Since we are going to be spending so much time exploring nature, I thought it was important to teach the girls how to observe nature. We recently took a trip to a local nature center

I so enjoyed reading The Great Indoors. Every chapter was enlightening and interesting, the science made accessible and relevant. Emily Anthes wisely introduces readers to cutting-edge insights and ideas through a series of first person experiences of applied science. I have been isolating in place since March 11, 2020. With very few trips into the world other than neighborhood walks; my life has been spent indoors. Our son, like millions of people, has worked from home. School closings meant our neighbor's children were educated from home. Anthes begins her journey at home, the "indoor jungle" of microbial and insect species that we share our space with. Of course, many of these originate in our own bodies! Our personal bacteria, and those of our pets (who introduce outdoor microbes) create a personal, unique biome that we recreate wherever we take domicile. Next, Anthes stops at the hospital. Those bacteria we share in our home get shared in the hospital rooms, persisting even after cleaning. Sure, we have come a long way; what more can be done? Anyone who has been overnight in a hospital knows the issues: sounds and lights that prevent sleep and raise stress; the awful views of roofs or walls from the windows. Studies prove that patients recuperate quicker and better when they have private rooms with a view. Buildings themselves lead to the health issues that send us to hospital care in the first place. Giving people ways to exercise, encouraging the use of walking and stairs can help. Starting in elementary schools. Anthes visited a school built to encourage movement and good eating choices. Finding the balance between privacy and communal interaction is a continuing workplace challenge. Cubicles are being replaced by unassigned workstations. I remember wearing a sweater in summertime air conditioning, and short sleeves in overheated winter offices. What is the best option--working in a crowded room or isolated in a private office? The chapter on building to accommodate all people, including the disabled and handicapped, has broadened to include people on the Autism Spectrum Disorder. Since every Autistic person has different needs, no one plant fits every need. We meet people seeking a space that allows independent living. The history of prisons is a dark one, for even the 'improvements' were harsh. Quakers believed in reformation through isolation that allowed contemplation and repentance. The Philadelphia penitentiary built to enforce this isolation morphed into today's solitary confinement, which has proved to exacerbate mental health issues. Anthes visits a prison that feel home-like, with direct supervision and interaction between staff and inmates, have proven successful. Of course, the real solution to mass incarceration is investing in communities and addressing the root causes of crime. Smart devices are all the rage. Some of us already are living a Jetsons life with high-tech homes. Robot vacuums and programmable appliances are fast becoming old technology. There are mirrors that can detect cardiovascular issues based on skin color. Senior residential floors that alert staff to falls. The implications are both comforting and disconcerting! Soon after we moved into our retirement home, our community suffered a rare flood that destroyed thousands of home basements. It took years for most to haul out the damage and make repairs, with local contractors overwhelmed with work. We were lucky; situated on a hill, and having addressed basement cracks, we stayed dry. But for millions, flooding and rising water levels is a continual threat. It is amazing to read about floating homes and how houses can be retrofitted on a budget. Last year I read about a woman's experience of live on Mars....Well, at least life in a biodome that recreated what it would be like to live in community on Mars. Scientists are studying what kind of buildings would be needed to live on the moon or on another planet. Even IKEA has been involved. Every part of your life is addressed in The Great Indoors. Home, health, learning, independence, and the future. I received a free book from the publisher through Goodreads. The Great Indoors: The Surprising Science of How Buildings Shape Our Behavior, Health, and Happiness by Emily Anthes Scientific American / Farrar, Straus and Giroux Published June 23, 2020 ISBN0374166633 (ISBN13: 9780374166632) from the publisher Modern humans are an indoor species. We spend 90 percent of our time inside, shuttling between homes and offices, schools and stores, restaurants and gyms. And yet, in many ways, the indoor world remains unexplored territory. For all the time we spend inside buildings, we rarely stop to consider: How do these spaces affect our mental and physical well-being? Our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors? Our productivity, performance, and relationships? In this wide-ranging, character-driven book, science journalist Emily Anthes takes us on an adventure into the buildings in which we spend our days, exploring the profound, and sometimes unexpected, ways that they shape our lives. Drawing on cutting-edge research, she probes the pain-killing power of a well-placed window and examines how the right office layout can expand our social networks. She investigates how room temperature regulates our cognitive performance, how the microbes hiding in our homes influence our immune systems, and how cafeteria design affects what—and how much—we eat. Along the way, Anthes takes readers into an operating room designed to minimize medical errors, a school designed to boost students’ physical fitness, and a prison designed to support inmates’ psychological needs. And she previews the homes of the future, from the high-tech houses that could monitor our health to the 3D-printed structures that might allow us to live on the Moon. The Great Indoors provides a fresh perspective on our most familiar surroundings and a new understanding of the power of architecture and design. It's an argument for thoughtful interventions into the built environment and a story about how to build a better world—one room at a time.

