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Naturally Educational » 6-8 (Early Elementary)

Four Seasons of the Apple Tree

Four Seasons of the Apple Tree

A chill is in the night air, children are returning to school, and another season is turning.  Fall is perhaps my favorite season of all. Children seem to tap into the change in the seasons.  They pick up on the weather and the rhythms of nature and enjoy exploring all the new wonders. We created a “Seasons of the Apple Tree” craft. Materials: White or blue sheet of paper Glue Scissors A cotton ball Brown non-toxic paint Green paper for leaves Pink tissue paper for … Read entire article »

Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergartners), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), Ecology, Fall, Featured, Science, Spring, Summer, Visual-Spacial, Weather, Winter

Zoom, Zoom, Zoom, We Are Going to the Moon!

Zoom, Zoom, Zoom, We Are Going to the Moon!

For our summer crafts and story and circle time, we started learning about our families and then explored the natural world around us. Then we set our sites on the stars! We climbed aboard our rocket ships and zoomed up to the moon, visited a few planets, and then swung by the stars. Here’s how we made our rocket ships: Materials: Cardboard Tube Tinfoil Poster Board (we used red and blue) Stickers (for decorating your rocket) Scissors Glue Jar Top or Glass (for tracing a … Read entire article »

Filed under: 0-3 (Babies and Toddlers), 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), Science

Jam, Jelly, and Preserves

Jam, Jelly, and Preserves

We have the good fortune to live near an organic farm (Garden of Eve) owned by young parents. The mom runs a summertime “Mommy & Me” that includes a circle time and a farm “chore”. One week the children picked blackberries and turned them into jam! The process was fairly simple: Pick the berries Wash and dry the berries Meanwhile, sterilize glass jars in boiling water Crush the berries in a bowl Add mixture to a pot and pour … Read entire article »

Filed under: 0-3 (Babies and Toddlers), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergartners), 6-8 (Early Elementary), All Ages, Ecology, Featured, Home Arts, Science, Summer, Taste

National Bird Feeding Month

National Bird Feeding Month

As we reduce birds’ natural sources of food, they come to rely on our bird feeders, especially during the winter months. Like many children, my daughter is fascinated by birds–their spectrum of colors, array of tuneful songs, and familiar yet wild presence in our yard. We’ve read her books on birds, taken her to the bird rescue at the nature center, and fed our local feathered friends. In honor of National Bird Feeding Month, we went to a … Read entire article »

Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergartners), 6-8 (Early Elementary), All Ages, Ecology, Science, Sight, Sound, Winter

Apple Pomander Craft

Apple Pomander Craft

We’ve been on a bit of an apple kick here as harvest season gets into full swing in my semi-rural area. Here’s a fun activity that turns your apple pickings into a beautiful and fragrant craft: apple pomanders. Materials: 1 Apple Whole Cloves Spices (Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Ground Cloves) Sandlewood Oil or Orris Root (optional for additional preservation qualities) Ribbon (optional) Instructions: If you plan on using ribbon, you can also first mark off where the ribbon will go with tape, then add the cloves … Read entire article »

Filed under: 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergartners), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), Fall, Home Arts, Science, Smell, Touch