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...

With so many people considering alternative education programs right now, I've come across a lot of people implying that homeschooling is only doable for wealthy families. These types of comments tend to get me fired up because they simply aren't true. There are so many different ways to homeschool and so many free and affordable resources available to homeschooling families these days, that almost anyone who wants to make it happen for their family, can find a way to make it work. Where there's a will, there is a way. I should start off by saying that I understand there are some circumstances that might make homeschooling impossible for some families, like those with certain custody agreements, and single parents who have no support system. For the most part though, if you want to educate your kids at home, there is a way to make it work. I personally know several single parents living on fairly low incomes, who have found ways to home educate their kids.  It All Boils Dow...

My kids love STEM projects and we're always looking for ways to add more art to our homeschool days, so I decided I am going to try to dedicate one morning a week this year to STEM art activities. In this post I share some of the ideas we're planning to try, plus a few favorites we've done in the past. What is STEM Education? STEM education is a blended and often hands on approach to teaching science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, which are some of today's fastest growing industries. STEM education offers students the opportunity to problem solve and work on real world problems and questions. Sometimes the acronym STEAM is used, to include the arts. Adding art to STEM education encourages creative thinking and problem solving skills. It can also help make the other included subjects more appealing to some students. STEM Art Projects  Penny Spinners-   Learn about centrifugal force and make your own spinning tops with this fun post from Teach Beside Me. Explo...

"What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered." I love this Ralph Waldo Emerson quote. Many of the plants that are considered common backyard weeds actually have wonderful nutritional and medicinal benefits. In this post I share 8 of my favorite backyard "weeds" and how I use them.  Foraging Basics Before I get any further I want to mention a couple of safety tips: Only pick wild herbs from places you know haven't been treated with toxic pesticides. Always rinse your herbs before consuming them or using them in any product you plan to use on your body. Do not consume or use any wild growing plant unless you are certain of what it is and that it is safe.  Nothing in this post is meant to be taken as medical advice. Always be sure to do your own thorough research before using any remedy. Plantain - One of my very favorite backyard herbs, that is often called a weed, is plantain. There are several different varieties, and they grow just about...

I am always looking for new ways to incorporate nature and art into our days. Sometime last year I stumbled upon phenology wheels on Instagram and immediately fell in love with the idea. What is a Phenology Wheel and Why Make One? A phenology wheel is an artistic way to record nature observations and observations of seasonal and cyclical change. The basic idea is to record nature observations like weather, wildlife, and plant life on a wheel shaped chart on a monthly or daily basis throughout the year.  It can be a great way for you and your children to connect with nature and learn about the seasons. Recording our nature observations can help us slow down and notice things we may not otherwise, like changes in plants and trees, changes in the season, how the moon moves through its phases, animal life cycles, and what kinds of wildlife are present in your area during different parts of the year. It's also a fantastic way to add a little art to your homeschool days! Getting Started ...