HOME NATURE CENTER

Several years ago I read a powerful book called LAST CHILD IN THE WOODS. It reminded me that children need to be connected to nature, and in our technical, fast paced society they are just not getting to spend enough time outdoors. 

We all need balance in our lives or things get out of whack. Most would agree that children are having too much screen time, so it’s especially critical to make sure they have plenty of sensory stimulation, time to be creative, time to use their imaginations, and time to experience all seasons of nature.

Children love to collect things. Aren't they always picking up rocks or leaves or flowers or nuts? A nature center in the home would be a perfect place to display their treasures and give them the opportunity to observe and investigate natural items. What a great idea to share with your families!

HOW TO CREATE A HOME NATURE CENTER

Materials:  plastic tub

magnifying glass

clipboard, pencils, paper

natural objects (rotate according to seasons)

Directions:  Take the tub to a natural area in your community.  Let children collect rocks, leaves, pine cones, sticks, nuts, and other natural items.  Place the tub on a table or quiet place in the home and encourage children to do some of the activities below: 

*free sensory exploration (see, feel, smell)
*sort
*count
*seriate by size
*observe with a magnifying glass
*sketch 
*PLAY!

Note!  When children tire of the nature tub return the natural items to where you collected them.

 

FREE, GREEN, ENGAGING, OPEN-ENDED, EASY - IT'S A WINNER!!!

COMIC BOOK DAY

National Comic Book Day (September 25) is another September holiday that you can celebrate this month. What a treat when I was a kid to get a new comic book! No, we didn’t have videos or computers, but friends would come over and we’d read comic books together. I know! I know! Sounds corny now, but it was a favorite indoor pastime when the weather was bad. Let me tell you, if the weather was good our mothers would say, “GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY!”

I also remember sitting on my grandpa’s lap as he’d read the Sunday comics to me. I think the cartoons were much more “child friendly” in the 50’s than they are now. However, it might be interesting to save some of the comics from the newspaper this weekend and share them with your class. Explain how cartoonists use “bubbles” to let you know what the characters are saying.

                                        

Invite children to draw a picture of you and make a bubble with something you frequently say coming out of your mouth. You might be surprised!!!!

You could also let the children draw pictures of themselves or their friends and then use bubbles to make them talk.

Comics can also be used to reinforce standards. Start off by giving children copies of a cartoon frame with 2 sections. Tell them to think of a story that has a beginning and an end and draw it.

Next, let them think of a story with a beginning, middle, and end.

Finally, challenge them to create a story with 4 sections.

*Have children recall the sequence of a story with comic frames.

*Use comic frames to illustrate the life cycle of a butterfly, the water cycle, plant growth, and so forth.

Here’s a link to download blank cartoon frames:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1SnEagA4jljTjMyU21nWDZTN00/view?usp=sharing


Cartoons That Move
Would you like to learn how to make cartoons that move? It’s easy peasy, but you’ll surely impress your students (and parents) when you teach them how to do this.

Hint! I would demonstrate this with kindergarteners, but the primary grade children could do this with some guidance.

Materials: white copy paper, stapler, black pen or pencil

Directions:

1. Fold the paper into fourths and cut on the creased lines.
                       

2. Take two sheets and staple them at the top.

3. Lift the top layer and draw a simple shape on the bottom. Keep your drawing on the bottom half of the page. 

       

4. Now, place the top sheet over the bottom and trace over the lines. Vary one or two features, such as arms, ears, mouth, etc.

5. Take a pencil and roll the top sheet up around the pencil.

6. Quickly move the pencil up and down to bring life to your cartoon. Waalaa!

                                            

*Connect this activity to literature, science themes, or social studies.

WORLD GRATITUDE DAY

One day that we will all want to celebrate this year is WORLD GRATITUDE DAY.  Maybe we should change it to WORLD GRATITUDE MONTH!!!!  I think I need to "practice what I preach" today!

