Greening Sam and Avery

an environmental education blog

I have another blog. Well, kind of. It is not mine but I am writing it for the WI Association for Environmental Education. It will be all about professional development, environmental education resources, our events and things that our members are doing. 

So, PLEASE head on over, follow, comment, share, etc! And then stop back by frequently. I am very excited to be writing in such a professional compacity and even more excited to be sharing a ton of great EE information with lots of folks out there. And it won't just be useful for WI residents!!

Oh, and if you are looking for a way to support the earth on Earth Day JOIN the WI Association for Environmental Education! Your money helps us advocate for environmental education in the state and across the country, host professional development events and contibute to the environmental education programs around the state!

 

finding inspiration

If you have a passion, something that you love doing or feel really strongly about, then there is nothing better than being in a place surrounded by other people that have a similar passion all talking and learning about that passion.

I got that kind of opportunity these past three days and it was awesome! I attended the WI Association for Environmental Education Fall Conference. Beautiful location, great people and a three day conference filled with workshops, concurrent sessions and lots of networking that gave me lots of ideas and inspiration.

I thought I would be able to tweet and facebook my way through the conference but the internet was scarce and very slow. But I actually really enjoyed being somewhat unplugged!

I wanted to share just a few of the resources that I learned about with you all.

I have mentioned the Project WILD resource, Growing Up Wild before and this weekend I learned about another early childhood environmental education resource, this one from Project Learning Tree. I took a 3 hour training course on the resource "Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood". I learned some really great new ideas but also just really enjoyed testing out the ideas with other early childhood educators and then discussing lots of other ideas, how to adapt ideas and what it is like doing EE with such little kids. This was my first time to be around so many other educators focusing on EE for little ones and I loved it! Can't wait to take a closer look at this resource and try out some of the ideas with the girls.

Here are some other resources that you all should for sure check out!

Billy B. Brennan: The Natural Science Song and Dance Man. I found out about his music, and got to hear some, at the training I mentioned above. The songs are super cute and all science/nature related! Love that. Can't wait to pick up a cd of his for the girls.

Crazy Crayons- I have been meaning to make recycled crayons for a while now. I got to use some at the conference from Crazy Crayons. This is a national crayon recycling program that I think is just amazing! Love this idea and the product was very cool.

ebird - this is an online birding site that allows people to upload their birding observations, track what other's are seeing and then compare notes with other birders all over the country. The girls and I may pick up our backyard birding again this winter and then join this site to keep track of what we see! Could be a very neat project for a classroom!

WI Nature Mapping - This site is a similar idea to ebird, but is specific to WI and general for all wildlife. Super fun! The girls and I may be joining this one too.

Okay, just a few things I wanted to share.

Have you been inspired lately?

 

back to birding

We took some time off from stocking the bird feeders (bird seed is expensive, even when buying it in bulk!) but now that the temps are dropping and moves are starting to come and go more we have once again got our bird feeding station up and running. The girls had a blast this morning watching the birds while they ate breakfast. Sam actually asked if she could take her plate to the floor right by the back door to eat and have a better view!

It is perfect timing that the folks at my work (Aldo Leopold Nature Center) have been passing around (through email) links to these really cool bird videos.

This first one if of a goshawk doing some really cool flying tricks. The tricks that the bird is doing are not things a bird wouldn't normally do in the wild, as the narrator describes, these "tests" are simulating real life flying scenarios that birds of prey do all the time. Some of the things that I talked to/asked Sam and Avery about while we watched this video are

• Pointing out all the different parts of the bird's body; beak, feet, wings, eyes
• Did you see how the bird pulled her wings in to be so small?
• Did you see how she grabbed the tube with her feet and pushed off?
• Did you see how her back feathers spread out so quickly?
• What else do you notice about the bird?
• Do you see how big the birds wings are?

 

This second video is of an eagle owl that is flying straight at a camera (there is some kind of prey or meat that the owl is trying to get). This video is pretty slow at the beginning but if you just keep encouraging your child to watch the end is well worth the wait! Some of the things I pointed out to Sam and Avery in this one,

• Look at how flat the owl's wings are.
• Do you think your arms are as long as the owl's wings?
• Do you see how the owl moves his wings down and then back up?
• Do you see the legs hanging down?
• Look at how the owl's wings bend just like our arms can bend at the elbow.
• Can you see all the stripes and lines on the owl's feathers?
• What color are the owl's eyes?
• Do you see how the owl is spreading is talons out to grab something just like we use our fingers to grab things?

 

I am sure there are tons of great bird videos on YouTube these were just brought to my attention this week because of emails going around at work and the girls enjoyed them so much I thought I would share.

