Summer is here, and it’s a perfect time to explore nature. This free summer nature study printable packet can help you do that easily! As the days get longer, take the opportunity to go on nature walks as a family. The activities in the packet can help children make detailed observations of butterflies, summer fruits,…
Now that I’m a “boy-only mom” (because my daughter is in college) choosing read-aloud books requires a new consideration. Will the potential book appeal to my boys? I can’t get away any longer with reading books that have any sort of girly-girl flavor. Lucky for me, there are TONS of wonderful living books to fill…
What kid wouldn’t love a break from the regular homeschooling routine to enjoy a funschooling day full of candy-heart lessons? I promise that your day won’t be wasted, and you’ll be able to check off almost every box in your lesson planner! Teaching with Candy Hearts Grab a big bag of candy hearts from the…
These Thanksgiving and gratitude living books have been favorites around our house for years. Some help explain the history of our Thanksgiving celebration, while others are just sweet stories with a Thanksgiving theme. Yet others really have nothing to do with Thanksgiving, in particular, but focus on a spirit of gratitude, which is such an…
Rather than eat all that candy sitting around the house after trick-or-treating (or another holiday), why not put it to good use? These fun candy math and science lesson ideas will keep your kids busy, happy, and learning! What will we do with all this candy? Honestly, most of the candy that comes into this…
These days, it seems like hands-on homeschool is a buzzword of sorts. What’s all the fuss about? Let’s define hands-on first. It’s best to define hands-on first because I think its overall meaning might surprise you. You see, hands-on learning can actually mean several things. Most obviously, hands-on means “touching” things during lessons. For instance,…
Why would you want to identify rocks and minerals during nature study? Heck, why would you even care to observe rocks when there are so many other things to see in nature? Rocks are boring. They’re dull and colorless. Once you’ve seen one, you’ve pretty much seen them all. Be honest. You’ve thought some of…
Have you ever been to the same nature study destination so often that you almost forget there are always new things to discover? My friend Tracy and her children had visited the same ponds many times over. They never really got tired of exploring, but she found a simple way to refocus their attention, which…
Have you ever heard the phrase “crocodile tears” and wondered what it means? This week’s crocodile nature study podcast episode reveals the truth behind this curious saying! Do crocodiles actually shed tears? If so, why do they “cry” mostly when eating? This short and engaging episode is packed with fun facts and scientific explanations. Your…
Have you ever been outside on a breezy day and heard the wind whistle through the trees or howl around a building? This week’s wind nature study podcast episode explores why wind makes different sounds, such as whistling, howling, roaring, and even humming. Through simple explanations and scientific terms like turbulence and the Aeolian effect, children will…
Diamonds come in a rainbow of colors, from pink to blue to black! In this No Sweat Nature Study Podcast episode, kids explore a “sparkling” diamond nature study by learning how these gemstones form their brilliant colors. This episode highlights connections to earth science, rock science, and chemistry in a way that’s easy for kids…
An earthquake nature study offers a fun way to teach science while exploring natural disasters. This week’s No Sweat Nature Study Podcast focuses on the largest earthquake ever recorded—the Great Chilean Earthquake of 1960. Children will learn how earthquakes are measured and discover how they can create giant ocean waves called tsunamis. Seismologists, or earthquake scientists, play…