First Nature Walk of The Season and Some Helpful Resources

Heading out for our first adventure.

Last Thursday was such a lovely day, perfect for our first Nature Study walk.  It was partly sunny and warm.  It was a bit windy, 30mph winds.  We didn't really have a specific goal, just enjoy being outside.  Everyone ran, played on the playground, climbed trees and tried to steer clear of the Spring mud.

When we got home we did a little nature note booking. The pages are from the Handbook of Nature Study Spring challenges.  We did a Tree Study, Bird Drawing and Weather Observation.  Spring weather is so crazy that we observed twice that day because the weather is so different from the morning till evening.  

We have been working on learning our neighborhood birds.  Yes, I think I could be a crazy bird person that hangs binoculars around her neck and carries a field guide at all times.  I downloaded a Bird matching game (I'm sorry I can't remember the source), covered them with contact paper and then cut them out.  It is fun to match them up with our Audubon birds.   

Thanks to my sister, I came across this great outdoor website.  There is some great info and videos on feathers.  Fun for all of us :) 

A Way To Garden.com

Follow Sunshine by Channon's board Nature Study: Books & Resources on Pinterest.

3 Easy Ways To Incorporate Classical Music In Your Homeschool

From a very young age my sister and I were exposed to Classical Music.  My dad had a really neat collection of classical records.  Each record was of a different composer with many examples of their work, along with a biography inside the record cover.  It was a beautiful collection.  I have no doubt that this early introduction had much to do with my appreciation for it today.

Resources to Make 'Little Women' Come Alive

After I picked out my Classic Club 50 List, I decided to start with 'Little Women'.  I thought it would be a fun, easy read that I could share with the children.  I have started reading this book numerous times, but for some reason or another, I never finished it.
I read a great review over at  Sparrow Tree Square.  After reading her review,  I was even more excited to pick it up.

I also ordered this version of the movie to use for movie night.

As I was thinking about sharing this book with the Littles, I knew that they would be a lot more interested in this book if there were some hands-on activities.  Here are a few fun ideas I found around the web.

Remember paper dolls? I loved playing with them as a little girl.  I wrote about it here.  I found a few online that would be lots of fun.  The dolls and their period clothes would lend themselves well to acting out other classics of this time period.   Check them out here.

During those long wintry days sometimes we need something to fill up our afternoons.  How about pulling out this fun cookbook, or this book of Games, Recipes, Crafts and Other Homemade Pleasures.  Both will transport you back to Civil War times.

What about a Little Women birthday party?  It would be such fun to dress up like your favorite sister or have a tea party.  We don't have a birthday during the week between Christmas and New Year, but we take a break from lessons.  This might be a lovely way to enjoy our quite time together.  I came across the site,  Louisa May Alcott's Orchard Home, while researching for this post.  Along with a fun history lesson, the site gives fun ideas for birthday parties, games, period costumes and party favors.  They also have a Museum Store that might be the perfect spot for some Christmas Shopping!

Take a look at the fun list of 10 Lovely Handmade Items Inspired by Little Women over at 'babble'.  I especially love the peg dolls painted to represent the sisters.  What a fabulous gift for my girls!

I also came across a few more books that were heavy on pictures and would be more appropriate for the younger set.  Besides, who can resist a good picture book!  A Little Women Christmas is a lovely retelling of the Christmas when their father makes a surprise visit for Christmas Dinner.

If you prefer an EReader book you can purchase the complete 8 Book Set of Little Women for $2.99.  The story is divided up into 8 chapter books with beautiful illustrations.

It may not be possible to get through all these activities, sometimes life and grand intentions don't go together.  But, I hope you will give at least one a try.

I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes from the book taken from goodreads:

“Don't laugh at the spinsters, dear girls, for often very tender, tragic romances are hidden away in the hearts that beat so quietly under the sober gowns, and many silent sacrifices of youth, health, ambition, love itself, make the faded faces beautiful in God's sight. Even the sad, sour sisters should be kindly dealt with, because they have missed the sweetest part of life, if for no other reason.” 
― Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

Fun With Legos and Some Great Resources

If you have children at home the odds that they own Lego's is pretty good.  Maybe you did, but I had no idea that Lego actually has a curriculum that you can use from Preschool through High School.
 You can check it out here.  You can also request a print catalog, which I always prefer. 

They started out with those chunky ones, then they graduated to Duplos, and now at last count I think we have 345,998,335,964,000,00 pieces here, there, and everywhere of the regular size bricks.

Wheels, helmets, itty bitty arms, building blocks...

Wheels, helmets, itty bitty arms, bricks...you know how it is.  Around here its just not enough to build things:  they make movies, receive the monthly Lego magazine in the mail, enter projects in our local fair, and build things they can use with other building projects.

I have to admit I like to build with them, too.

 

This is a great site if your children (or yourself, I won't tell)  have lost your building instructions.

How do you store all those instructions?  I would like to tell you I keep them by subject in a 3-ring binder labeled by project.  But...I would be lying.  I am really not sure where they are.   But..I have the Internet at my fingertips for just such a time as this.

If your family loves Lego's as much as our family, you have to check out the movie:

"Jericho, A Promise Fulfilled."  You can purchase it here:  shatterpointentertainment.com

Very cool!

For tons of Lego ideas, printables, resources, games, etc., check out the blog Homegrown Learners.  She has enough Lego inspired ideas to keep your children busy for a log time!

What things do your family like to build with Legos?  Leave me a comment, or post a picture on my Facebook Page.