Watch them with your kids and leave me a comment letting me know what they thought!

Happy Birding!

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The Nitty Gritty!

Here are some classroom/home extensions that you could do to go along with these videos -

For the first video you could set up some tunnels and other obstacles for your kids to climb through and talk to them about how they can move their bodies in different ways to move through things. For older kids you could keep making the tunnels smaller and smaller to see how much they can adjust and change their body to fit through something.

For the second video you can measure out 6 feet on the ground or wall with tape. The eagle owl has a 6 foot wing span. Have the children compare their arms to the wing span of the owl. Who is bigger? You could also have the children try to pick up different sized and shaped objects with their toes. Are we able to use our toes as well as the owl can? Why does the owl need to have such strong toes (which are really called talons)?

nature journaling ideas and resources

Wanted to share some more great ideas about nature journaling.

Here are some of my favorite activities. I have not done all of these with Sam and Avery yet and many of them would be too advanced for them; these activities are mostly for slightly older kids and can be used all the way up through adults. I have however done all of these activities with groups of kids in non-formal environmental education settings. They have been some of my favorites that work great with kids and really help them take a closer look at the natural world around them.

Find a Treasure

Lots of kids like to collect things on the trail. This activity simply gives them a way to capture their treasure without actually having to take it home. Give the children some time out on the trail to find something that they think is a "treasure". Then have them sit and draw their treasure as well as they can. The drawings don't have to be perfect just a picture that will help them remember the great thing they found out on the trail that day. The children can then share their drawings and talk about what made that item so special.

Find a Perfect Spot 

Take your child/ren to a natural area and give them some boundaries for where they can go exploring. Allow them some freedom to explore off trail (if it is safe) and on their own (if they are the appropriate age). While they are out exploring their job is to find what they think is the perfect spot. It could be alongside a creek, at the top of a hill, at the bottom of a neat tree, up in a tree, next to an animal home, etc. but each child must find their own spot. Once they have found their spot encourage the child to draw the spot and answer through their drawing or words some questions about the spot; what do they see? what do they hear? what do they smell? what other living things are they sharing the spot with? what other living things may have been there in the past? what makes this spot a perfect spot?

Notice Something Small

 While out on a trail pick a spot to stop that has some open area for the child/ren to explore. Have them each find something non-living that they can fit inside the palm of their hand. When they close their hand they should not be able to see any part of the item. Then have them sit down and carefully draw that item. Ask them detailed questions about the item while they are drawing, encouraging them to look closer and closer. When they are done with their drawing be sure to have them return the item to where they found it.

Sound Map

Sit down a quiet natural area with your child/ren. Have them place a large x on the center of a piece of paper. That x represents themselves. As they sit their quietly have them place additional symbols (can be any shape, size, color, etc.) on their page that represent the sounds they hear around them. Encourage them to listen very closely and see how many different sounds they can  "draw" on their paper. Each sound should have its own unique symbol. After a few mins (determine length by the age of the child/ren and their interest in the activity) have them share their drawings and talk about the sounds they heard.

A Tree From Many Views

This activity is all about imagination and may require slightly older kids/students. Pick a large tree in a natural area and talk about who/what might be living/using that tree (birds, squirrels, bugs, moss, animals/people for shade, etc.). Talk about what the tree might look like to each of those things; what does a tree look like if you are a bird flying above it? what does a tree look like if you are a squirrel sitting on a branch in the middle of the tree? what does a tree look like if you are a bug crawling on the bark? what does a tree look like if you are a kid sitting underneath it? etc.  Then have them try to draw the tree as it would look from those different views.

Want more natural journaling information? Here are some online resources that might be helpful.

Online resources -

Make a Nature Journal for Kids

Keeping a Nature Journal - this is an overall great resource and has great information about why we should be journaling outdoors with our kids.

Starting a Nature Journal - great example of a family doing journaling with little ones; also has links to some great journaling books.

Preschool Pre-Reading Journaling Activities - some good ideas for little ones to do outside in their journal.

Nature Journal -Getting Started - a great way to get started with links for helpful info and printouts.

 

Day 325: outdoor playtime

Day 325. I cannot believe we have been at this greening journey now for 325 days. No, there isn't anything special about that number, it just struck me while I was typing it that 325 is A LOT of days. In the life of a 16 month old and a three year old that is A LOT of days. We have gotten outside I would say probably 320 of those 325 days. There were a few bitterly cold days and a few very stormy days that we didn't get outside. Which now looking back is a big bummer, it would have been awesome at the end of the year to say that we went out EVERYDAY. Oh well, maybe that will be the goal for the NEXT 365 days.

