nature activities outdoor play Primary grades and up
Natures Sensory Play Age 6 &Up
This is such a fun age group. I love to watch and see how much they can do on their own. Nature just brings out their adventurous side and the open space and the fresh oxegen rich air are there to welcome them as they come out to run and play.
Heres some tips to get your kids off the screens and get outside more often.
The health benefits of getting outdoors are well documented. Even a simple 30-minute walk around the neighborhood can do wonders for your overall well-being. And making time to get outdoors is more important now than ever, as people of all ages spend an increasing amount of time on smartphones and tablets.
As devices become more integrated into a child’s development, it is more important than ever to make outdoor activity a regular part of life from an early age. When people aren’t exposed to outdoor activities at a young age, they often struggle to pick them up later in life. In the same way that kids grow up using and learning on devices, participation in outdoor activities should be an integral part of childhood.
Once kids get older it isn’t always easy to get them outdoors. Sometimes a hike or bike ride doesn’t seem as exciting as winning a battle on their favorite video game or watching a new YouTube video. Below are seven tips that will make it easier to pull your kids away from the tube and put down the controller.
1. Be Prepared and Consider the Weather
When you take kids outdoors, the adventure will quickly come to a halt if they get extremely hungry or thirsty. Bring a backpack with snacks and drinks, or for extended trips make a picnic lunch. It’s also a good idea to have some first-aid supplies just in case. Everyone will be much happier if you’re able to treat minor scrapes.
When kids have a positive first experience in nature, they’re much more likely to be interested in further adventures. To help ensure it’s a good time, avoid going out in bad weather. If kids wind up cold, wet, and miserable, you’ll struggle to coax them out again.
2. Start Small
If a kid has never been camping, the idea of a weekend campout under the stars may be overwhelming. Start with an overnight trip or just an evening camping in the backyard. This will help ease fears about sleeping outside, and it will give kids confidence that they can sleep with the sounds of nature.
Take this conservative approach with any outdoor activity, whether it’s hiking, mountain biking, or canoeing. Don’t ask kids to tackle difficult terrain at first. Instead, keep it simple with a trip to an interesting feature or overlook, and work your way up to the more challenging trails.
3. Turn a Hike into a Scavenger Hunt
Encourage kids to help create a checklist or photo albulm of lants and animals they might see on the trail.
Before you set out on a hike with kids, get them to help you research the different types of plants and animals you could come across. Make a checklist and hit the trail. This is also a good way to introduce a Leave-No-Trace approach to nature since they don’t collect the items. Having a checklist will keep them engaged during the hike and develop a greater appreciation for nature. Award bonus points or a special prize for spotting that rare salamander along the creek, a red fox creeping through the trees, or any other unique feature or creature.
4. Make a Game of It
Kids are competitive, and outdoor games are a perfect way to eliminate some screen time. Many state parks have frisbee golf courses, or you can find an open field for a game of football or soccer. You can even create a game that incorporates nature—that flowing creek is perfect for a pine cone race.
You can even play a game of hiking hide-and-seek. Someone hides behind a rock, tree, or another object about 15 to 20 feet ahead on the trail, while the rest of the group seeks while hiking. Rotate hiders as you move down the trail. It’s a twist on the traditional playground game that keeps the hike fun and exciting.
5. Use Helpful Apps
There are plenty of apps that can enhance the outdoors for your kids. When you download the free app from Geocaching.com, you can turn a walk in the woods into a hi-tech outdoor treasure hunt. With geocaching, you use a GPS or smartphone to locate a hidden object or container, known as a cache. In Alabama, you’ll find some pretty create caches, like the Jolly Green Giant’s oversized possessions on Green Mountain and Huntsville Mountain in North Alabama. The hunt for the cache will get the kids excited about being outdoors and introdcue them to new places.
While part of getting outdoors is to help reduce screen time, apps that enhance the outdoors for your kids are readily available. It’s possible that a trail or astronomy app could kickstart a lifelong love of nature.
6. Teach Kids New Skills
Start with the basics when you introduce kids to outdoor skills and activities.
When you introduce kids to bouldering, mountain biking, or any other outdoor activity, remember to start with the basics. Also, make sure it’s something that they’re genuinely interested in. Talk to them to find out what activity they would like to try.
If they suddenly want to start bouldering after that birthday party at the indoor climbing gym, take them to the closest boulder field, and just watch other boulderers. Join the rock-climbing gym and talk to some experts so they can hone their skills indoors before their first climb.
Take a similar path when introducing kids to mountain biking. Keep them engaged in the process of buying a bike and equipment; don’t just do it for them. This will create a sense of ownership with the sport and make it their own. Don’t push too hard on the trails at first. Instead, make sure they’re having fun and learning. It won’t be too long before you and the kids are making downhill runs together.
7. Be Patient
Every kid is different. Some will take to the outdoors right away, while others might need to be coaxed to expand their boundaries. When people try something the first time, whether it’s putting a tent together, starting a campfire, outfitting a backpack, or paddling a kayak, there will be bumps along the way. Encourage kids to overcome difficulties, but also allow them to walk away if they’re overly frustrated, tired, and truly not having a good time.
As kids learn to overcome fears and negotiate obstacles, they become more resilient mentally and build confidence. As they explore trails and paddle rivers, their time outdoors will also help them stay fit and it will put them on the path to a healthy lifestyle. And, when you help kids develop a love for the outdoors, it’s something you can share with them for a lifetime.
100 Low-Prep Activities You Can Do Even Do In Your Own Backyard
Here are 100 no-prep and low-prep nature activities for kids that you can try just steps from your home, right in your own yard! Sometimes getting outdoors is a challenge, but this free printable checklist can help! I hope these simple prompts will help your family spend more time outdoors this year.
These are great backyard activities to try at home during long breaks from school or if you are just trying to spend more time outdoors as a family! I included activities you can try year-round and in all types of weather to encourage outdoor play throughout the year. Some of these activities will keep kids entertained for a while and some will only last about 10 minutes. My hope is that these prompts will get you out the door and inspire you to stay out longer!
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1. Lay in the grass and cloud gaze. Do you see any shapes or animals?
2 Go bird watching. How many different types of birds can you find? What are they doing?
3. Paint nature. You can paint sticks, rocks, or any other types of nature you find.
4. Look for animal tracks. Bring a magnifying glass and look closely at the details! Check out this indoor extension activity for when you are back inside.
5. Watch the sunset. What colors do you see in the sky?
6. Go puddle jumping. Such a fun backyard activity!
7. Make mud pies. Decorate them with flowers, rocks, leaves and sticks!
9. Pick up sticks and put them in piles. Who can make the largest pile? Sometimes the easiest activities keep kids busy for the longest amount of time!
12. Go on a nature scavenger hunt. You will get a free nature scavenger hunt when you subscribe to the blog! You can also find another fun scavenger nature journal here.
13. Make a nature bracelet. You just need some contact paper and nature!
14. Create land art. Collect pieces of nature and make beautiful designs and pictures. This also looks beautiful in the snow!
15. Make a fort. We like using Stick-lets when we build outdoor forts.
16. Make tree and leaf rubbings. Just tape paper on a tree or put leaves under a piece of paper and rub a crayon over the pieces of nature.
17. Search for bird nests or other animal homes. What animals do you think live in the homes?
18. Go on a mushroom hunt. How many different types can you find? What colors are they? Can you identify them?
19. Search for signs of the changing season.
20. Make letters out of nature. Sticks make great straight lines. You can make curved lines with rocks, leaves and flowers!
21. Count pieces of nature. Line them up and practice one to one correspondence.
22. Thread beads on sticks. Work on fine motor skills, color recognition, patterns, and so much more with this fun outdoor activity for kids!
