Last week we started by sorting a mix of five different types of seeds. On a blackboard positioned under each plate, we brainstormed words that described each seed type. Then I pulled out the five seed packets, and the group
Nature Study: Seeds vs. Eggs
In the first period of their nest-themed day, the Quarks took a close look at eggs. We started by comparing eggs to seeds: what’s on the outside for protection, what’s inside for food, and what might begin to grow out
Nature Study: Water Cycle Terrariums
The water cycle was our focus during nature study this week. We read a lovely book Water is Water with beautiful illustrations of the water cycle in action throughout the year. Then we started their own water cycle experiment by
Nature Study: Signs of Spring Hike
Last week at co-op the Neutrons took advantage of the beautiful weather to take a spring hike. We walked along the south path toward the river, noting some differences in the path from the last time we walked that way.
Nature Study: Building Shelter
We opened with a brief discussion of shelter: which animals shelter, what do their shelters look like, and why do they take shelter. Then we marched to the edge of the woods to construct our own shelter using a couple
Nature: Winter Bingo
The Nuetrons played a winter bingo game as we took a nature walk today. Some kids played until they achieved 5-in-a-row for Bingo, some of the kids played until their entire card was filled. We walked down the gravel path
Nature: Snowflake Design
Today, we read Elizabeth’s very cool books about how snowflakes are made, a book with magnified photographs of snowflakes, and a biography of “Snowflake Man” Wilson Bentley. Then the kids cut out their own paper snowflakes. There were so many
Nature Study: Birdfeeders & Trails
This week the Neutrons very enthusiastically made natural birdfeeders from pine cones, Crisco and bird seed. We had a discussion about what characteristics of birds we can use to identify various species, and a more practical conversation about where everyone
Nature Study: Poem Hike
Today, we had two objectives. First: memorize a poem. And second: make it to this river everyone’s talking about! (The kids had all been before, of course, but I hadn’t.) The chosen poem was “Cold”, by Shirley Hughes. We read
Nature Study: River Walk
Today, we walked down to the river. We discussed a variety of things, like how erosion caused the riverside to be steep on one side and how the river can sometimes get so high it floods the nearby road. We