Start a nature journal with your kids using this free printable template. Learn how to keep a nature journal and why you should do it. Plus get 16 creative nature prompts

“Consider, too, what an unequalled mental training the child-naturalist is getting for any study or calling under the sun — the powers of attention, of

July 2011 "When I grow up, I too will go to faraway places, and when I grow old, I too will live beside the sea." "That is all very we...

Les processus de la Communication NonViolente appliqués à la prévention de l'épuisement (professionnel mais pas que). Je trouve cette approche intéressante dans le cadre du burn-out parental notamment.

Welcome to Day 2 of my weeklong series of Summer "Unschooling!" Yesterday, I shared a few brief thoughts on why this unit study-Charlotte Mason-living literature-Thomas Jeffersonanion-Montessouri-notebooking-slightly textbooky-ECLECTIC momma somehow morphs into an UNSCHOOLER for the summer. I also presented a handful of ideas for encouraging creative writing while on a school-time hiatus. Today, let's take a look at Un-schooling Science. Science, especially anything related to nature and the great outdoors, gets a little tricky during the school year in my neck of the woods. Unless we plan to study hibernation and/or dormancy, our nature study is limited to whatever happens to be able to withstand several feet of frozen "white." Four years ago while chatting with some homeschool veterans, I decided that although I would continue to teach science throughout the school year, I would focus much of our science efforts during the summertime. Throughout the year, I make a mental note of what natural interests my kids develop as we read books together. If possible, we revisit those themes when the snow melts...or June starts...whichever comes first! These summer-long units are very organic. I don't really do any planning. We simply read a lot of books, observe, make theories and test them, and do some notebooking to document our discoveries. I thought I'd share a few of our past adventures in hopes that it might spark an idea or topic of interest for your summertime learning. Summer-long Units Butterfly Study The Deputy's Wife is my go-to science gal. A few years ago, she was gracious enough to scour her property for milkweed and the little caterpillar critters that take residence on them every summer. She helped us nab a few to keep in a homemade observatory (a large pickle jar with netting over the top). We were able to watch the fascinating life cycle several times before summer's end. After releasing quite a handful of monarchs into the wild (One even accompanied us on a vacation up-state and was set free at the crest of a large hill), the children made some Eric Carl-esque paintings and set their findings down in the form of a hand-made book. Bird Watching Come spring/summer, our area becomes an Audubon birder's paradise. With a few field guides and a homemade birdwatching notebook at her side, a then first-grade Sweetie Pea, set about to document every bird she saw. She even stopped in the middle of a Community Ed. soccer game to run over to the sidelines and tell me she saw an osprey's nest above the light pole. In her book, she documented the bird's name, date of her findings, the bird's gender (based on the coloring), where she found the bird, the bird's diet, how that species builds its nests, and any other interesting facts she learned from her field guides. She completed the entry with a handmade drawing of each. (It helped that her dad is a professional artist and gave her a few tips on drawing bird forms.) I wish I still had the files for this bird book printable to be able to share it with you, but alas... Instead, check out these other bird watching notebooking pages: Think Crafts' Bird Watching Book KidsCanHaveFun's Bird Watching Explorer sheet Frogs/Toads For years, we have had a family...and eventually a LARGE community...of frogs and toads living in our basement window wells. One summer, I had a plan to do a nature study on ants. I had prepared a notebook filled with observation activities, checked out several books from the library, and had bookmarked several scripture verses about ants in order to incorporate a character study using ants as a natural example. But, after only a few days of our study, it was quite clear that the frogs were much more intriguing to my little learners. In the true nature of "unschooling," I scrapped all my PLANS and enlisted the Hubs to help the kids round up some little leapers. Since this truly was a "plan B," our learning took place mostly through observation and care/keeping of the little critters. My boys especially loved discovering the eating likes/dislikes of our "house guests." TOPS Science Units Now, before you write the "unschooling authorities", I realize that a pre-planned unit does not necessarily qualify as organic learning. That being said, I do think that TOPS Learning System books are excellent resources to jumpstart the natural learning process. They encourage exploration of a topic by presenting NUMEROUS projects that follow the steps of the scientific process. We completed the Tops Radish kit this past fall and are spending the summer working through their Corn and Beans biology unit. A couple of things to remember when embarking upon a TOPS series: The units are written for a five-day-classroom situation. In order to complete the projects correctly, a pre-planned timeline has to be strictly followed. Our Corn and Beans unit takes 5 weeks to complete. Missing even ONE day in those five weeks makes a few of our experiments a moot point. The books include lab instructions and journaling pages that can be photocopied for each child. I put all of these into pronged folders for my kids to fill out. Most of the TOPS units have suggested age-ranges. Be sure to choose the right range for your household and read all teacher notes before beginning. Other suggestions Lord willing, we will have many summertimes in our future to be able to use these same patterns of natural learning to explore these other topics. trees flowers other insects fish spiders stars Short-term units Not wanting to commit to an entire summer of scientific discovery? No worries. Many topics can be explored in a few days or even a few minutes. Egg Carton Nature Hunt For my littlest learners, an egg carton nature hunt is always an annual summertime staple. Before heading out on a walk through the woods or a state park, we each paint the insides of an empty egg carton. Each cup is painted a different color. As we walk, the kids attempt to find a natural element that is similar in color to each of the painted egg cups. When we get back home, we share our findings, try to determine the name of each, and do some nature drawings of our favorites in a nature notebook. This has proven to be a great way to encourage thoughtful observation as we "commune with nature." Nature Collections Super Boy, especially, gets a spark every few weeks to search out a new topic. This often comes in the form of gathering a collection of similar items. Rocks, shells, leaves, and feathers have all made their way into a treasure box or dresser drawer for safe keeping. Even though his reading level does not enable him to actually read all the words in it, I provide Super Boy with a simple field guide, to encourage investigation. He looks through the pictures and finds an item with similar characteristics to the one in his collection. Discovery Baskets During the summer, our discovery quiet time basket becomes a hub of organic learning. It has been a great way to introduce numerous new topics in order that my kids can develop new interests. I fill much of the basket with nature and nature-study resources. I realize that science and science projects can make many mothers shudder, myself included. Just the THOUGHT of cleaning up a mess can be exhausting. Saving science for summer can be a great, less-busy time to encourage the disorder/clutter that comes with exploratory learning.