23. Build a bonfire. Tell spooky stories and make these fun mummy rocks.
24. Play flashlight tag at night.
25. Make up a story together about an animal that you spot. What is the animal doing? Where is it going? What is it’s name?
26. Bring a basket of books outside and read them together!
27. Free play! Let the kids go outside and choose the activity.
28. Draw pictures with chalk.
29. Blow bubbles.
30. Bring a favorite toy outside.
31. Make a nature tic-tac-toe board.
32. Make nature prints. Paint pieces of nature and stamp them on paper.
33. Play tag or chase. Play sticker tag and try to put a sticker on the other person as you tag him/her.
34. Look for bugs. How many can you find? Can you identify them?
35. Make art. Bring a large piece of paper outdoors with crayons and markers. There is a lot of inspiration outdoors!
36. Weave nature. Cut a piece of cardboard, wrap rubber bands around it and weave pieces of nature! This is one of our favorite backyard activities!
37. Stack snowballs. How tall is your snowball tower before it falls over?
47. Set up a musical area outside. Here is a musical hiking stick that we love to make and use on our nature walks!
48. Make a nature sensory writing tray. You can cut leaves, flowers or pine needles, put them in a tray and practice writing letters, numbers, or drawing pictures in the tray.
49. Drop items in a puddle or bucket of water and see what sinks and what floats.
50. Jump in a pile of leaves.
51. Shovel snow.
52. Make a stick crown. Paint sticks and hot glue them to a thick strip of card stock.
53. Cook a meal outside together. This doesn’t need to be complicated, just fire up the grill!
54. Run around the house 5 times. This is one of the easiest backyard activities that we’ve tried! So simple and no supplies needed:)
55. Identify plants. Walk around your yard and find trees and flowers to identify.
56. Run through the sprinkler or set out the hose.
57. Make muddy tracks with toy cars.
58. Check the moon phase. Track to track it through a whole month long cycle.
59. Roast marshmallows and make s’mores. This is one of our favorite backyard activities!
60. Make a nature portrait. Use pieces of nature to make a face.
69. Make a bird feeder. You can just find a pinecone and cover it with peanut butter and bird seed or try this low-prep bird feeder.
70. Paint with nature. We mashed berries and drew flowers with the nature paint.
71. Go stargazing.
72. Beginning sounds in nature. Point at different objects in nature and figure out their beginning sounds. Flower= f, grass=g
73. Freeze nature or toys in ice. Then give kids some things to help them dissolve the ice such as a bowl of warm water and some eye droppers.
74. Make mud faces on a tree. Put mud on a tree and use nature to make the face. The pieces of nature will stick to the mud!
75. Use sticks to draw in the mud.
76. Make a nature puzzle. Collect pieces of nature in your yard, trace them on a piece of paper, and match the items to the correct outline. Here is an example with leaves. You can use a variety of nature or just one type as pictured below.
77. Take photos of nature together.
78. Find flowers to press. You can make flower rocks with them!
While it’s natural to want to jump into the car on a whim and drive to a favorite hiking trail, doing so is not necessarily the wisest of choices. Hiking is a lot like painting a house in that the preparation is just as important as the actual activity itself. So before you head out, follow these tips:
Let people know where you’ll be hiking and when you expect to be back. This is important whether you are going on a day hike at a nearby park or on a multi-day hike. On a backpacking trip, plan where you’ll be camping each night as well as the section of trail you’ll be hiking each day, in case you need to be pinpointed for an evacuation. The best insurance is a written reminder with all your information left behind with someone who is not going and who is expecting you back or to check in by a certain time.
Study your maps before you begin the trip. Have a good idea of which route you will hike. Look for possible emergency exit points as well as places where water refills are likely. Identify more than one water spot since dry spells can be unpredictable.
Time control plan. Predetermine where you ought to be at certain points of the day using your map. Factor in your walking speed based on the number of people on the hike as well as their fitness level. Also, for every 1000 feet of elevation you gain, add about an additional hour of hiking time. Remember that when traveling as a group, you are only as fast as the slowest person in the group.
Graph your route. Highlight the route you will be taking. Mark potential campsites, water stops, and major road intersections.
Check the weather and pack accordingly, keeping in mind that the weather at the base of a mountain and halfway up a mountain can be vastly different. Rain gear (one of the 10 Essentials) should be brought even if no rain is predicted, as wet clothes can cause a person to become hypothermic even with temperatures in the 50’s.
Hiking Resources
Get the information you need to feel confident on your next hike.
Joel Cross
American Hiking Society has partnered with the Hiking Project to help you find trails and featured hikes you’ll love. The Hiking Project is a crowd-sourced platform, which means that all trails are shared by hikers like you. If you don’t see trails near you now, keep checking back. And better yet, why not share your favorite local hikes?
Trail Ratings:
Easy: walking with no obstacles and low grades
Easy/Intermediate
Intermediate: 10% grade, small rocks and roots, easy scrambling
Intermediate/Difficult
Difficult: 15% grade, large obstacles, possible scrambling or climbing
Extremely Difficult: 20% grade, 15+" obstacles, many harder sections
Featured Hikes:
Sometimes it's hard to pick the perfect hike right off the map. Browse through Hiking Project's highest rated hikes to see which trails other hikers are ranting and raving about.
Download the Trail Info:
take the info with you on your next hike. Download the maps and trail info to your mobile device for offline use. Remember to pin the trails before you leave cell service.
Fun And Simple Ways For Exploring Nature With Children
INSIDE: You will find 7 fun activities for exploring nature with children that also make Earth Day activities.
How to play and learn with exploring nature with children
Nature is a wonderful teacher if you wanna nourish a child’s curiosity and build confidence. Playing outdoors provides less structural play than indoor play so the child is somehow forced to use imagination and own ideas for play. As a parent who wants a happy, healthy and creative child you should thrive to spend more time outside and help your child to discover the beauty of it.
Here are 7 ideas that will encourage your child to play outside and these may give you more ideas on how to explore nature with children. These outdoor activities for kids are also great ways to connect with nature and each other..
1. Go for a nature walk or scavenger hunt
Go outside in the nearest park for a walk and observe nature around you. Try to spot details in colors and textures. Close your eyes and talk with a child about what you hear. Become aware of smells around you.
Depending on your child’s age you can organize a scavenger hunt with a list of materials you want them to find. There are so many ideas if you search the internet, including printables with pictures or lists for collecting items. For young kids, you may take a basket and collect items you find on your way; twigs, stones, leaves, rocks, pinecones… You can take it home for a play and create games or even make crafts.
This is a very exciting nature activity for toddlers to explore, feel and touch new objects from nature.
2. Plant a flower
Planting a tree or a plant is a great way to give a gift to our planet, so why don’t we start with that tradition with your child.
Young children will need more help, but they can participate by helping while preparing plants and soil or they may play next to you by exploring soil.
While planting, talk to him about what you are doing, how plants grow, what do they need for growth and how do we take care of them.
This is also a nice way to start teaching about gardening, develop a love for planting, and teaching responsibility.
3. Make a bird feeder
Making a bird feeder out of a plastic bottle is a wonderful way to introduce the meaning of recycling to your kids. Not only that, when you are done you can sit, relax in the fresh air and observe the diversity of birds coming to feed.
For our feeder, I have got inspiration here, where you can also find the tutorial on how to make an upcycled bird feeder using plastic bottles.
4. Explore wind with pinwheels
Pinwheels are so much fun for kids to run around.
Make a simple pinwheel, or make more of them in different sizes and colors. Go outside and have fun.
