April 22nd is Earth Day! Here are some fun ways to celebrate and care for our planet: Pick up trash in your neighborhood Grab some garbage bags and take a walk around your neighborhood or a favorite park to pick up trash. My kids like to make it a competition to see who can collect the most. Plant a tree Take a trip to a local nursery and choose a tree to plant in your yard or to give as a gift. Start a garden Start a small (or big) garden in your yard. Plant veggies that you and your children enjoy or plant flowers for local pollinators. Start a compost bin Composting is a great way to reduce household waste and it's a fun way to introduce your kids to decomposition and the nutrient cycle. For instructions for setting up a simple backyard bin, check out my  Composting with Kids  post. Walk or bike instead of drive Do your close-to-home errands or activities by foot or bicycle. Get outside! Take a nature walk in the park, take a hike, go on a picnic, play in your yard, get outsid

This post contains everything you need to put together a weather science unit for your kids or students! I've divided weather science up into 5 subtopics: the water cycle, clouds, precipitation, extreme weather, and weather tracking/predicting. Under each subtopic you will find activity ideas, book recommendations, video links, kid friendly websites to check out, and printable resources.  The Water Cycle The water on Earth moves through a constant cycle called the hydrologic cycle (aka the water cycle).  Water in Earth's oceans, lakes, and other bodies of water is warmed by the sun, vaporizing some of the water molecules. The water vapor rises and as it reaches cooler air in our atmosphere, it cools and condenses into clouds. When the clouds become saturated with water droplets, the droplets begin to fall as precipitation (rain, snow, hail). The water makes its way back into bodies of water and the cycle begins again. Water Cycle Activity You can simulate the water cycle in a z