Are you looking for new student bullet journal ideas and

Dix petites graines : déchiffre le message codé A l’aide de l’alphabet, il faudra déchiffrer le message codé … Réponse : DIX PETITES GRAINES PUIS NEUF, PUIS HUIT ET ENSUITE…

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Nature therapy (also known as ecotherapy) describes an approach to wellbeing that emphasizes meaningful exposure to nature, which research has associated with numerous benefits for physical and men…

Here are some natural home remedies for erectile dysfunction, lifestyle changes, and risks of non-FDA approved natural remedies.

Fais des carnets de voyages quand je pars en voyage, et fais des pastiches de carnets de voyage quand je ne pars pas en voyage

This is a great project for keeping track of the herbs you learn. It’s easy to carry around and won’t take up much space in your backpack or pocket. It’s great to take along on hikes to identify and c

The more observant one is, the more one can find in the natural world to inspire awe. Cultivating your child's powers of observation ...

A little basic botany goes a long way to help us understand our herbal allies and make positive identifications when we are working with new plants.

There is SO MUCH to know about pH balancing, and much of it is disputed or conflicting. But this is what is true: disease cannot grow in an alkaline environment. Our collectively high stress lifestyles and standard poor diet leads to acidic conditions in the body. Chronic acid conditions can have negative impacts on health, however, it can be reversed or mitigated with a high intake of alkalizing foods.

I’ve been using my Bullet Journal religiously since December of 2015, and I’m only getting more addicted to the process as time goes on. I’m finally settling into a rhythm with my system. After meeting other folks who bullet journal and being very active in online communities of bullet journalists, the main thing I’ve learned […]

It's been lovely having mourning doves in the yard, lately...around here they're more likely to be in more suburban or rural areas. Being able to watch them so closely reminded me how similar they are to the extinct passenger pigeon. I recently found this rough sketch, left, on the back of an old bank deposit slip...I did research years ago for an article for Country Living Magazine, and drew on what I had with me!