With exploring wind try introducing new vocabulary like air, fly, breeze, strong, gentle, and so on.
5. Play and learn with stones
Stones and rocks are free and possibilities to play and learn are endless, like:
Choose an activity that is age-appropriate and safe for your child and enjoy.
6. Make DIY nature mobile
Bring nature into your home and make a mobile from objects you collected in a nature walk.
There is a one really simple way of making nature mobile by just hanging pinecones and leaves on a branch. A simple version of nature mobile is great even for young kids as they can participate in the whole process, from collecting pinecones, leaves, picking a branch to build it, and finding a spot for hanging.
7. Sing a song
A traditional Waldorf song “Good morning, dear earth” is one of the most beautiful ways to start a day with your child. This is how we start mornings in our family, standing by the window, looking sun arising and checking the weather and changes outside.
Most of these activities for exploring nature are free and available in your yard or nearest park.
There are also numerous ways how you can encourage kids to explore the world around them and learn with Green Kid Crafts projects. This is a simple solution for parents who are too busy to prepare activities or struggle with finding ideas. Green Kid Crafts gives a unique no stress experience for families who want to raise creative children. Packed with STEAM projects, ideas, and resources for learning through play may be just what you need to incorporate regular creative activities into your family life.
If you find these ideas useful please share them and encourage more parents to explore nature with children.
Outdoor Recreation Activities
Hiking Alternatives For When You Need Something New And Exciting
A Hiking alternatives are perfect for those days when you are just feeling all hiked out. They are also ideal for those who can’t hike for a myriad of reasons. We hope these hiking alternatives will give you some great ideas for when hiking isn’t an option but you still want to be out in nature and getting that heart pumping!
Mountain Biking
During lockdown I bought a mountain bike for myself. It was going to be the start of a whole new adventure. Unfortunately that adventure ended when I realised by 3 year old was way too heavy to bike with in a toddler seat. I really needed to invest in a trailer attachment. This would have solved a lot of problems but my motivation was gone. Now all the kids are riding bikes and we are able to have adventures together.
We live near some really great mountain biking trails that are super quiet during the week. This is perfect for building confidence and just being able to have a bit of space.
Mountain biking is a great hiking alternative because it can be done in similar surrounds but just adding in that something extra. Now, while you can go mountain biking with young kids, I feel like it is really an awesome activity to do with your kids aged 10+.
If you are just getting started with mountain biking don’t go out and spend a lot of money. Scour the internet for second hand bikes or just purchase a cheap starter bike. Once you know that it is something that you enjoy you can totally go out and upgrade.
Paddle Boarding
Paddle boarding is a beauty of hiking alternative. Just as with hiking this can be an individual pursuit or you can paddle board with a group of friends or family.
If you are paddle boarding with kids you will want to stay in shallower water closer to shore. However if you are with a group of experienced swimmers you should venture further out.
Paddle boarding is a great hiking alternative because it gives you a completely different perspective on nature. When you are hiking you are exploring the land, paddle boarding allows you to experience nature through the water.
You can take kids paddle boarding at almost any age . This post here will guide you through the steps you need to take when paddle boarding with babies and toddlers. They absolutely love being out on the water with you and to be honest it can be a lot easier than carrying them in a hiking carrier.
We recommend this paddle board if you are just starting out. It is brilliant for both individual paddle boarding as well as tandem.
Kayaking
Kayaking is somewhat similar to paddle boarding but with a few twists. People tend to favour one or the other. Personally I find kayaks a little cumbersome but if you are into adreneline rushes they might be more up your alley.
We are looking at an open ocean kayak tour in a few months. It says it is recommended for ages 7+ but I am still a little uncertain about if our 8 and 10 year olds will be able to do it. Open ocean kayaking can be a lot of fun. A kayak is able to get you into places you would never be able to access otherwise. There are a lot of really interesting animals who very smartly stay out of sight of people. Kayakers can however catch sight of these sneaky animals.
Kayaking is a lot of fun on the river when you throw in rapids! It is one thing to paddle gently down a gorgeous river but once you catch sight of a set of rapids your heart just begins to race. This type of kayaking is adrenaline junky’s dream. We kayaked down the river on a school camp when I was 12 and it is still one of my best childhood memories.
Swimming
How can you go wrong with swimming as a hiking alternative? There is so much variety when it comes to swimming. When it comes to fresh water you can head to the creek, river or lake. The lake is our favourite! Or alternatively you can head to the beach and enjoy the salty fresh air.
I feel like swimming is the ultimate summer activity. You know it’s summer when you are swimming. We live in a tropical climate so it is almost swimming season all year round for us which I love!
If you are a usual beach goer you should try mixing it up a bit and find a water hole near you. Waterfalls are also great places to swim that are a neat alternative to the regular swimming spots.
Horse Riding
My daughter dreams of owning her own horse one day. Unfortunately for her she is just going to have to settle for trail rides on someone else’s horse.
If I was going to pick the perfect hiking alternative that had to do with horses I would opt for a sunrise or sunset ride. Just like with hiking, some of the best views and experiences are at these times.
There are usually horse riding businesses near you that will offer exactly what you are looking for. Trail riding usually starts around $50 for riders 7+. However you will need to check your local horse riding centre for their exact requirements.
Horse riding is a great way to interact with animals and get some great exercise while you are at it. It is kind of secret exercise because you don’t realise how hard your body has worked until you try and get out of bed the next morning.
Rock Climbing
Until a few years ago I didn’t really think of rock climbing as a children’s activity but it totally can be! It is one of those great individual sports that actually has a LOT of pay off for both kids and adults.
Rock climbing can be done both in the gym and out in nature. Get our best advice on how to get started rock climbing with your kids in this post. I think this is the type of activity that would suit those individuals who really love to challenge themselves and not necessarily other people. It is a great way to relax and unwind all while getting those happy hormones pumping.
There are some incredible places to go rock climbing. A lot of the national parks famous for their hiking also have insane rock climbing. Zion National Park is the one that springs to mind immediately. If you don’t have any equipment or experience they have great guided tours for families and groups without kids.
Rock climbing can be a great team building activity. There can be a lot of trust, support and encouragement that often needs to be offered. I can’t think of a better bonding or team building activity than a day rock climbing followed by a great dinner.
via Zion Adventures
Fishing
The ultimate in relaxation. Apparently it doesn’t even matter if you catch a fish! As a hiking alternative I am not sure where I would place this. I am not an avid fisher, probably because I am rarely successful! I guess it matters to me if I catch a fish!
I do however has amazing memories of fishing with my grandpop and catching some delicous fish. We came home so proud and fresh crumbed fish for dinner.
So fishing can make some great memories and like hiking it can give you some headspace to just think. Sometimes all we need is to be out in nature with a bit of fresh air.
Fishing is pretty dynamic also. We went to the outdoor store on the weekend and half the store was dedicated to fishing. There are so many different types of fishing and techniques that you could spend your life learning and still never know all there is to know.
If you are really just wanting to catch a fish, you can do what we have done several times and head to a purpose built fishing facility. They have pond teaming with fish and you are guaranteed a catch. More often then not they will even gut it or cook it for you.
River Tubing
Who loves a lazy river? We love lazy rivers. It is always our first stop when we visit a water theme park. Now, what is better than a lazy river in a theme park? An actually real life lazy river!
If you live near a river chances are that there is some company that offers tubing down the river. If they don’t then locals will surely know where to get tubes and where to take on the river themselves.
When I was a child my mum worked for a tractor company. One year she got 2 inner tubes from massive tractor wheels. We used those tubes to float up and down the river for hours and hours that summer. We called it the “Summer of the River”. The tubes were big enough to fit at least 6 kids on!
