Naturally Educational » Spring
How to Make a Flower Fairy
We made these Flower Fairies in early summer but I am just getting around to posting them. In the fall, we will make them with leaves. We had been wanting to make Flower Fairies for some time and I was inspired to finally give it a go when I saw these forest fairies at A New Bohemia during the Smart Summer Challenge. Materials: 1 wooden bead artificial flowers 2 chenille stems 1 metallic chenille stem embroidery floss or yarn glue dots or hot … Read entire article »
Filed under: 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergartners), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), 9-12 (Middle Grades), Featured, Home Arts, Literacy, Spring, Summer
Apple Blossom to Zinnia: 3 Flower Alphabet Picture Books
Flowers are such a lovely part of spring and summer. We’ve planted, pressed, dissected, drawn, and studied these beautiful blossoms and are ready, soon, to move onto pollinators. To enrich our knowledge base of flower types, we borrowed some alphabet books featuring flowers. Flower Alphabet Picture Books The Flower Alphabet Book (Jerry Pallotta’s Alphabet Books): We own a number of Pallotta’s alphabet books and this one does not disappoint. The marginalia illustrate interesting facts about each … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergartners), Ecology, Featured, Literacy, Smart Summer Challenge, Spring, Summer
F is for Flowers
Earlier in the spring, we learned about rain and the water cycle and about the plant life cycle. Then, once our flowers bloomed, we explored our garden. We dissected flowers, pressed flowers, made daffodil flower crafts out of cardboard toilet paper tubes, and we also practiced writing using flower petals. As with most of our “letter of the week” crafts, I modify it to include writing the whole word for my daughter, who is in … 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), Ecology, Featured, Literacy, Science, Smart Summer Challenge, Smell, Spring, Summer, Taste
Backyard Science – #SmartSummer Challenge Week 3
It is Backyard Science week here for the Smart Summer Challenge*. I have been so excited for Week 3 of the Smart Summer Challenge! Science and art are just such natural parts of a young child’s play that it is just so easy to point out these opportunities for learning…right in our own backyard! I could have filled the entire summer with experiments, crafts and art projects, book lists, games, and more for this theme. Here … Read entire article »
Filed under: Ecology, Science, Smart Summer Challenge, Spring, Summer
Happy Father’s Day
We made these fun Father’s Day photo cards with the kids spelling out “Daddy” and “Papa”. We got the idea from the very awesome Amy of Crunchy Domestic Goddess! The kids even learn how to spell “Daddy” and “Papa”! And if you make this card every year, it will be a fun way to see the children growing and developing. For more great Father’s Day DIY gift ideas from bloggers, including a few you could whip up … Read entire article »
Filed under: Featured, History and Culture, Interpersonal, Spring, Summer
Flower Anatomy Dissection
As part of our study of flowers, we dissected a bloom from a rhododendron bush in our backyard. This was a good opportunity to see what my kids already knew about flowers and maybe teach them a few more terms. First, we picked some blossoms off the bush. Then, I used a knife to slice apart the petals to reveal what is inside. We pasted this diagram of flower anatomy from Enchanted Learning into our science journal. That is … Read entire article »
Filed under: 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), Ecology, Featured, Science, Spring
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
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
How to Decorate a Candle with Pressed Flowers and Dried Herbs
We like to make homemade gifts for the grandparents for holidays. Since our family reads the blog, I don’t want to spoil this year’s Mother’s Day surprises. Two years ago, my daughter (then a few months shy of three years’ old) decorated pillar candles with flowers she had picked and pressed. This simple craft makes a fun gift for moms, grandmas and aunts. Materials a wide pillar candle small votives or clear wax for melting pressed flowers or dried herbs for … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), Featured, Home Arts, Spring
Rain Songs and Poems for Children
Here are some of the songs we are singing and finger plays we are reciting about rain and the water cycle. The lyrics to the first are original (please link and credit if you wish to use them). The rest I have credited where possible–if I have missed any attribution, please let me know! The Water Cycle Song (to the tune of “The Wheels on the Bus”) by Candace Lindemann The sun in the sky (make … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), Featured, Science, Songs, 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.
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