Age Recommendation: Kindergarten – 2nd Grade   Subject Area: Botany   Objective Students will be able to identify the parts of a plant. Students will learn the functions of the parts of the plant. Students will learn the best conditions for a seed to grow.     Materials List egg carton re-closable sandwich bag (not zipper lock baggies) lima bean seeds sharp knife (like an X-Acto) terracotta pot acrylic paints and paintbrushes flower seeds of choice planting soil (enough for the terracotta pot) several different seed packets (flower, herb, and vegetable) colored pencils or markers blue, yellow, white, and … Continue reading →

In a few minutes, we’ll head out for the evening. We’ll walk up the hill to a place about ten minutes away, and there we will sit in the forest and listen. We’ll listen, we’ll look, and we’ll just relax. These are my most relaxing ten minutes of the day, and they are a wonderful bonding time with my daughter. We’ve created a sit spot, a tradition that I’m hoping to continue on throughout the summer months. A sit spot is just that: a spot where you sit. It’s a lot more than that too. By going to a place … Continue reading →

If you follow my blogs at all, you’ll know that I love gardening. I’m not always fantastic at it, and I am often experimental. However, I always approach it with a deep enthusiasm. Gardening is one of my true loves. I remember gardening as a child. I have a 2 foot wide patch of soil that I could dig in. This seemed to me to be a vast territory, and I remember planning out exactly what I would plant. One year, I ordered seeds from a seed project for children, and I planted them. I don’t remember whether anything grew … Continue reading →

We learn through our senses, but the most dominant of these senses is the sense of sight. Learning with other senses can enhance your child’s learning experience. Sometimes, we just need to be encouraged to use them! What do I hear when I listen from my window? I hear the sound of the Pacific Northwest rain. This June has been cold and rainy here so far, and so the little drips and sometimes torrents of rain have been pouring down outside my window. When we go for a walk, I hear the splash of my daughter’s boots in the puddles. … Continue reading →

Marine science is a topic that is very accessible for elementary students who live near the coast. There it happens most naturally, as children head out to play on the beach, find shells, and experiment by building castles and channeling the incoming tide. If you don’t live in a coastal area, getting involved in marine science can be a bit more challenging. For the child or the family who is fascinated by marine science but lives far away from the ocean, try a family visit or a summer camp that focuses on marine ecosystems. Choose between family camps and overnight … Continue reading →

Oh, summer is almost here. At least last week it was. I could feel it in the clouds that didn’t sprinkle that much rain on our heads, and I could see it in the bats that fly over our heads at night. Yes, the bats are back. Our little bats hibernate over the winter. Come mosquito season, they emerge and start feasting. As someone who mosquitoes really love, I am thankful for the bats. Bat watching also makes a fabulous evening activity. Head to any pond or other area of still water where you might find a few mosquitoes, and … Continue reading →

Next year, my daughter will enroll in a year long tracking program. I think that I’m as excited as she is. I’m a naturalist by profession and inclination, and I want my daughter to grow up well-connected to the natural world. But really, you don’t need to take a course in tracking to cultivate an understanding of the natural world. Tracking is all about observation. To learn how nature works, you need to watch it. Last weekend we went for a bike ride in a local nature reserve. It’s a reserve that’s connected to the much larger wilderness that lies … Continue reading →

It’s almost summer, and summer brings to mind wafting clouds, sunny days, flowers, and butterflies. Ok, maybe not quite, but butterflies are definitely in there somewhere. If you’d like more butterflies in your summer and you’re not overly interested in raising them yourself, never fear! You don’t need to grow butterflies indoors to have them outdoors! You just need to grow the right plants. What do you need to grow butterflies in your garden? First, you need a garden that is safe for butterflies. Caterpillars are butterfly babies, and yes, they do eat leaves. This means that some gardeners squish … Continue reading →