River tubing is great for families, teenagers, grandparents and everyone in between.
Boating
Hiring a boat can seem a little extreme. However I want you to hear me out. The cost can be crazy but most boats that you hire can accommodate 13-15 people. What you need to do is get a group of friends or families together and split the cost. You can then bring all your food for the day on board and you are set for a day of epic fun.
Add to the fun by hiring donuts, water skis or wake boards to your package. It can be an impressive day out for quite a small about of money considering the payoff you get.
You can make this day out a great hiking alternative and have the most epic day you can imagine.
Snorkelling
Snorkeling with the manatee and snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef are both on our family’s bucket list. If you don’t have a family bucket list then MAKE ONE TODAY!
Snorkeling is actually a really great activity for so many ages. It is something that parents can easily do alongside their kids and get just as much enjoyment from the activity.
It is pretty cheap to get started with snorkeling. First you will need to purchase a mask and snorkel set. It is important to get the correct size. Children need children’s sized ones because their bodies are smaller. If they share an adult sized mask or snorkel they will have a terrible experience. This is because water will flow into their mouths and eyes because it is too big to get an adequate seal.
There are lots of great places to snorkel but sometimes just having a snorkel and mask with you when you head to the river or beach is great. Being able to see clearly underwater is exciting and offers a new level of curiosity!
Scuba Diving
Having the ability to do something that is otherwise imposible it always a worthwile experience. Flying and breathing underwater top the list.
I learnt to scuba dive when I was 12, in our local aquatic centre. Even then it was one of the most freeing experiences. There wasn’t even a lot to see, namely a few bandaids but that didn’t matter. Just being able to breath underwater for as long as I wanted with perfect vision was worth it over and over again.
I believe most countries have an age requirement of 12+ to scuba dive. If you have kids 12 and over I can highly recommend taking them scuba diving if you ever have the chance. Cruises are often a great way to find opportunities to scuba dive. Every cruise we have been on has offered scuba diving asa shore tour. Cruises usually stop is some pretty incredible places too!
Winter is upon you and you are mourning those long nights of summer that you spent frolicking in the warm sun. Never fear winter can but just as much fun. There is always a winter alternative for all your favourite summer time activities will have you back in the adventurous spirit once more.
Firstly a Winter Alternative for Swimming
Swimming is pretty iconic of summer. It is almost what summer is about, living all day in your swimwear and only coming inside to get more food.
You don’t have to stop swimming just because winter is upon you. There are always indoor aquatic centres that are open year round. They can offer some great swimming fun. I feel like places such as Great Wolf Lodge are the ideal places to go in winter. It is always nice and warm inside and you are getting all the summer swimming in despite it snowing out the window!
We really love heading to the thermal pools during winter. For the last 10 years we have almost always had a trip to New Zealand during winter. New Zealand is set on two tectonic plates which make it incredibly thermal. One of our favourite places to stop on our road trips is a place called Kerosene Creek. It is a naturally heated fresh water creek that runs through native bush. It is absolutely stunning and the water is nice and hot like bath water.
Thermal pools seem to be very popular around ski fields so be sure to look into finding one next time you are hitting the slopes.
My husband youngest at Kerosene Creek New Zealand in the Middle of Winter
Hiking
Did you know that hiking in winter is actually a lot of fun too?! We love to take our kids hiking no matter the weather…okay snowstorm might not be the best idea but I am sure you know what I mean. We have always said there is never bad weather just bad clothing. Check out this post with our tips on how to best dress your little ones in winter so they stay toasty and warm.
Winter hiking offers a completely different experience than hiking during the warmer months. The landscape is different, the wildlife changes and it’s usually a lot quieter.
Nevertheless a great winter alternative for hiking is cross country skiing. Now, granted I have never actually tried it but it looks like a lot of fun. It is kind of a mix between tradtional skiing and running. Check out the video below to get a real feel for what I am talking about because they can explain it far better than I can. I really think this would be a great winter hiking alternative. The ski fields who offer this type of skiing near us actually using the summer hiking trails as cross country skiing trails in winter. So an obvious alternative.
Surfing
I think this one is going to be fairly obvious but I am go to write about it anyway. The best winter alternative for surfing is without a doubt going to be snow boarding. I am personally a skier but my husband is the snow boarder. It is actually where we had our first official date. We got engaged 6 days later but that’s a story for another day!
We can probably put skiing and snowboarding together for the purposes of this post. Skiing and snowboarding use many of the same skills that you use while surfing. There are so many legendary ski fields that are just adventure central. Whistler is the one that screams bucket list to me.
If you have never been skiing or snowboarding then I would highly recommend you book in a lesson on your first day on the slopes. It will usually take only one lesson to master the basics and from there it is just practice. Your kids will undoubtably surprise you with how quickly they pick it up. They will likely put you to shame as the start whizzing past you later in the day.
If you are at the snow it is only reasonable to make a few snow men and snow angels. Playing in the snow can be just as much fun as building sand castles on the beach. Younger kids will really enjoy tobogganing which is significantly cheaper that skiing and snow boarding. If you are after a budget day at the snow then that is what you should do. The kids will still have an incredible time and you can save some dollars for other adventures.
Camping
If camping out in the cold is not your idea of fun then you are going to need a good winter alternative. One alternative we have done is set up out tent inside our house. Yes it does seem to negate the point of camping but it totally creates the whole camping atmosphere and the kids loved it. We simply moved all the furniture out of the living room and set the tent up complete with sleeping bags and pads. Now, I might say that the best part of this whole experience was having the tent set up in front of the big screen TV.
You can also create the camping experience at home by setting up an epic s’mores buffet and fire pit. Crack out the guitar and have a good old fashioned sing along and it will be a night to remember.
A good winter alternative to camping if you actually want to leave your house is to head to a cabin. Cabins are usually located in some picturesque areas and are set up for perfect winter memory making. During the night you can sit around a campfire toasting your marshmallows and by day head out to see the sights and be adventurers.
Rock Climbing
Rock climbing can be done year round but it is definitely a little more challenging in winter , especially for kids. It is with this is mind that our winter alternative for rock climbing is to simply hit the indoor rock climbing gym.
Rock climbing gyms are a great way to keep your skills sharp and continue to hone in on the finer aspects of rock climbing. If your kids loved rock climbing during the summer then make sure you keep nurturing that passion over the winter. Rock climbing has so many insane benefits for kids it’s mind boggling. You can read about that here.
You can also spend the winter months planning with your kids where you are going to climb once the sun comes out again. Sometimes the planning aspect of seeking adventure is half the fun. Youtube is our go to for finding places to explore and add to our family bucket list.
One video that actually really inspired our kids was Free Solo. It focuses around free climber Alex Honnold who attempts to free climb El Capitan in Yosemite. It is an incredibly inspiring documentary that had even our seven year old hooked until the end. I don’t think we will ever be free climbing El Capitan but we will definitely be visiting and will perhaps one day climb it…harnesses attached!
Skating
Ice skating in Central Park always looks so magical. If you are looking for a winter alternative for skating then you need to go pick up some blades and hit the ice. My experience with ice skating is a bit mixed. As a child I was a lean mean skating machine. However we have taken our children the past few years and they skated rings around me and my balance was completely off. I am not sure if it’s an age thing or if I was just way more cautious these days.
Ice skating at dedicated ice skating centre is a great idea for newbies because they offer skate hire. Along side skate hire you can also hire aids for young children which allows them to become a lot more confident without the fear of falling. We always hire one for our younger two kids. They can either use it to push around as they skate or if they want to be a little lazy, entice one of their older siblings to push them around the ice while they sit on it and ride.