                                          

Gratitude is an emotion of expressing appreciation for what you have, rather than what you don’t have. Psychology Today reports that gratitude can be cultivated and it can increase levels of happiness when you do. Energy, optimism, and empathy are by-products of gratitude. 

Model Gratitude
Make it a habit to include things you appreciate into daily conversations.  "I am so grateful that you are in my classroom."  "I'm so grateful that the sun is shining today."  I am so grateful that we can learn together."

Brainstorm
What does it mean to be GRATEFUL? Write children’s responses using a web. What are some synonyms for GRATEFUL?



Lists
Children love to make lists, so let them make a list (draw pictures or write) of all the things they are grateful for.

ABC
Can they think of something for each letter of the alphabet that they are grateful for?

                          


Gratitude Journal
Let children make a special "gratitude journal." Encourage them to write what they are grateful for each day for a week.



Grateful Greeting
Start the day by asking each child to say something they are grateful for.

End with Something GOOD
End the day by having children say something good that happened at school that day.

P.S. Have I told you lately that I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOU!!! Thanks for reading my blog!

JOHNNY APPLESEED DAY

Another special holiday in September is Johnny Appleseed Day (September 26th) in honor of his birthday. Here's a finger play and story you can tell any day. Johnny (John Chapman) is remembered for planting apple trees throughout Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. He was well known and liked for his kindness and generosity. Say “cheers” to him every time you eat an apple.

Apple Tree (You can say it or sing it to the tune of “This Old Man.”)
Way up high in the tree, (Point up.)
One red apple smiled down at me. (Hold up 1 finger and then smile.)
I shook that tree as hard as I could. (Pretend to shake a tree.)
Down came an apple, (Bring down one hand.)
Mmm! Mmm! Good! (Pat tummy.)

Variations:
Adapt the number of apples, or use other fruits:
Two yellow pears… (Hold up 2 fingers.)
Three purple plums… (Hold up 3 fingers.)
4 orange peaches… (Hold up 4 fingers.)
5 green limes… (Hold up 5 fingers.)

Make a flannel board from a file folder to use as a follow up for this rhyme.
                                  


And, here’s a story that I bet Johnny would have loved.

The Star
Materials: shopping bag or grocery sack
Apple (red delicious works best), knife

Directions: Put the apple and knife in the bag and have it on your lap as you begin to tell the story below. Insert children’s names in your classroom to capture their interest.

One day first child’s name went to visit grandmother. Grandmother said, “How would you like to go on a secret mission?” “Oh, I’d love that,” replied first child. So grandmother said, “I want you to find a little red house with no doors and no windows. There should be a chimney on top and a star in the middle.”

First child was so excited as he set off on his mission. As first child was thinking about what it could be, he ran into second child. “Do you know where I can find a little red house with no doors and no windows. There should be a chimney on top and a star in the middle.” Second child said, “I’ve never heard of anything like that, but would you like me to help you?” “Sure,” replied first child and off they went.

They walked on a little further until they saw third child. “Have you seen a little red house with no doors and no windows? There’s a chimney on top and a star in the middle.” “Gosh. I don’t know what that could be, but would you like me to help you?” replied third child. So off they went on their mission.

The story continues as more children join in the search.

Finally, the children had about given up when they ran into grandpa. He was on his way home from the store with something he had bought. “Grandpa,” the children said. “Grandma sent us on a mission. She told us to find a little red house with no doors and no windows. There’s a chimney on top and a star in the middle. What could it be?”

Grandpa laughed, “Well, I have the answer to your riddle right here in my sack.” And he pulled out an apple. (Pull the apple from your sack.) The children said, “How does that solve our riddle?” Grandpa said, “This apple is like a little red house. See, it’s round and the stem is like a chimney.” “But where’s the star?” wondered the children. Grandpa took a knife and sliced the apple in half. (Take the knife and slice the apple in half diagonally.) “And here’s the star!” The children were amazed to see that sure enough, there was a star in the middle.

