As the leaves turns from green to gold to crimson, and we pull out our sweaters to embrace the crisp fall air, we might not take notice of all the ways the world outside our window is also preparing for the cold months ahead. There are very obvious changes many of us do see, like leaves falling from trees or birds flying in formation overhead on their journey south, but what do you think you might see if you looked even closer?
A great way to really take notice of the season in transition is to select one square foot of nature to observe. Mark your little plot with a few sticks in the ground and string if you would like. Seek out the plant or animal life living within this world, and track the changes you notice over several weeks or months as fall turns into winter.
Somethings to keep your eye out for:
- What colors did you observe when you first looked at your tiny realm, and how did they change?
- What creatures did you find living there? Have any left or any come in?
- If there are any plants in your plot, how are they changing?
- What is the temperature of the ground when you started and when you finished your observation?
Bonus: Draw or take a few pictures of your little plot to document its transformation.
Rachel Carson Wildlife Reserve
Hey Green Parents!
Summer vacation is here at last! As your kids embark on their three months of freedom, you can keep their minds, bodies and souls engaged by taking them to visit a wildlife refuge. Across the country, tucked away in Bayous and canyons, estuaries and marshes, hundreds of wildlife refuges are open to the public. These pristine sanctuaries are living and breathing classrooms of ecology and are a rare opportunity to see ecosystems in there unadulterated state.
I recently ventured to the southern Maine coast and visited the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is scattered along 50 miles of coastline, but accessible in the town of Wells. A well maintained trail guides visitors through woods and along the periphery of estuaries and salt marshes. Young visitors can observe migratory birds species nesting and listen to the reeds rustle along the banks of the salt marshes. This is a great opportunity to write and draw in a nature journal, play “I Spy” with native flora and fauna or learn about the local ecosystem.
To find a wildlife refuge in your area, visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services website, and be sure to check out their ideas for visiting with kids.
Photo credit: Giraffe.org
When Aitan Grossman, a 7th grader from California, first read the kid’s version of Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth, he felt compelled to do his part to help solve global warming. His love of music inspired him to compose the song “100 Generations” with the hope that it would be sung by children all over the world. And so far children in Africa, Asia, Europe and North and South America have joined in the chorus.
Aitan’s goal of promoting his song is twofold. First, to spread the word about global warming. “I hope the message of the song makes people pay attention and will speak for itself.” Says Aitan. And secondly, to generate money from sales on iTunes to donate to his favorite environmental organizations the World Wildlife Fund and the Alliance for Climate protection.
You can download the song, ”100 Generations”, on iTunes, then visit Aitan’s website, www.kidearth.us, to get the lyrics, as well as choruses in 4 different languages!
Keep up the good work, Aitan!
