guide to the variety of plants, and how they have evolved and grow.

Curiositree: Natural World: A Visual Compendium of Wonders from Nature - Jacket unfolds into a huge wall poster!

Discover the interconnectedness of the natural world and learn why living things look and behave the way they do in a series of visually compelling information charts, maps, and cutaways, all illustrated in a nostalgic, vintage style. Packed with incredible facts about the natural world and the animals that populate it, the whole family will enjoy the full-page spreads grouped into the categories of habitats, species, and adaptations.

Nature Study & Outdoor Science Journal: The Thinking Tree Presents: A Creative Book of Observation, Drawing, Coloring, Writing & Discovery

The Thinking Tree presents: A Creative Book of Observation, Drawing, Coloring, Writing & Discovery Through Nature, ideal for all ages (even adults!)

Creativity and discovery at its best, this journal is a bestseller among The Thinking Tree publications! Your nature-loving student will treasure this journal designed to ignite their wonder of the outdoors. With more than 180 lessons and beautiful illustrations, the Nature Study Journal invites the student to read, write, draw, color, explore and appreciate the outdoors while covering a variety of subjects such as science, poetry, observation instructions, and more.

Additionally, look at these other fun ways to add hands on nature math to your day.

More Hands on Nature Math

  • Nature Hunt Data & Graph Activity
  • Hands-On Nature Study: Bird Color Bar Graphing Activity.
  • Finding Symmetry in Nature (Outdoor Math Activity for Kids)
  • Backyard Measurement Scavenger Hunt
  • Nature’s Math: Earthworm Measuring with Kids

Then, look at these ways to add nature math to your unit studies.

15 Hands-On Nature Math Ideas

1. COUNTING

A fresh method for counting that also helps build fine motor skills in little hands is to roll a die and have your child punch holes in leaves to match the number.

Take it to the next step and use it for addition, roll a second die, have them punch in that number then add them together.

15 Hands-On Nature Math Ideas to Make Learning Come to Life

2. SHAPES

Look for shapes occurring naturally in nature like squares, circles, triangles, etc.. point them out and your child will soon be finding them everywhere

3. NUMBER IDENTIFICATION

Teach your child to identify numbers by writing them on rocks, or leaves, or scratching them into the ground with a stick.

If you don’t want to leave permanent marks you can use chalk that is easily washed away. They can be used for ordering, skip counting, and addition/subtraction as well.

4. SORTING

Even the smallest toddlers can sort items by type such as leaves, rocks, and sticks.

15 Hands-On Nature Math Ideas to Make Learning Come to Life

5. STICK FRACTIONS

Cut 4 sticks of the same length. leave one as is, cut the next one in half, the next one thirds, and the last one into four equal pieces.

15 Hands-On Nature Math Ideas to Make Learning Come to Life

6. MEASURING

Take a ruler, yardstick, or measuring tape outdoors with you and teach your child how to measure the width, height, and circumference of trees, leaves, and more.

15 Hands-On Nature Math Ideas to Make Learning Come to Life

7. TALLY MARKS

Use similar-sized sticks to teach your child how to use tally marks for quick counting.

15 Hands-On Nature Math Ideas to Make Learning Come to Life

8. PATTERNS

Patterns are everywhere in nature, from leaf groupings of certain numbers to alternating colors on flowers.

15 Hands-On Nature Math Ideas to Make Learning Come to Life

9. SKIP COUNTING

You can use any type of nature manipulative for teaching skip counting but also look for patterns in nature to practice it, like this branch where the leaves are in groups of two.

15 Hands-On Nature Math Ideas to Make Learning Come to Life

10. ESTIMATING

Have your child grab a handful of pebbles, seashells, acorns, or whatever nature manipulative is handy, then have them guess how many are in their hand. Finally, count them out and see if they are close.

11. GEOMETRY

You can use sticks to create various geometric shapes for your child to identify. Or simply use a stick to draw them in the dirt or sand.

12. GRAPHING

Bring your items home and create a graph for items found-rocks, feathers, etc. or creatures seen on your walk.

13. COMPARING NUMBERS

Make two piles of objects then use leaves or small sticks to as an equality/inequality symbol.

15 Hands-On Nature Math Ideas to Make Learning Come to Life

14. SIMPLE EQUATIONS

Write out simple equations in the dirt or sand for your child to figure out, they can use the same stick to write the answer or nature manipulatives.

15 Hands-On Nature Math Ideas to Make Learning Come to Life

15. COUNTING FRAME (ABACUS)

Another simple idea that also works on fine motor skills is to carry a handful of small beads and thread them on skinny twigs the way you would an abacus for counting, or just give them a number and have them thread that many beads onto it.

15 Hands-On Nature Math Ideas to Make Learning Come to Life

You don’t need anything other than what you find outdoors for math but if you would like to bring along a couple of items to enhance the learning on your trip I recommend:

  • Ruler
  • Measuring tape
  • Small hand pruners (for cutting sticks).
  • 2 Dice
  • Hole punch
  • Permanent marker/chalk for writing on rocks, leaves, etc.
  • Bag for collecting items to bring home.
15 Hands-On Nature Math Ideas to Make Learning Come to Life

1 CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool math, math, nature

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