Naturally Educational » 3-5 (Preschool)
Jellyfish Craft
We’re on the shore of the Long Island Sound so we frequent the beach and the local aquarium and draw a lot of inspiration for our learning from the sea. When I noticed a cool school craft my friend did with her friend, I asked her to guest post while I am on “maternity leave”. Jellyfish are such lovely and ethereal creatures–even though you don’t want to bump into them at the beach! Here is … 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), Ecology, Featured, Guest Post, Science, Summer
7 Picture Books for Father’s Day
Mama Mama/Papa Papa (0-3) is a beautifully illustrated board book for babies about why little animal babies love their parents. One side shows all the helpful and loving things dads do for their tiny offspring. Flip the book over for moms and this is really two-stories-in-one. Human children will recognize all the tender care parents give to babies throughout the animal kingdom. The rhyming text is delightfully evocative of the bond between parents and … Read entire article »
Filed under: 0-3 (Babies and Toddlers), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergartners), 6-8 (Early Elementary), Featured
Daffodil Craft
We had our April Showers and then some and we’ve been waiting on our May Flowers. We’ve had a few soggy buds but the lack of sunshine has delayed some of our blooms! We did see the crocuses and the daffodils as spring sprung and we made this pretty daffodil out of a cardboard toilet tube. Materials: toilet paper tube yellow and orange paint green chenille stem single hole punch scissors Directions: 1. Cut petals on one side of the tube, approximate three-quarters of … Read entire article »
Filed under: 0-3 (Babies and Toddlers), 3-5 (Preschool), 3-5 (Preschool), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), Featured, Science, Spring
Memorial Day Picture Books
Memorial Day is coming up. While we’re preparing for barbecues and family time, we take a moment to think of the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. Any subject involving death is a tough one to broach with young children. For most families, the idea of memorializing our soldiers is very abstract. For others, though, it is all too real as thousands of soldiers have died in … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergartners), 6-8 (Early Elementary), Featured, History and Culture
Celebrate World Turtle Day with this Craft for Preschoolers
Happy World Turtle Day! Every year on May 23, the American Tortoise Rescue sponsors World Turtle Day. Beyond learning about turtles and tortoises, the American Tortoise Rescue wants us to take action to help these reptiles survive and thrive. Why do they need our help? There are a number of human-created risks to turtles. Our cars crush them as they try to cross the road, we have destroyed their habitats and nesting grounds, there is an active … 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), Ecology, Featured, Science
Growing Bean Plants
It is that time of year when kids grow like weeds and everything is verdant, sprouting and budding. We’ve been studying the water cycle and now we are learning about the plants the grow after the early spring showers. Question: How do seeds become plants? My daughter hypothesized that they need light and water and that the roots would come out first. Materials: seeds (we planted beans since they sprout so quickly) glass jar (so you can observe the growth) potting soil … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergartners), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), Ecology, Featured, Science, Spring, Summer
Papel Picado for Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo commemorates the victory over the French military at Puebla. Although the date has limited significance in Mexico, it has become a time to celebrate Mexican heritage in the United States. Interest in Cinco de Mayo increased during the Chicano movement of the 1940s. We made a papel picado banner to decorate our home in preparation for Cinco de Mayo. Materials: colorful tissue paper or thin construction paper scissors, punches glue or tape cord or string Directions: 1. Fold the paper in … 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
Earth Day Books for Kids
Many of our crafts involve re-purposed / recycled materials and now that we are in full spring swing we are closely connected with the new growth going on outdoors. We also enjoy picture books that address Earth Day directly or environmentalism in a more general way. Here are a few of our favorites: The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss, is the classic children’s story of the damage one person’s greed (the entrepreneurial Oncler) can do to the … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergartners), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), Ecology, Featured, Spring, Volunteering
April Showers (Water Cycle Experiments)
Mommy, why does it rain? Or, lately, the question is: Why does it drizzle, rain, and pour so much around here? April is the month of showers and we are eagerly awaiting the May flowers those storms will bring. We did two experiments to learn more about why it rains. Experiment #1: Cotton Ball Clouds Question: What happens when a cloud becomes full of moisture? Hypothesis: It will rain. Materials: cotton ball small tray or bowl filled with water Procedure: 1. Ask your child to describe … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergartners), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), Ecology, Featured, Logical-Mathematical, Science, Spring, Touch, Weather
R is for Rain
My kids love to water color, so we created water color letters for our study of rain. I outlined bubble letters–the word “Rain” for my daughter (4.5) and just an “R” for my son (2.5). On reflection, I would have also made a lower case “r” for my son. My daughter painted “in the lines”: While my son opted for covering the entire page. Then, they each got to sprinkle salt on their paintings for a nice droplet effect. My … 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), Art, Featured, Spring, Weather
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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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