Finally a Winter Alternative to Treehouse Building
Kids love to build and they love to be creative. Our 6 year old has this insane ability to just know how things should be put together. He mananged to do a puzzle in 5 mins that 6 adults could not figure out in over an hour. Fort building and hut building is where he excels.
A great winter alternative for building all those play forts outside can be simply moving them inside. I think most people these days have seen the epic fort building couches that are ridiculously popular. These fort building couches really serve so many purposes and kids really love being able to be creative is so many new ways. If you don’t have one of these new couches then you can take it old school and pull all the cushions of the couch and get all the sheets outs of the linen cupboard. We have found that clothes airing racks work great in fort building as do pegs and bull dog clips.
Now if you are super game and your back yard is full of snow then how about you build an igloo? Igloos have always fascinated me as to how they keep you warm and how on earth can you have a fire inside and not melt the ice?
In researching igloos while writing this post I came across this video which explains how an igloo keeps you warm. My kids watch these videos all the time and are always coming out with crazy facts. Maybe you can try it out and see if you can last the night in your igloo!
15 Ultimate Waldorf Inspired Crafts & Nature Activities for Kids
Nature is such a great inspiration for so many kid’s crafts and activities and you can never miss with any of these wonderful Waldorf inspired ideas. To go even further I suggest getting one or more seasonal Waldorf books that will inspire creativity and help your child to connect even more with nature through reading and understanding seasonal changes.
I hope you are gonna love these 15 Waldorf Inspired Crafts & Nature Activities for Kids and find inspiration for play.
INSIDE: You will find 7 fun activities for exploring nature with children that also make Earth Day activities. How to play and learn with exploring nature with children Nature is a wonderful teacher if you wanna nourish a child’s curiosity and build…continue reading...
Inside: Learn how to make beautiful nature bracelet using colorful objects from nature. You know how we made daisy chains when we were little girls and pretended to be fairies or princesses decorated with the most beautiful flowers? Well, nature bracelet is even more fun…continue reading...
Inside: get inspired with these 4 fall activities for kids they will enjoy Autumn is full of surprises for kids. A simple walk in nature can be a fun way to observe and find new objects to draw their attention. It gives many opportunities to…continue reading...
A-Z OF ANIMAL ACTIVITY IDEAS
Educational animal activity ideas and fun facts for all ages. You can do all of these activities using natural found materials or everyday items you can find at home. I will continue to add more activities throughout the year.
X,Y AND Z ACTIVITIES WILL BE ADDED AT A LATER DATE.
A- Z OF FLORA (PLANT/TREE/SEAWEED ECT) ACTIVITY IDEAS
Educational flora (plant/tree/seaweed ect) activity ideas and fun facts for all ages. You can do all of these activities using natural found materials or everyday items you can find at home. I will continue to add more activities throughout the year.
If you’re studying ecosystems and habitats, these picture books can help!
First, let’s start with the difference between a habitat and an ecosystem. An ecosystem includes plants and animals as well as weather and landscapes. In other words, the entire population of living things in the region like a city. The habitat refers to the animal’s or organism’s home environment.
Ecosystems include aquatic–marine and freshwater and terrestrial –forest, desert, grassland, and mountain. National Geographic explains a bit more about ecosystems in this article.
The five major land habitats include deciduous forest, coniferous forest, savanna, tropical rainforest, desert, and tundra. And there are water habitats as well.
Use these books to talk about the differences between habitats and ecosystems, who lives where, and so forth. (Note: I will keep adding to this list as I become aware of more wonderful picture books.)
Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal BACKYARD GARDEN See what’s happening both above and below ground as a little girl and her grandmother work in the garden from the beginning of the spring planting season until autumn gives way to cold snow. It’s an oversized book with marvelous illustrations and juicy descriptions. “Down in the dirt, water soaks deep. Roots drink it in, and a long-legged spider stilt-walks over the streams.” Beautiful!
River
Who’s Hiding on the River?by Katharine McEwen RIVER Learn about river animals with more than 20 flaps and facts. Animals are hiding on the river at different times of day. Who’s hiding? A swan, a fish, an ermine, and more…
Shady Streams, Slippery Salamanders by Jason Patrick Love, illustrated by Joyce Turley RIVER Use this excellent STEM picture book in the classroom to show how scientists in the fieldwork or to teach about ecosystems, erosion, or salamanders. Two boys who love salamanders help scientists with their research in the Appalachian Mountains. It’s a good mix of dialogue, action, and description plus insets of factual information to support.
Pond
Over and Under the Pondby Kate Messner, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal POND Extra tall blue and earth-tone illustrations show a boy and his mother above the pond in a small rowboat. As they travel home, we see what else is on the top of the pond as well as the detailed ecosystem below. Not only will you enjoy the surprises of pond life, but you’ll also be learning as well. It’s a stunning perspective of our interaction with the natural world.
Beautiful imagery captures the essence of a duck pond from a dog walker’s perspective. “
The pond, now stilled, reflections grew, // Doubling creatures old and new.
” The book ends with information about a pond habitat and the birds that live there. Sounds like a lovely place to be.
Beyond the Pond by Joseph Kuefler POND Ernest D. discovers that his pond HAS NO BOTTOM! Excited, he begins to explore the depths that lead to another world. Good thing he’s a brave explorer!
Woods & Forest
Who’s Hiding in the Woods?by Katherine McEwen WOODS Who’s hiding around the woods? Lift the flap to see who they are and read facts about each one.
Woodland Dreams by Karen Jameson, illustrated by Marc Boutavant WOODS A little girl and her dog walk through the woods, saying goodnight to each of the woodland creatures. Similar poetic text structure and soothing wordplay, “Antlered swimmer / Pond-weed skimmer / Daylight’s fleeting — wade ashore / Bed down in the great outdoors.” Rich, earthy illustrations give this book a warm, cozy feel.
Welcome to the Neighborhood by Shawn Sheehy FOREST Meet the animals who build their homes in the forest. In this book, they will pop-up in true-to-life, earthy colors. Learn more about the Garden Spider, the Hummingbird, the Stickleback, and other neighboring animals.
The Boreal Forest A Year in the World’s Largest Land Biome by L.E. Carmichael, illustrated by Josee Bisaillon BOREAL FOREST Lovely soft illustrations fill this informational book about the planet’s largest land biome located in Canada and northern Asia and Europe. Learn about the species that live in this forest, what it’s like in the different seasons, and how it’s affected by climate change.
Squeak! by Laura McGee Kvasnosky, illustrated by Kate Harvey McGee WOODS Not only is this book rich with onomatopoeia but it’s also rich with a sense of place, in this case, an ecosystem of the woods. It’s a delightful story of one morning in the life of the animals. Early, a little mouse wakes up and squeaks. His squeak sets off a chain reaction of animals waking up –like the chipmunk chittering, a trout splashing, a mouse waking, an eagle launching, a mama bear growling, a wolf pup howling, and all the noises the animals make. In a circular, very sweet ending, we return to the mouse who can’t figure out why everyone is awake and snuggles back to sleep.
One Small Square: Woods by Donald M. Silver, illustrated by Patricia Wynne WOODS One small area at a time, observe the woodland creatures and their habitats. It’s text-heavy but dense with information. You’ll also find experiments, activities, a field guide, and a glossary.
In the Woods by David Elliott, illustrated by Rob Dunlavey WOODS Playful, evocative poems capture the essence of the animals who live in the woods — like Scarlet Tanager, skunk, fisher cat, millipede, and beaver. The bobcat poem begins, “Those tufted ears, the amber eyes, that ambushed second of surprise when the bobcat leaps!” This oversized poetry book is a gorgeous celebration of nature.
