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.
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.
Creating homemade decorations was my favorite holiday activity growing up. Coming up with new ways to make gift wrap, gift tags and ornaments from things found around the house and around the neighborhood was part of the challenge and the fun. With being green on all our minds this holiday season, we have an even greater reason to be resourceful and to look to nature for inspiration. Here are some of my favorite projects you and your children can do together:
Green your gift wrap:
Save money on all that gift wrap that ordinarily gets ripped to shreds and thrown away. Make your own gift wrap by sprucing up paper grocery bags or recycled brown paper. Create nature stamps by coating leaves and flowers with non-toxic paint and stamping them on the paper. You can also find treasures from outside and glue them right onto the paper, or simply color and paint your own designs. For gift wrap that is reusable year after year, try wrapping your gifts in fabric Japanese style using a furoshiki. Click here to learn how to wrap virtually any gift shape in a furoshiki. If all that tying and twisting has gotten your mind in a knot, simply secure the fabric with a bow.
Green your labels:
Gather holiday cards you have received and let you child cut gift labels and name cards for the dinner table. He or she can simply cut off the written message and keep the cover image or cut the image into sections to make little tags. You can cut fun shapes like stars, hearts and trees to give the image new life. Or attach a ribbon and viola! You have an ornament!
Green your decorations:
Bring nature in from the cold to add life to your holiday decor. Evergreens, pine cones and berries make beautiful garlands, centerpieces and accessories to gift wrap. Gather dead vines to make a wreath that will last for years. Pine cones can be placed in a bowl and splashed with cinnamon and clove to add a nice aroma, or used to hold those homemade place cards previously mentioned at the dinner table. Remember to return these items outdoors when you are done so that they can biodegrade back into the soil and become part of next year’s evergreen boughs and berries.
“The Story of Stuff”is a must-see short video about where all of our “stuff” comes from, how it’s made and where it all ends up. It also reveals what effects the manufacturing, selling and disposing of all our “stuff” has on our planet, our bodies, and even our happiness. With great animations, The Story of Stuff is an engaging, thought provoking and life changing video. Going to the store will never be the same again!
I hate to break it to you, but it’s about that time of year. Time to put away the golf clubs and bbq and break out the # 2 pencils. While you are preparing this year’s curriculum you might want to consider what a big influence you can be in getting kids to think green. Planet Green has a comprehensive guide to going green at school that can help you accomplish small tasks that make a big impact. Check out their Top Green Teacher Tips for ideas on greening your classroom. For inspiration in implementing green into your curriculum, take a look at their 15 Projects for Green School Teachers.
