Is Christmas nature study really a thing? Are we really worried about nature study during, arguably, the busiest month of the year? Yes and yes! On the practical side, we tend to forget the importance of fresh air, sunshine, and exercise during the colder months. This can lead to combustible behavior from cooped-up kids (and parents)….
Do you think of moose nature study when you think of Christmas? While moose might not be the most common Christmas animals, they are stunning cold-weather animals with the best antlers. And that’s why moose are the topic of this week’s No Sweat Nature Study podcast. This post contains affiliate links. Moose Nature Study Be…
Homeschooling in December can be rough. Everyone needs a bit of a break from the monotony of the regular homeschooling schedule. Because of this, some families choose to take the entire month off from homeschooling. Others, switch the curriculum to focus on the preparations of Christmas and turning the hearts of their children toward the…
One thing I love about nature study is its ability to make connections across so many subjects. Without a far stretch, it’s easy to connect art, language arts, math, history, and geography. As a teacher, I’m always on the lookout for perfect opportunities to join two subjects. That’s what’s happening in the idiom nature study…
It’s long been a saying that we have to crawl before we can walk, walk before we can run, and run before we can race. Development is typically easy to track and anticipate as a child builds upon previous skills, a steady line sloping up. Gifted kids, though, develop much differently. Instead of a straight…
Middle school kids are a fun, unique sort, aren’t they? Caught between childhood and something greater, it can sometimes be difficult to buy gifts for them. But even for middle schoolers who quickly become star-struck with trendy clothes and high-dollar electronics, I’m still a big believer in giving at least a few educational gifts. The…
Welcome to another wild and fascinating science topic! We’re diving into the extraordinary lives of beavers, those adorable, yet fiercely independent builders of the wild. I hope your entire family enjoys this beaver nature study! Beavers, nature’s master builders, create entire worlds with their incredible skills. Without tools or machinery, they use their ever-growing front…
Time and again, research and anecdotal evidence have proven that creativity is as vital a trait as resilience or wit. Often creativity can be considered a skill, but it’s such a broad concept that it’s difficult to explain just how to practice such a skill. This list of art and handicraft gifts will help! Creativity…
Reading engaging picture books about supply and demand is a great way to introduce children to topics about economics. Teaching economics is more important than you might think and much easier than you might imagine. Choose from the books below to start learning! This post contains affiliate links. What are Supply and Demand? Supply and…
There are definitely stereotypes when it comes to gifted kids. For instance, people might picture an awkward child with glasses who plays chess and cello and snorts when laughing. Parts of that may be true for some gifted kids, but they’re often not at all like people expect. Some have glasses and some play instruments….
Logic and critical thinking easily meet science in this bean classification activity. Using a simple 16-bean soup mix, middle and high school students can develop their own systems of classification. It’s such a great way to practice classification and re-classification strategies based on debatable characteristics. Speaking of debate, the activity provides a great opportunity for…
We’re venturing into a slightly spine-tingling topic on the podcast this week. Are you ready for myriapod nature study? The creepy appearance of centipedes and millipedes makes this topic perfect for a mid-October science lesson! As your family listens to the podcast episode, you’ll be encouraged to picture a serene autumn forest. Amidst the rustling…
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