Rainforest
Zonia’s Rain Forest by Juana Martinez-Neal RAINFOREST Zonia loves her rainforest home and animal friends but one day she sees a tree cut down. How will she respond to this invasion of her home? The story ends abruptly without a solution which I found unusual. Upon reflection, I suspect the author wanted to leave room for discussion. (Also available in Spanish.)
Over and Under the Rainforest by Kate Messner, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal RAINFOREST A child narrates what he experiences during a rainforest hike. The child notices the wildlife living up in the canopy and down below on the ground; animals like capuchin monkeys, leaf-cutter ants, sloths, and parrot snakes. Descriptive imagery plus beautiful illustrations transport readers to this verdant ecosystem. “High in the canopy, a furry dark shadow clings to a branch.“
Leap Frog by Jane Clarke, illustrated by Britta Teeckentrup RAINFOREST Go on an interactive rainforest adventure with Felix the tree frog. He’s started by the noises the other animal makes but learns about the other animals (turtle, beetle, monkey, snake) some who are friendly but one who isn’t — the snake. You can help scare away the snake by clapping. Then help Felix climb the tree by counting the branches he climbs. Lots of wonderful sound words like “rat-a-tat-tat” and “swish-slither“.
Tree of Wonder: The Many Marvelous Lives of a Rainforest Treeby Kate Messner, illustrated by Simona Mulazzani RAINFOREST Warm illustrations meet beautiful writing in this new nonfiction picture book about the warm-wet rainforest. Count along as you learn about rainforest animals and plants. Count 6 roaring howler monkeys, 62 agoutis, or 512 Rusty Wandering Spiders. It’s a beautiful book with the perfect amount of text (not too much).
by Kate Messner, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal
DESERT
A mother and son take a hike in a desert canyon where animals shelter from the hot sun, Overhead the kestrels glide and eagles dive, along the walls tarantulas creep and geckos scoot. The pair see a roadrunner devour rattlesnakes, a mule deer gallop away, and wildflowers blossom. When the sun fades for the day, mom, dad, and son eat supper and crawl into their tent while coyotes howl and the insects sing a desert-night lullaby. Informative while being interesting and magical.
Learn about the desert flora and fauna. During the day, notice the saguaro cactus, woodpeckers, brightly colored flowers, deer, squirrels, snakes, and lizards… Then as the darkness sets in, a beautiful white flower blooms on the cactus. As this happens, animals like bats, bobcats, ringtail, and rats emerge from their daytime slumber. In the back of the book, you’ll find a list of animals and descriptions to go back and spot– if you didn’t already see them. You’ll also find more information about the Saguaro. Excellent, informative writing makes this a great choice for classrooms.
by Donald M. Silver, illustrated by Patricia Wynne
DESERT
Detailed, gorgeous illustrations draw your eye immediately. Look closely to find tortoises, toads, and lizards. What plants live in this ecosystem? Read about each habitat and do experiments and activities. This is another informative book in the
This oversized book explores some of the driest places on earth from the Antarctica to the Sahara with information located around each two-page spread. The unique neon folk-style illustrations aren’t appealing to me personally but I can appreciate the colorfulness.
Three-dimensional mixed media natural objects illustrate the journey of a boy who visits his grandfather in the desert. When his tablet goes missing, he searches for it in the desert, where he discovers scary things — birds, reptiles, plants and a coyote . His grandfather helps him become less afraid and more amazed.
A charming adventure in the arctic about a seal named Magnus who is concerned about the rumbling noise he hears. He asks Hare for help — and soon all the friends are trying to figure out the noise. This will give readers an introduction to arctic animals.
Ocean
Over and Under the Wavesby Kate Messner, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal OCEAN BIOME Follow a family kayaking in the ocean. They paddle and notice what’s in the sky and the ocean’s surface like the whales breaching. Below them, the ocean teams with life — both plants and animals. As always, the evocative writing shares memorable details and vivid verbs. “Under the waves, leopard sharks prowl,” and “Barnacles pull in their feather feet, while treefish and prawns tuck away in the rocks.” Once again, Messner illuminates an ecosystem the unique over/under pattern, sharing the wonder of the world’s biggest ecosystem.
under the Pacific Ocean where sea otters hunt for food and live in the kelp forests. .But when people hunted sea otters to extinction, it affected the other animals and the kelp. Luckily, with new rules, the otters returned and so did their undersea world.
by Carol L. Malnor, illustrated by Trina L. Hunner
CORAL REEF
Follow Kiki as she hatches, swims out to sea, lives her life on a reef, and eventually lays her own eggs. A colorful underwater picture book adventure with plenty of facts mixed with adventure.
Ken loves the coral reefs. One summer, he noticed the corals were losing color and the fish weren’t as abundant so he and his daughter tried to grow more coral colonies. They started a group called The Coral Restoration Foundation. “
They hang bits of coral on special underwater trees and lines where the corals can grow.
” Guess what!? It worked! Gorgeous illustrations paired with an inspirational true story make this a must-read choice to introduce children to the plight of coral reefs and how one person can make a difference.
Minimal text and detailed illustrations show children the variety of animals who build nests and dams and shelter. “
Lodges on ponds, Shelter from storms.”
The book doesn’t say which animals are in the pictures but I like this because it will promote beneficial conversations. Then it’s time for new birth — and the structures will be home to baby animals. “
by Carmela Lavigna Coyle, illustrated by Steve Gray
INTRODUCTION TO BIOMES
Choo-Choo-CHoo goes the Wild Zoo Train as it picks up it’s passengers for an adventurous ride through different biomes — the canyon, the Amazon jungle, the African savanna, Antarctica, and the Moon! The kids watch for the animals and plants specific for each biome but it’s so playful and fun, little readers won’t know they’re learning a ton. I absolutely adore the author’s use of
Starting with the Arctic, visit different ecosystems on each two-page spread. A simple paragraph of text introduces the ecosystem. Lift the flaps to discover animal life information pertinent to each area. For example, in the Sonoran Desert, you’ll read about Pepsis wasps who sting tarantulas. In the Congo, lift the flap to see a bongo antelope and read, “
Bongo antelopes tend to stay out of sight among trees.
” I particularly like the Hebrides off the coast of Scotland where puffins live (I want to see one in real life so badly!). I can read how puffins make their nests in steep cliffs using seaweed, feathers, and grass. You’ll journey around the world, learning as you read the eighty flaps and information from 11 ecosystems. Track your progress using the large world map at the back. Interactive and informative making this appealing to kids and parents.
Designed to mimic a patchwork quilt, this beautiful picture book offers habitat information for kids, surrounded by squares and rectangles of animals and plants. You’ll linger on each page, pouring over the detailed pictures, imagining you’re in the habitat yourself. I’m happy to see an age-appropriate non-fiction picture book with limited text. Well done!
by Bill Martin Jr. & Michel Sampson, illustrated by Melissa Sweet
Listen to the world around you . . . the squawk of the parrots in the kapok tree in the rain forest, the weee-aaa of the eagles in the mountains, the snap of the crocodiles of the marshland. Sweet’s gorgeous artwork exquisitely captures an auditory journey of animals, their habitats, and their sounds.
Extra-large pages of continents show the biomes and animals who live in each. Subsequent pages feature colorful close-up photographs of animals matched with information about the animal– where it lives, why it lives there, and what it eats. This atlas is SO colorful and well designed, any reader will be drawn to look at the photographs and read it extensively. Impressive!
about ice worms, spadefoot toads, limpets, and other animals who live in dangerous habitats. The mixed media collage illustrations will blow you away. Fabulous.