Anyway, I have been thinking a lot about outdoor play lately. I really think that getting kids outside, no matter what the setting, HAS to be the first step to connecting kids with nature. Get them away from the computer, the TV, the video games and Ipods. Get them outside in the fresh air, running and playing. Then, once they are more comfortable with just being outside they might be more willing to try bigger adventures or be more curious about some of the natural things that they are seeing outside.

So, today instead of trying to guide Sam and Avery's outdoor play time I just went along with them. We played on the swings, drew with sidewalk chalk, picked dandelions, dug in the mud, watered the garden (and a lot of other areas too!), watched Chris cut the grass, and watched the clouds. We had a great time and burned lots of energy. The learning comes, the connecting to nature happens naturally and the teachable moments pop up when I least expect it; but none of that would have happened if we first weren't playing outside!

It is not always easy to think of what to do outside, especially if you don't have a lot of outdoor space. Wanted to help out with that this week and maybe inspire you to spend MORE of your week with your little ones outside.

Blogs are a great place to start. Here is a list of 10 AWESOME bloggers that have lots of outdoor play ideas.

Just remembering the great oldies-but-goodies can be a great place to start. This is a great list of lots of those old favorites and maybe a few you haven't tried before.

And if you need ideas for ways to spruce up your outdoor play areas check out this great inspiration page at Child Central Station.

If you do get out this week and try out some fun outdoor play ideas with your little ones be sure to stop back by and let me know. You can join the Outdoor Play Link up on Friday or check out the first couple of weeks for more ideas! Check here and here for lots of great ideas.

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The Nitty Gritty!

Two more great resources that I just HAD to share.

If you have a birthday party for your little one coming up it would be great to consider doing some outdoor games or activities. Check out this list of 10 ideas from Disney.

Interested in the philosophy behind outdoor play, research being done about the benefits or studies about things like obesity, risk in play, playground design, nature preschools and more? Check out the resources page at ActiveKidsClub.com. I could spend DAYS going through and reading all of this stuff.

The "Cool Boys"

Sam and I have been watching "Tristin and Tyler's Tales from the City" for a few months now. She has recently taken to calling them the "Cool Boys" because of their episode on litering (which I think you can only find on YouTube).

These are two little boys that go around New York exploring all kinds of fun things for kids to do, green activities and events, and even interviewing lots of people! The episodes are both adorable, funny and very informative. We don't live in New York so we don't get to visit any of the places that the boys go but we love watching their latest adventures.

We found another episode on YouTube called "Thinkin' Green" where they interviewed an author of a children's book called "Think Green". The book looks adorbale and it was so fun to hear about it from the author. I really enjoyed watching this one!

In honor of Earth day the "Cool Boys" got even cooler in Sam's mind because they became their very own CARTOON! She loved it when we watched it the first time this morning and has asked to watch it several times throughout the day. She also wants to build her own rocket (you will have to watch the cartoon!).

SO, if you haven't heard of Tristin and Tyler you have to check them out!

www.tristinandtyler.com  

Day 250: online resources

I have been intrigued lately by my computer and the wealth of information that is out there. I have found a couple of sites lately that others use with their kids and got to thinking about what else might be out there. Sam I spent some time today playing around with a few online resources and I thought we would share some that we found!

Virtual Museum of Small Animals - this site was hard to navigate a bit because it uses only the scientific names and most of the instructions and text is in (what I believe is) Italian. But Sam really like the bee video and the pictures of the frogs.

Wild Music - this is SO interesting. And since Sam has had such a great time with my Identiflier I knew this one would be a hit. She didn't really understand the "making a song" aspect of it but enjoyed helping me pick out different sounds and telling me what they were.

EPA Environmental Kids Club - didn't explore this whole site because there is a TON of great stuff on here; games, printables, information and stories for kids.  

Eco-Kids - in the wildlife games section Sam really enjoyed the Bug Hunt game. We tried out a bunch of them and many were cute, but this one was her favorite.

WWF - Green Games - these were all a bit old for Sam but I thought it was a great site with good games for older kids.

Learning about the outdoors on a computer wouldn't be my first choice but I cannot help the technological and very "plugged in" world that we live in and that my girls will of course grow up in. So using the computer sometimes with Sam  (and eventually Avery) will help show them the good stuff that is out there and how to make use of all the tools that are available to them.

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The Nitty Gritty!

So clearly this is not a complete list and may not even be the best resources that are out there. The internet is just SO big, only so much can be tested and tried out in one day!! 

May have been wise for me to spend a few days working on this post huh? Oh well.

Anyway, thought instead, why not ask all of you what online tools, websites or games you liked to use with your students or children.