Naturally Educational » All Ages
A Seusstastic Snack
We’re gearing up to celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday with this healthy Cat in the Hat snack! Ingredients: Raisins Pretzel sticks Banana Strawberries Wheat Bread Directions: 1. Cut a slice of wheat bread in half. 2. Slice a banana into coins. Place two coins as eyes. 3. Use raisins to create pupils, a nose, and a smile. 4. Use two pretzel on each side as whiskers. 5. Use rows of slices of strawberries and bananas to create the hat. Enjoy! Ask your kids if they can make other Seuss … Read entire article »
Filed under: 1-2 (Toddlers), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), All Ages, Featured, Home Arts, Taste
How Sweet it Is: Maple Sugaring
Each year we visit a local family farm for their Maple Sugaring demonstration. What a hands-on (and tasty) way to learn about Native American and Colonial culture and history, chemistry, the weather, and ecology! We followed the maple sugaring process from start to finish. First, we learned a bit about the sugar maple (which is so important that New York, Vermont, Wisconsin, and West Virginia share it as their state tree). Farmer Bob gave a talk on how … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), All Ages, Bodily-kinesthetic, Ecology, Featured, History and Culture, Home Arts, Logical-Mathematical, Science, Spring, Taste, Weather, Winter
Chinese Lunar New Year Celebration!
We had a lot of fun at a Chinese New Year Celebration this weekend! My kids especially loved the lion dancers (in the Southern style). Before we went, we made red envelopes to feed the lions: In addition to the lion dancers, there was also a demonstration of traditional Japanese drumming: For the last number, there was audience participation! Afterwards there was a cute dragon hand print craft in honor of the year of the dragon! … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), All Ages, Featured, History and Culture
How to Make an Ice Lantern
We were looking forward to this simple way to welcome the winter but the weather has not cooperated until now! Originally, we wanted to make an ice lantern on the Winter Solstice. Then we were aiming for New Year’s. We could have used the freezer but it is hard getting in the winter spirit when it feels like spring! Materials: one large plastic container or bucket one smaller plastic container (a plastic cup would work) water one tea light twigs, berries, … Read entire article »
Filed under: All Ages, Featured, History and Culture, Science, Weather, Winter
Homemade Ornaments the Kids Can Make
Here are some of the homemade ornaments the kids have crafted each year…more on the way! Beaded Snowflake Ornaments Beaded Wreath Ornaments Marbleized Globe Ornaments Pins and Beads Christmas Tree Ornament … Read entire article »
Filed under: 1-2 (Toddler), 1-2 (Toddlers), 3-5 (Preschool), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), All Ages, Featured, History and Culture, Winter
Share a Spirit of Giving This Holiday Season
In the hustle and bustle of a busy month, it is easy to lose the “reason for the season”. Whether you are celebrating a religious Holiday or not this month, December is a good time to pause and reflect. To me, more important than academic or financial success, is raising children who have a sense of joy, fulfillment, gratitude, and generosity. LeapFrog asked me to share Tips for Teaching Giving as part of their weekly Holiday Countdown. I … Read entire article »
Filed under: All Ages, Volunteering
Happy Thanksgiving!
Hope you enjoy your feast tomorrow! My daughter has been diligently working on her costume for her kindergarten Thanksgiving party. She was very insistent on doing much of it herself and it took all of my restraint not to help her along or interfere. I gave her one of my old t-shirts and she fringe-cut the bottom and sleeves: And then she beaded the fringe: I tied off the bottom of the fringe for her after she put the … Read entire article »
Filed under: 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), All Ages, Featured, History and Culture
Fall Leaf Prints
We’re in one of the last zones to experience the fall leaf change. Well, our trees have finally exploded in color! I was concerned that we would not get the really vivid colors this year after the hurricane. Hurricane Irene cut a swath across the area, “burning” crops and trees in addition to causing floods and knocking down tree. Nature is resilient, however. Although there are more browns this year than golds and reds, there … Read entire article »
Filed under: 1-2 (Toddler), 1-2 (Toddlers), 3-5 (Preschool), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), All Ages, Art, Ecology, Fall, Featured, Science, Weather
The Itsy Bitsy Spider Made 5 Spider Crafts for Kids
You know what really terrifies me? Spiders. I fully admit this is irrational and spiders are an important part of our ecosystem and yet… there is just something about those eight legs that creeps me out! Whether you are an arachnophile or an arachnophobe, Halloween is the perfect time to make spider crafts with kids! Weave a Paper Plate and Yarn Spider Web at Naturally Educational: This was our spider craft last year! Hula hoop Spider Web … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), All Ages, Ecology, Educational Blogs, Featured
Pumpkin Bird Feeder
After we finished our Pumpkin Shaving Cream Art, we had some bisected mini gourds we did not want to waste. So, we turned them into bird feeders. First, I took the gourd I had cut in half length-wise and cut two holes at the top of the gourd. Then, the children threaded the yarn through the holes. We filled them with nut butter (you can use sunflower if you have peanut allergies), bird seed, and raisins. Then we hung … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), All Ages, Ecology, Fall, Featured
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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 or on Google.
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