For older children, encourage more elaborate models, like this one using Model Magic. Create an appropriate diorama to study the habitat a particular turtle is found in.
2. Look for citizen science projects involving turtles, like this one in Arizona looking for ornate box turtles, Leatherback Watch in California, or one from the Piedmont Wildlife Center about box turtles.
5. Back to our featured book, A Place for Turtles has a section about the hazards of plastic grocery bags. Find out more about how plastic bags harm sea turtles with this coloring page.
A Place for Turtles and others in the series would be a perfect choice for an Earth Day celebration. Unlike some books about threatened and endangered animals, this book remains positive by explaining what can be done to help mitigate threats. What a great way to learn more about turtles and help them at the same time.
Book was provided by publisher for review purposes.
More books by Melissa Stewart and Peachtree Publishers.
In another in our series of STEM story times, let’s explore reptile-themed books, learning centers, and activities. The Books:
To start story time, I began by reading an older picture book from my bookshelf, Lizard in the Sun by Joanne Rider and illustrated by Michael Rothman.
Although this book works well when read one-on-one, it was a bit long for a group of preschoolers. They began to distract each other.
After talking about what reptiles are and visiting the activity stations, we finished with their choice from a pile I provided, Get to Know Gila Monsters(Get To Know Reptiles) by Flora Brett.
STEM Activity Station 1. Lizard in the Sun (Under a lamp)
Explore the concept of “cold-blooded” or ectothermic (having a internal temperature determined by-and-large by the external environment.)
Gather:
Two lizard shapes cut from black construction paper
Small desk lamp
Place one lizard shape directly under the lamp and one at least three feet away, preferably in a shaded or dark area. Have the children compare the temperature of each.
(Older children could record the temperature difference with a thermometer.)
Optional: Added graphic of temperature vs. lizard activity on page 3 from Sonoran Desert Museum’s Leaping Lizard’s handout.
STEM Activity Station 2. Box of Reptiles (Sorting activity)
Gather:
Toy or model reptiles: snakes, alligators, lizards, turtles
Box or bin
A few toy or model animals that are not reptiles: mammals, birds, insects, fish, or frogs
Mix the animals in the box or bin. Prepare a sign that reads: Some animals were put into the box of reptiles by mistake. Can you find the ones that aren’t reptiles and take them out?
STEM Activity Station 3: Senses Learning Station
Gather:
Images of snakes with prominent heat sensing pits (sense heat)
Images of snakes tongues and Jacobson’s organs (smell)
Point out the eyes (sight)
Hearing- although reptiles don’t often have obvious ears, they can hear
Place this station near the lizard in the sun station so can compare how we detect heat with how a snake detects heat.
(I included this station because we had previously learned about human senses).
STEM Activity Station 4: Make a macaroni snake craft (fine motor skills)
Gather:
Chenille stems (pipecleaners)
White glue
Pasta shells
Penne (red lentil for color)
Marker
Red craft foam cut into tongue shape (Y)
Make a loop in one end of the chenille stem to form the head. Feed the penne onto the chenille stem to cover the body. Bend the end back to hold the penne on. Add eyes to a pasta shell and slip over the head loop. Glue into place (do this after the body so it doesn’t get dislodged). Glue on the tongue. Allow glue to set before playing with the snakes.
If you’ve never experienced one of the Young Naturalists series books from Chicago Review Press, you are in for a real treat. These books are designed not only for children who are independent researchers interested in a topic — in this case amphibians — but also for educators who need information and age-appropriate activity ideas for science lessons.
Lisa Amstutz’s text covers everything readers will want to know:
What an amphibian is
What animals belong to the different families
Amphibian anatomy
What amphibians eat
Their life cycles
Some of the threats to amphibians
And much more!
It is also filled with amazing facts. Did you know that the North American wood frog can survive being frozen solid? How about that some amphibians can absorb water from moist soil by sitting on it because they have specially absorptive skin on their bellies? Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to drink that way?
The activities (30 of them!) will keep young scientists engaged for hours. They range from making fake frog eggs from water beads to making your yard more toad friendly.
The quality of stock photographs, however, is determined by the person curating them and in this case the photographs are the highest standard, well-matched to the text and to each other.
The back matter is a treasure trove filled with goodies such as a table of the different amphibian orders, lists of resources, and a teacher’s guide with even more ideas for activities. The activities encourage the type of hands-on learning that develops fine motor skills so useful later in life. They also reinforce learning. Let’s face it, touching a fake frog egg made out of a water bead engages more senses than simply reading about eggs on the page.
The bottom line is Amazing Amphibians is an exceptionally well organized and well written introduction to a fascinating group of animals. It is perfect for young naturalists and scientists. It is also a must-have resource for educators. Investigate a copy today!
Related Activities:
Not that a book loaded with oodles of hands-on activities needs any more, but let’s celebrate Amazing Amphibians by making a tiny book about frogs, toads, and salamanders to share with younger children.
Today we are featuring a lovely STEM picture book that has made many of the best of 2020 lists, The Nest That Wren Built by Randi Sonenshine and illustrated by Anne Hunter.
This gently rhyming book about Carolina wrens building a nest follows the style of “The House That Jack Built.”
This is the bark, snippets of twine, spidery rootlets, and needles of pine that shape the nest that Wren built.
The text goes into detail about how the wrens gather materials to make the nest. Some of the ingredients are expected, like soft moss for a lining the inside. Others are very surprising, like draping a snakeskin on the outside (to ward off predators). After the nest is built, the story follows the eggs and baby birds through development.
Anne Hunter’s illustrations are a fascinating combination of whimsical and realistic. Young readers will have fun looking for little things hidden in each page.
The back matter includes a glossary and additional interesting facts about wrens.
The Nest That Wren Built will enchant nature lovers, especially budding ornithologists. Surprise yourself with a copy today.
Related STEM activities:
1. Child-sized Bird’s Nest
Let your young makers assemble their own child-sized bird nest. (This is best as an outdoor activity, although some of the materials could be used inside.)
Gather materials to create nests, using items you can recycle or compost. Here are some suggestions:
Cardboard strips
Hay or straw (pet supply or craft stores)
Grapevines (craft stores)
Shredded paper
Fallen leaves
Branches
Show the children some photographs of nests or the real thing if there are some nearby. Always leave the nests where you found them. Even if they are empty, birds can reuse the nesting materials.
This one fell out of a tree after a wind storm:
Talk about some of the reasons birds build nests.
Place to raise young
Shelter from adverse weather
Place to rest
Now have the children build their own human-sized nest. They can work in groups. Young children may need some adult assistance. Be prepared for messy fun.
Note: If you are working with a number of children, they may remove materials from the nests of others. Decide how you want to deal with this in advance. I told them that birds in nature really do take materials from other birds’ nests. Eventually they decided to leave one member of a group in the nest while the others went to gather supplies, just how birds sometimes handle the problem.
Make sure you have your camera ready. You will find there are many creative ways to make nests. Take pictures of your “birds” sitting in their nests.
Disclosure: This book was provided by our local library. Also, I am an affiliate with Amazon so I can provide you with cover images and links to more information about books and products. As you probably are aware, if you click through the highlighted title link and purchase a product, I will receive a very small commission, at no extra cost to you. Any proceeds help defray the costs of hosting and maintaining this website.
What do you notice when you see the owl on the cover of the new nonfiction picture book Whooo Knew? The Truth About Owls by Annette Whipple? Maybe the huge eyes? What do you think of? The sound they make? Have you ever seen an owl in real life?
The book starts out with these observations and a stirring question:
“You recognize an owl when you hear or see one, but do you really know these birds?”