Learn how to study herbs and other plants for medicinal and edible uses with this easy method that includes a journal page printable.

Have you ever thought of keeping a journal of wildflowers or to keep track of your garden progress? Learn tips for creating and keeping a plant journal!

The main Parts of a Tree are the roots, trunk, branches and twigs, leaves, buds, flowers and fruit. A tree's roots absorb water and nutrients from the soil, store sugar and anchor the tree upright in the ground. All trees have lateral roots that branch into smaller and smaller roots and usually extend horizontally well beyond the branch tips; large trees typically have roots extending 20-40 metres or more from the trunk. The vast majority of the root system is located in the upper 10–30 cm of so

Home remedies for malaria are not just effective but also much cheaper than other treatment methods. Here are 15 home remedies for malaria and prevention tips.

Today was so beautiful! A front came through and dried up the humidity of the weekend and blew a steady breeze through the trees all day. The sky was deep, clear blue. Around midday I headed through the woods to the top of the hill, where Old Thompson Road meets the pipeline. This spot almost always has more than just a regular breeze, probably because the open field that stretches from east to west is like a highway for the wind. Sure enough, a cool, stead wind blew across this pine-shaded spot. I spread a beach towel out and settled down to draw. Daisy and Duke stretched out for a nap nearby. It was heavenly. It's hard to believe the end of the week highs are supposed to be near 105 degrees. I hope they are wrong. In another corner of Middlewood, we've had hungry visitors return to my flower garden after a 20 year absence. When we first moved out here we lost some day lilies for two summers, then it stopped. Perhaps our other dogs did a better job of keeping wildlife away than our present combination of Daisy and Duke. From the look of my garden, I'd say it's a whole family of white-tailed deer nibbling in the night. The only deer I've seen in person, during the day, is tiny and delicate. I call her Bambi, and I no longer care about the flowers. There are enough blooms left for us to enjoy, and the tiny fawn can have her greens. I hope to get a photo of her soon. Stay tuned... The phlox Bambi forgot to eat. The hydrangea Bambi couldn't reach.

This printable graphic organizer depicts levels of organization in biology through a hierarchy of life pyramid. It is perfect for middle school and high school life science students learning about life’s organization and human body systems, and includes three versions with different levels of scaffolding to allow for easy differentiation! Who Is This Product For? The Hierarchy of Life Graphic Organizer is well-suited for middle school life science students or introductory biology students, though it may also be useful for anatomy and physiology students due to its incorporation of human body systems. What Is a Graphic Organizer and What Is Included in This Product? A graphic organizer is a visual tool that helps learners to organize new concepts and their own ideas. The graphic organizer in this product depicts the hierarchal nature of life’s organization through a pyramid, with the base level representing cells and the top level representing a single organism. This visually communicates to students that preceding components are required to build subsequent ones, and that smaller components are present in larger numbers than the bigger components. This student handout can also act as a body systems graphic organizer, as it provides space for students to write about each level of life’s hierarchy. This is great for helping students to see the big picture over the course of a unit or throughout the school year! Included in Your Purchase: Three differentiated versions of the Hierarchy of Life Graphic Organizer in PDF format Teacher Notes to aid in implementation Terms of Use Agreement Where & When Should This Product Be Used? This graphic organizer is incredibly flexible! It should be used with students who are learning about the hierarchy of living organisms and ideally also about human body systems, but it can be used before, during, or after specific lessons. This makes it very easy to fit into existing unit plans – check out the suggested uses below! Product Details: Grade Levels: 6th – 9th Possible Courses: Life Sciences, Biology, Anatomy & Physiology Standards Alignment: NGSS Core Idea LS1.A Arizona State Science Standards 7.L1U1.10 Mode of Learning: In-person License Agreement: Single classroom use by original purchaser Why & How Should This Product Be Used? Are you looking for an adaptable resource to kick off your study of human anatomy and physiology? Do you want to continually reinforce the organizational hierarchy of life to your students? Do you need a content-specific handout that comes built-in with scaffolds for differentiation? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this graphic organizer is for you! Here are some things that make this product amazing! Low Prep: This student handout is a time saver. You can just print and go! Versatility: This resource can be utilized in several ways by students in various grade levels to emphasis a key biological concept, and the three differentiated versions make it a good fit for all students. Aesthetic: Students love the clear visual framework of this graphic organizer, as well as the ability to personalize their notes! Some potential uses for this resource include: Organize! Students can use the handout to organize key vocabulary words at the beginning of a unit. It can also double as a Table of Contents for a body system unit! Write! Give students the graphic organizer to take notes. Differentiate and scaffold using the three included versions! Assess! Use the resource as a means to formatively assess students at the beginning of a unit, or summatively assess them at the end of the unit. So, what are you waiting for? Let this graphic organizer work for you! Tips & Tricks: Want to earn TpT credits that you can use to get free products? All you have to do is rate and review your purchases! Details about how this program works can be found here. If you like this product, remember to follow me and get exclusive updates! Not only will this keep you in the loop, it’ll also provide support to me and my store, allowing me to continue creating awesome products for your classroom. Thank you for your support! Happy teaching, Sarah Lynn Science