These children’s books about curiosity will spark curiosity, enthusiasm and intrigue; inspiring your students to ask questions.

Easels and Creativity a RoundUP of Color Reminders at RainbowsWithinReach

Try this fun sponge printing process art activity, and make your own easy DIY peg and sponge painters, perfect for little hands.

Learn 8 simple tips to boost creativity in preschoolers and nurture their creative minds for future success in a world increasingly driven by technology.

Five Ways to Encourage Creative Play In Your Child Why Is Creativity Important? Creative play supports cognitive development, emotional intelligence, and critical thinking skills. Creativity involv…

Set up an exciting investigation to explore patterns and textures in play dough. A creative, sensory activity for toddlers and preschoolers to enjoy.

Trees are great fun to explore as they are so wonderfully tactile and engaging. We love going on woodland walks to collect fallen twigs, branches, sticks and leaves for crafts and activities. You c…

Encourage independent exploration of sound for babies and toddlers with a baby treasure basket of sound activities for babies.

Mystery Tinker Bags for Creative STEM Fun. Create opened imaginative play that encourages critical thinking and problem-solving. These bags are perfect for toddlers, preschoolers, and older. Encourage creative thinking and science skills!

Want to help kids develop literacy AND creative thinking skills, all at once? Me too! Next time you have a few spare minutes for a quick and creative literacy break, challenge your kids to try one of these activities! ANALYZE Illustrations Look closely at two different illustrations from two different books. Analyze how the illustrations […]

Get inspired to create a beautiful playroom walls with these playroom wall decor ideas. Colorful and fun wall art ideas for playrooms.

Ideas for developing the mind of a young scientist.

Try this easy process art for kids and really get lost in the creating and experimenting!

Block Prompt - Why Block Play is Important and How to Promote It - How to encourage block play in Early Childhood - there are so many reasons why it is important to encourage block play in early childhood, in this post I share some of these reasons along with some easy to make challenge cards to prompt play | you clever monkey

Looking for a fun science experiment that will wow the kids? Make your own cloud! (Bet you have all the materials at home already!)

One of the most precious things in a parent’s life is to have the opportunity to re-live the joy and wonder of childhood. Did you know you’d be given this gift when you had your

Did you know there are an amazing 300,000 species of Beetles in the world? 4,000 of which can be found in the UK. Beetles are one of the largest groups of insects in the world and make up almost a …

Simple water experiments for home, school, or camp! Explore water with easy to set up experiments and activities for kids to try.

Constructive play is about manipulating, shaping, or constructing something. Let's explore the benefits of construction play and how you can support it.

Encourage independent play and creativity by setting up a creation station for kids to use when doing their own crafts and projects. At the same time kids are practicing important life skills like decision making, selecting materials for a purpose, using basic materials and cleaning up after themselves.

Exploring ponds with kids is a fascinating summer activity! We're sharing interactive, educational & fun ways to explore a pond with kids.

Educational nature and wildlife activities you can enjoy with children of all ages, using natural found materials or everyday items you can find at home. Exploring trees and woods 30+ activity idea…

As your child’s first mentor, you can model the importance of creativity. Explore your creative skills, encouraging them to discover theirs.

Never planned to homeschool, now wouldn't trade it for the world

You don't have to be 'musical' to make music with your kids! Make a simple music shaker and try some of these easy music activities with your kids!

In a previous blog post we talked about the importance of process art for kids, which simply means focusing on the creative process, rather than on the finished product. These process art activitie…

While you're enjoying your Pumpkin Spice Latte and the crunch of leaves under your boots, don't forget to include baby in the Fall fun with these developmental play activities.

How to inspire creativity by controlling your environment. *Second article in a three-part series on Cultivating Creativity...

Did you know that there are over 40,000 species of spider in the world. They play an important role in controlling pest insect populations, provide a vital source of food for other animals and have…

Looking for a fun and easy process art activity? Try scrunch painting!