Naturally Educational » Archive for March 2011
Digging for Knowledge
What can you learn digging around in dirt? A whole lot! We’ll be learning about plants and flowers this spring and what better place to start than dirt? In my last post, I spoke a bit about the pedagogical theory behind experiential, tactile learning. Children are filing the experience away as part of their wealth of knowledge. The experience creates the genuine need and desire for new vocabulary, concepts, and other lessons. The ideas and facts can … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), Ecology, Featured, Science, Spring, Touch
Cinderella Ate My Daughter: Just Playing Princess?
Has Cinderella devoured the self-esteem of our daughters? Do young women today have more or fewer options in forging their own identity? I confess to a great ambivalence about the princess culture that has seized our young girls. For the most part, when I write a post about a current issue, I have strong opinions on the topic. I’m open to convincing arguments, and reserve the right to change my mind, but I at least begin from … Read entire article »
Filed under: Media
D is for Dirt, R is for Rocks
Getting physical with your learning is a great way to reinforce academic lessons. The connection is especially strong with language and literacy. The experience reinforces the memory of the letters and words and creates a deep connection. We’ve also been exploring the universe of literacy in WordWorld–a television program on PBS that supports pre-reading skills. The characters on the show (“WordFriends”) are formed out of the words that are their names. They solve challenges by building … Read entire article »
Filed under: 1-2 (Toddlers), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), Bodily-kinesthetic, Featured, Literacy, Touch
Shaving Cream Art (Tactile Fun!)
Studies have shown that students physically involved with learning score higher on subsequent exams–and we’re not just talking about the toddler, preschooler, kindergartner set. The effects are demonstrable even at the college and graduate level. Research into cognitive development strongly suggests that this sort of physical stimulation during learning builds a deeper understanding of academic skills. Children in need of speech therapy may especially benefit from speech activities using tactile sensations. Plus…it is just plain fun to … Read entire article »
Filed under: 1-2 (Toddler), 1-2 (Toddlers), 3-5 (Preschool), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergarten), Art, Bodily-kinesthetic, Featured, Touch
In Your Easter Bonnet, With All the Frills Upon It
Although it may be a bit early for Easter, this bonnet is a fun way to welcome spring. We made this craft last year so I don’t have a lot of detailed photos but the instructions are fairly simple. Materials: paper plate paper bowl tissue paper glue Easter and spring embellishments (silk flowers, butterflies, etc.) stapler ribbon Directions: 1. Cut out the center of a paper plate. 2. On either side of the hole in the paper plate, staple a length of ribbon long enough so you … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 3-5 (Preschool), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergartners), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), Featured, History and Culture, Spring
March Lion and Lamb Masks
We’ve been enjoying our March poem and updating our calendar with the lion or lamb to match the weather–and the weather has given us plenty of opportunities to choose both! Last week we had 75 degree weather and then it snowed yesterday! We made lion and lamb masks to help us with our daily weather observations. Lion Masks Materials: paper plate orange and yellow construction paper, cut in 1″ x 4″ strips brown construction paper (for ears) glue (we used Elmer’s disappearing … Read entire article »
Filed under: 1-2 (Toddler), 3-5 (Preschool), 3-5 (Preschool), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergartners), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), Featured, Spring, Weather
Irish Spring: A Shamrock Sun Catcher Craft for Kids
Hope the green is sprouting up in your neighborhood! Have you found any four-leaf clovers? We are starting to see the signs of spring in our yard and so our crafts are turning green, too! And this craft is green in more ways than one–it re-purposes cardboard tubes from toilet paper or paper towel or gift wrap rolls. Materials: cardboard tube green paint green glitter green tissue paper green chenille stem X-ACTO knife single hole punch Directions: 1. Cut three segments from your cardboard tube. All … Read entire article »
Filed under: 0-3 (Babies and Toddlers), 1-2 (Toddler), 1-2 (Toddlers), 3-5 (Preschool), 3-5 (Preschool), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergartners), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), Art, Featured, History and Culture, Spring
Shamrocker
In addition to all the rainbows appearing in our house, some shamrocks have sprouted up. I think perhaps a visit from his wee self may be next! We made a beaded shamrock to hang from our chandelier. My daughter wanted to add some other colors besides green so I showed her the Irish flag and we decided to add a little white and orange. Materials pony beads (green — we also used some clear and orange beads) 2 chenille … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 3-5 (Preschool), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergartners), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), Featured, History and Culture
The Colors of the Wind (Windsock Craft and Charity Book Drive)
This weekend, we finished up our Book Drive for Reach Out and Read. I’m waiting on the final count but feel confident there were well over 700 books collected, possibly quite a bit more, over triple the number I was able to collect last year. We owe our success to the support of Lovin’ Logistics and Joel DeGregorio, owner of the Mt. Sinai The UPS Store franchise. He provided not only a public drop-off for the … Read entire article »
Filed under: 1-2 (Toddler), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), Featured, Spring, Weather
I Can Eat a Rainbow!
I’m no nutritionist but I know that eating a rainbow of fruits and vegetables is a great way to get a variety of healthy vitamins! While we are studying rainbows, we are also checking out nature’s spectrum of colors. And vivid colors in the flesh of fruits and vegetables signals a high level of nutrients. Getting children to eat healthy is wonderful but teaching them how to make healthy choices is even better. “Eat a Rainbow” is … Read entire article »
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About the Author
Candace Lindemann is a published children’s writer and educational consultant. She holds a B.A. from Yale University and an M.Ed. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Working with school districts around the country and some of the most well-known companies in the education industry, Candace creates custom strategies, textbooks, and lesson plans. Her articles have appeared in print and online.
While Candace’s degrees prepared her for a career in education, she’s found that the best preparation for parenting is on the job training.
Contact Candace via e-mail, read her full biography, or connect with her using the social media icons below.
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