Do you find it difficult to convey your idea to the other person? Here is a Socratic method that you can use to win an argument with someone.

Mise en projet : Au coeur d’une forêt magique existe un endroit extraordinaire : « La clairière Grammatica ». Les mots sont là, dans de jolies maisons nichées dans l’écorce des arbres. Non loin, se trouvent les Chaperons, une multitude de lutins colorés, curieux et astucieux. Depuis longtemps leurs ancêtres ont apprivoisé les mots pour raconter des […]

Tree of Life, ecofriendly A3 Print, Wall Art Poster, Infographic, Correspondence Chart, Celtic, Pagan, Druid, Tree of Life print. ~°* Details *°~ This infographic poster and correspondence chart can be used as a resource for learning and deepening your practice of Nature-based spirituality. It can also be used as a beautiful wall art poster. In ancient Earth-based religions including Celtic, Druid and Pagan practices, trees were often seen as the bridge between the worlds. This wall art poster illustrates this aspect of universal Shamanic cosmology and introduces you to a way of working with the tree image to navigate consciousness. The tree itself acts as a map to travel to different inner dimensions, like the nine worlds on the Norse World-tree Yggdrasil. The poster also has instructions for a powerful centring practice that is highly beneficial to anchor and ground us before and after any ritual or healing work. ~°* Material *°~ You will receive a high-quality eco-print on 250gsm uncoated poster paper, printed by a professional UK-based eco-printing company in Devon. ~°* Size *°~ A3, 29.7 x 42 cm or 11.7 x 16.5 inches. ~°* Shipping *°~ Posted in a sturdy mailing tube on a weekly basis by Royal Mail, fast and reliable, free UK delivery included. ~°* Policy and Commitment *°~ In the unlikely case of loss or damage during delivery, I am committed to resending a second copy of the print without any additional costs to my customers after a six-week waiting period to accommodate potential delays. ~°* Forestheart *°~ To be part of my unfolding exploration of nature-inspired creativity and magical artwork, as well as workshop offerings and storytelling events, please feel free to connect with me and follow my work on social media or via my website: Website ~ https://www.forestheart.co.uk Facebook ~ https://www.facebook.com/yannick.dubois.1986 Instagram ~ https://www.instagram.com/forestheart.art Etsy ~ https://www.etsy.com/shop/forestheartcelticart

These 12 bullet journal for weight loss ideas are KEY for your weight loss journey! Track your pounds lost, steps taken and diet in a creative way!

Rituals play a big part in creating rhythm. Rituals are the repeated actions of our lives. The little details that bring something considered and thoughtful to a moment in the day. Those little details become rituals as we repeat them. We may not remember to repeat them each day, we may only remember sometimes, and …

Last week one of my therapist friends shared the above image on Instagram, which caught my attention. While I’m sure it is insightful for many, I feel it feeds the taboo around anger in our society…

Are you looking to add nature study to your day? Get your children excited about learning with our monthly nature-based calendars.

This blog is just my little space for sharing lessons I've developed for my classroom and ideas that inspire my teaching.