From there, each double-page spread features gorgeous color photographs with text in a question and answer format. You will find out what owl’s eat, how they hunt, whether they sleep during the day, where they live, and what’s up with owl pellets. My favorite questions was whether owls can spin their heads around. Do you know the answer?
The formatting is super engaging, with eye-catching design elements and fun dialogue bubbles with cool facts. Great for visual learners.
Here at Growing With Science, we love back matter and the book does not disappoint. There’s a section on how to help owls, explanation of owl anatomy, owl pellet dissection discussion, and a glossary. The hardcover version even includes an Owl Superpowers poster, which you can see at Annette’s website.
Whooo Knew? The Truth About Owls is nonfiction at its best. It will obviously appeal to young birdwatchers and nature lovers, but also to anyone interested in the world around them. Reading it will make you wiser <wink>.
Note for sensitive young readers: Owls eat small rodents and the book contains pretty graphic photographs of that natural process. There’s also a close up of an owl pellet.
This book is part of The Truth About series. Annette tells us there’s Woof! The Truth About Dogs and another untitled book about spiders coming next year.
Related Activities:
Owl pellet dissection
We previously talked about owl pellets when we reviewed Melissa Stewart’s Bird-acious, a book that comes with an actual owl pellet attached to the cover (see post).
2. Write an Owl Story
Have you ever seen an owl in real life? Write a short story about what you saw and how it made you feel. Do some research and learn more about them to add details to your story. Need help? Check Annette’s website for a lesson about the writing process.
If you post your story online, please leave a link in the comments.
For example:
One snowy day while cross-country skiing at a nature preserve in South Dakota, I passed a thicket of pine trees, dark green against the wintry white. A brownish blur passed in front of my face. It was an owl, flying. The stillness of the snow, the peacefulness of the setting, the silence of the owl in flight have all stayed in my mind since that day.
Other owls we have encountered:
We sometimes see small owls called burrowing owls here in Arizona. Because they nest in animal burrows, which have become rare, conservationists have started making artificial tunnels for them to nest in.
What do you think these owls are doing?
Time to grab those binoculars and meet your bird neighbors!
Today we are featuring a lovely STEM picture book that has made many of the best of 2020 lists, The Nest That Wren Built by Randi Sonenshine and illustrated by Anne Hunter.
This gently rhyming book about Carolina wrens building a nest follows the style of “The House That Jack Built.”
This is the bark, snippets of twine, spidery rootlets, and needles of pine that shape the nest that Wren built.
The text goes into detail about how the wrens gather materials to make the nest. Some of the ingredients are expected, like soft moss for a lining the inside. Others are very surprising, like draping a snakeskin on the outside (to ward off predators). After the nest is built, the story follows the eggs and baby birds through development.
Anne Hunter’s illustrations are a fascinating combination of whimsical and realistic. Young readers will have fun looking for little things hidden in each page.
The back matter includes a glossary and additional interesting facts about wrens.
The Nest That Wren Built will enchant nature lovers, especially budding ornithologists. Surprise yourself with a copy today.
Related STEM activities:
1. Child-sized Bird’s Nest
Let your young makers assemble their own child-sized bird nest. (This is best as an outdoor activity, although some of the materials could be used inside.)
Gather materials to create nests, using items you can recycle or compost. Here are some suggestions:
Cardboard strips
Hay or straw (pet supply or craft stores)
Grapevines (craft stores)
Shredded paper
Fallen leaves
Branches
Show the children some photographs of nests or the real thing if there are some nearby. Always leave the nests where you found them. Even if they are empty, birds can reuse the nesting materials.
This one fell out of a tree after a wind storm:
Talk about some of the reasons birds build nests.
Place to raise young
Shelter from adverse weather
Place to rest
Now have the children build their own human-sized nest. They can work in groups. Young children may need some adult assistance. Be prepared for messy fun.
Note: If you are working with a number of children, they may remove materials from the nests of others. Decide how you want to deal with this in advance. I told them that birds in nature really do take materials from other birds’ nests. Eventually they decided to leave one member of a group in the nest while the others went to gather supplies, just how birds sometimes handle the problem.
Make sure you have your camera ready. You will find there are many creative ways to make nests. Take pictures of your “birds” sitting in their nests.
Disclosure: This book was provided by our local library. Also, I am an affiliate with Amazon so I can provide you with cover images and links to more information about books and products. As you probably are aware, if you click through the highlighted title link and purchase a product, I will receive a very small commission, at no extra cost to you. Any proceeds help defray the costs of hosting and maintaining this website.
What do you notice when you see the owl on the cover of the new nonfiction picture book Whooo Knew? The Truth About Owls by Annette Whipple? Maybe the huge eyes? What do you think of? The sound they make? Have you ever seen an owl in real life?
The book starts out with these observations and a stirring question:
“You recognize an owl when you hear or see one, but do you really know these birds?”
From there, each double-page spread features gorgeous color photographs with text in a question and answer format. You will find out what owl’s eat, how they hunt, whether they sleep during the day, where they live, and what’s up with owl pellets. My favorite questions was whether owls can spin their heads around. Do you know the answer?
The formatting is super engaging, with eye-catching design elements and fun dialogue bubbles with cool facts. Great for visual learners.
Here at Growing With Science, we love back matter and the book does not disappoint. There’s a section on how to help owls, explanation of owl anatomy, owl pellet dissection discussion, and a glossary. The hardcover version even includes an Owl Superpowers poster, which you can see at Annette’s website.
Whooo Knew? The Truth About Owls is nonfiction at its best. It will obviously appeal to young birdwatchers and nature lovers, but also to anyone interested in the world around them. Reading it will make you wiser <wink>.
Note for sensitive young readers: Owls eat small rodents and the book contains pretty graphic photographs of that natural process. There’s also a close up of an owl pellet.
This book is part of The Truth About series. Annette tells us there’s Woof! The Truth About Dogs and another untitled book about spiders coming next year.
Related Activities:
Owl pellet dissection
We previously talked about owl pellets when we reviewed Melissa Stewart’s Bird-acious, a book that comes with an actual owl pellet attached to the cover (see post).
2. Write an Owl Story
Have you ever seen an owl in real life? Write a short story about what you saw and how it made you feel. Do some research and learn more about them to add details to your story. Need help? Check Annette’s website for a lesson about the writing process.
If you post your story online, please leave a link in the comments.
For example:
One snowy day while cross-country skiing at a nature preserve in South Dakota, I passed a thicket of pine trees, dark green against the wintry white. A brownish blur passed in front of my face. It was an owl, flying. The stillness of the snow, the peacefulness of the setting, the silence of the owl in flight have all stayed in my mind since that day.
Other owls we have encountered:
We sometimes see small owls called burrowing owls here in Arizona. Because they nest in animal burrows, which have become rare, conservationists have started making artificial tunnels for them to nest in.
What do you think these owls are doing?
What about this great horned owl? I saw it in a cottonwood tree early one morning. We often hear them calling softly to each other just before dawn.
3. Interested in birds in general? Consider joining the Audubon’s 121st Christmas Bird Count which runs from Monday, December 14, 2020 through Tuesday, January 5, 2021. Details at their website.
4. Read more books about birds.
We have a growing list of excellent children’s books about birds at Science Books for Kids.
What about this great horned owl? I saw it in a cottonwood tree early one morning. We often hear them calling softly to each other just before dawn.
3. Interested in birds in general? Consider joining the Audubon’s 121st Christmas Bird Count which runs from Monday, December 14, 2020 through Tuesday, January 5, 2021. Details at their website.
4. Read more books about birds.
We have a growing list of excellent children’s books about birds at Science Books for Kids.