Grandpa said, “You know people are like this star. We’re different sizes, colors, and shapes on the outside. But if you look inside, you’ll find a special star inside each person you meet!”

*Encourage each child to tell what makes him or her special.

*Talk about where apples come from. How many parts of an apple can the children name.

*Make a list of words that describe apples.

Note!  I bet your families would love a copy of this story.  You could also tell them how to make apple prints by drying the apple half on a paper towel. Dip into paint and press on newsprint or newspaper. Can you find the star?

                                                  

GIFT CARDS FOR YOUR FAMILIES

Years ago I created some “gift cards” with games, toys, recipes, and simple, fun activities to do with children. Carolyn Kisloski added her magic touch with graphics and design!  You can download these free or share the link with your families.   

FAMILY FUN  

I think it might work well to send 4 or 5 home each week instead of all at once.  Many parents want to do things with their children, but they don't have the tools and resources that you do as an educator.  

 

The categories include:

Let’s Make Something!
Craft projects and homemade toys
Let’s Cook Something!
Recipes for kids in the kitchen
Let’s Play a Game!
Indoor and outdoor fun
Let’s Experiment!
Simple science projects
Let’s Read and Talk!
Books to make

Click here to download the cards:

http://bit.ly/drjeanGiftCard

Special thanks to Carolyn Kisloski (Holding Hands and Sticking Together – ckisloski.blogspot.com)!

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?

My husband and I are huge college football fans, and that means today is a happy day!  With all the Covid woes, we definitely need something to distract us and give us something to cheer for.  Football can also be a “kick off” for integrating some skills in your lesson plans.

College Goals
It’s never too early to plant seeds of attending college in your students. Give them a dream and a goal! 

*Have the children brainstorm all the colleges and universities in your area. Talk about why it is important to go to college. 

*Encourage your students to think about where they would like to go to college. Give them paper shaped like pennants or jerseys to decorate with their college dream. 

Math
Graph favorite teams.
Predict who will win the game. Who was right? Who was wrong?
Predict what the score will be. Who was closest? 

*Let children choose a favorite player and write their number on a jersey. How many math facts can they think of to equal that number?

Social Studies
Use a map of the United States and locate where games will be played.

Internet Search
Look up team mascots and colors. Listen to college fight songs. Do exercises to fight songs.

Art
Cut pictures of players out of the newspaper or sports magazines. Challenge children to write creative stories about favorite players. 

*Have children write letters to favorite players.

Team Mascots
This game can be adapted to any school mascot, action hero, or seasonal character. Since I graduated from the University of Georgia, UGA was my first choice. This is a quick, simple game that can be played with any age level or any skill that needs to be reinforced. 

WHY? shapes, colors, letters, words, numerals, math facts, etc. 

WHAT? flash cards, picture of a favorite school mascot, pocket chart

 
HOW? Have children identify the information on the flash cards as you place them in the pocket chart.  Tell the children to hide their eyes slip the mascot under one of the flash cards. The children open their eyes and take turns guessing where the mascot is hidden.  The teacher turns over flash cards until the mascot is found. 

*Ask children their favorite school mascot.  Which mascot would they like to be?

COLLECT ROCKS DAY

Here's another special day that could add some interest to your lesson plans. "Collect Rocks Day" is September 16th, but rocks are everywhere every day. Explain that scientists who study rocks are called geologists. Remind the children that they can be geologists, too!

                                     

Invite each child to take a nature walk with their families and pick up ONE rock. The children could bring these to the virtual or traditional classroom. Ask each child to describe their rock and talk about how they found it.

*Are rocks older than you or younger than you?

*Brainstorm all the things that rocks are used for.

*Let children make a design for something they'd like to build with blocks.

*Let children paint rocks or use other art media to make paperweights.

*Encourage children to start their own rock collection with this idea. Cut an egg crate in half. Attach a pipe cleaner handle and use it to collect little rocks and pebbles when they go for walks with their families.

Note! Remind the children to return the rocks to nature after they have finished investigating them.