In my experience kids often are more willing to practice academic skills when they can do it outside, interacting with nature at the same time. You can turn math practice into an outdoor multisensory experience by using nature items as math manipulatives. Here are some fun, hands on math activities that can be done while out exploring in nature. Counting   Collect some small nature items like pebbles, acorns, or leaves and help your kids count how many of each there are. You can even lay them out on paper and give them space to write their totals. Sorting   Send your kids on a hunt in the backyard or around your neighborhood to collect small nature items like pebbles, acorns, small pinecones, shells, and leaves. Then have your kids sort them by type of item and count up the total of each. You can even add some plant science into this activity by hunting for various types of leaves or pinecones. When your done collecting, sort them by variety, and try to identify what type of t...

Penguins are undoubtedly one of the most unique and specialized groups of birds. They're also incredibly cute, so of course we had to include them in our bird study! This post includes some information about penguins to share with your kids, links to videos and other online resources, and a free printable penguin activity! Information About Penguins Penguins are flightless sea birds that mainly live in Antarctica, though there are a few species that live further north in warmer climates. Penguins have many adaptations that allow them to survive in such cold, harsh environments. They have a thick layer of blubber and thick skin to help keep them warm in the cold Antarctic winters. Their bodies also can control the amount of blood flow to their feet, so they can reduce blood flow in cold weather, thus reducing the amount of heat lost to the cold icy ground. Penguins eat fish, krill, and squid and are highly adapted for hunting in the water. Unlike other birds, penguins wings are desi...

Every summer I sit down with my daughter and we talk about what she wants to learn about during the next school year and any goals she has. We tend to take a pretty relaxed, student led approach to learning in our household, but I do like to do some formal lessons too. This year is going to be a little different than past years for us. My middle daughter is now preschool aged and is showing an interest in participating in some of our learning, so I am trying to plan some unit studies that can accommodate both a 5th grader and a preschooler. Here's a look at what I have in mind so far. Science   Science is always a favorite subject in our household, so we tend to gravitate toward a lot of science topics naturally, without any real planning or curriculum. We are constantly researching new plants and animals we come across on our outdoor adventures and my kids watch a lot of nature documentaries all on their own. In addition to following any interesting rabbit trails that pique our in...