Naturally Educational » Science
Websites For Teaching Children About Hurricanes
I’m waiting until the storm passes to discuss Hurricane Irene in more depth with my children–my daughter was obsessing about tornadoes months ago and I wanted her to get some sleep tonight! If we still have power, I plan on using some of these websites to help my children learn a little about hurricanes: Weather Wiz Kids: Hurricanes: Excellent graphics showing storm surges, how hurricanes form, and more. Experiments, including showing how cahnges in temperature create … Read entire article »
Filed under: 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), Featured, Science, Weather
4 Picture Books About Hurricanes #Irene
Here are some Picture Books About Hurricanes for kids. I didn’t have the foresight to check these out of the library this week before Irene shut everything down. So, the descriptions are from the publisher. I will update this post once we’ve had a chance to read these Hurricane books for kids. Hurricane by David Wiesner: The morning after a hurricane, two brothers find an uprooted tree which becomes a magical place, transporting them on adventures … Read entire article »
Filed under: 5-6 (Kindergartners), 6-8 (Early Elementary), Featured, Science, Weather
Dinosaur Fossil Imprints in Salt Dough
We have a lot of plastic dinosaur figurines from our visits to the American Museum of Natural History and we enjoy trying to classify them. For our most recent project, we turned them into dinosaur fossil ornaments. Materials: 1 cup flour 1/2 cup salt 1 tsp instant coffee 1/2 cup water plastic dinosaur figurines a little oil (any kind) ribbon (for hanging the ornament) Directions 1. In a large mixing bowl, pour in all of the dry ingredients. (We used 2 tablespoons of coffee and I … Read entire article »
Filed under: 1-2 (Toddler), 3-5 (Preschool), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), Featured, Science, Touch
Water Fun Round-Up: Ocean and Sea Creature Activities and Crafts
Splashing, swimming, and sailing, in sinks, water tables, pools, lakes, and oceans…studying sea creatures, washing, measuring, and floating…there is so much fun to be had with water! For the Water Fun linky of the Smart Summer Challenge*, participants really “dove right in”! (*rim shot* Thank you! I’m here all week!) Mathematics Beach Party – Naturally Educational A House for Hermit Crab Craft – Naturally Educational Ocean in a Bag – Pink and Green Mama Juice Carton (or Milk Jug) Boats … Read entire article »
Filed under: Ecology, Featured, Science, Smart Summer Challenge
Stegosaurus Craft
We’ve been on a dinosaur kick for the last half year over here and I thought it would be fun to make a few dinosaur crafts. Materials paper plate paints googly eyes construction paper glue (I recommend a glue stick for this one; we like Elmer’s disappearing purple) chenille stems and a hole punch OR clothespins Directions 1. Paint the convex side of the plate and allow to dry. My daughter always asks if she has to “use realistic colors”. We talked about how we … Read entire article »
Filed under: 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 6-8 (Early Elementary), Featured, Science
Backyard Science Activities, Crafts, and Books
Children are natural scientists and the backyard is the perfect laboratory. Whether you are digging in the garden with kids, chasing butterflies and other bugs with your children, or studying animals with junior naturalists, you are sure to find plenty of ways to explore nature. I really dug the ideas in the Backyard Science Linky (get it? digging? for backyard science?) of the Smart Summer Challenge*! Some of the ones from our participants (and other hostesses) … Read entire article »
Filed under: 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), All Ages, Ecology, Educational Blogs, Featured, Science, Smart Summer Challenge
Me on the Map Round-Up
Studying the human body with your kids? Or maybe you are practicing cartography and navigation with your junior adventurers? Here are some of the best lesson plans, activities, crafts, and picture book lists, about the Human Body, ourselves (“me”), maps and geography. These are highlights from the “Me on the Map” Linky from the Smart Summer Challenge!* All About Me Personalized Guess Who? Game at Counting Coconuts Portrait Tiles, from Creating and Educating All About Me Timelines from Early Bird … Read entire article »
Filed under: All Ages, Educational Blogs, Featured, Geography, History and Culture, Science
Constellations: Stars in Your Eyes and in the Skies
As far back as we know, people have looked at the night skies and seen pictures in the stars. Before modern navigation technology, it was essential for ship’s captains to know their stars. Now, it is still a lot of fun to find the constellations in the night sky. This simple activity is a fun way to learn more about the constellations. Materials an image of the stars in a constellation (We used the constellation connect the dots … Read entire article »
Filed under: 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), 9-11 (Elementary), Featured, History and Culture, Mathematics, Science, Smart Summer Challenge
Is the “Summer Slide” a Myth? Talking About the Brain with Dr. Rob Desalle, Curator at the American Museum of Natural History
We’re winding down the “Smart Summer Challenge” over here. The challenge is all about combating the “summer slide”: the “brain drain” some researchers have found happens during the summer. Does the summer slide really even exist? I had the opportunity to interview Dr. Rob Desalle, of the American Museum of Natural History’s Division of Invertebrate Zoology, and curator of Brain: The Inside Story, currently on view at the Museum. — The media made a mountain out … Read entire article »
Filed under: Science, Smart Summer Challenge, The Brain
Outer Space Songs for Preschool through Elementary School
We like to sing songs as we learn. Audio cues have always helped me remember information and it seems to work well with my children, as well. Here are a few songs about the planets in our solar system. Please note these are not my original lyrics. I have found them at several different places on the Internet without a listed author. If you wrote any of these (or know who did), please let … Read entire article »
Filed under: 1-2 (Toddlers), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), 9-11 (Elementary), Featured, Musical, Science, Smart Summer Challenge, Songs
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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.
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