Kid made nesting supply station

Caring for the wild creatures in our own neighborhood is my favorite way to teach my children to respect the environment.  The Pony Artist wanted to welcome the Robins.  I did a little research, and discovered that birds may appreciate nesting supplies.   Here's how she made her own nesting supply station.

If you would like to make a nesting supply station, here's what you need:

Two strips of felt

Thread

Needle scissors

Yarn (Be sure to use cotton, not synthentic, for the safety of the birds.)

First, the Pony Artist chose two strips of felt from our left over stash.

Next, she sewed the ends together.  This was the most challenging part.

Now it was time to prepare the actual supplies.  She chose some yarn and some string she thought the birds would like and snipped it into pieces.

She put it in the holder, and we tied it to a tree branch.  

It was emptied quickly and my husband thought it looked like the birds were trying to take the holder too!

This was a fun project that gave us a great opportunity to discuss the specific needs of the birds living in our neighborhood.  Of course, we got some fine motor work in as well.   If you have some extra felt and yarn on hand, why not welcome the birds by providing some nice soft lining for their nests?

Several bloggers have been working on using up our craft stash by making up learning activities with things we have on hand.  You can check out the other Learn with your craft stash projects here.






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How to raise kids who care for the earth

Earth Day is drawing to a close.  In celebration, my son planted some grass at school.  I am sure there was more to the project, but he really loves seeds. The planting itself is what grabbed his attention.

 Earth Day is a good holiday, but like Thanksgiving, it reminds us of a habit that needs to be ingrained more deeply in our daily life.  How do you raise eco-conscious kids who really care for the earth?

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How do you raise kids who are passionate about ecology? You teach them to love the little creatures in your neighborhood. 

My children love to save earth worms after a rainstorm.  They don their boots and we head up the street to a place where we know that dozens are drowning.  

As they work, we discuss why the puddle is so dangerous to the little annelids.  We talk about how they make our community a better place.  We talk about native earthworms and invasive species from the bait shop. Their brains are sponges at that moment, soaking up the facts. 

However, something even more important is happening. They are learning to love those little worms.  As they feel their live, wriggling bodies, and mourn the ones who didn't make it, they know there is something wondrous about each little life.  They feel how vulnerable the worms are, and they sense that they can make a difference.  

We all know how recycling works, but what prompts you to grab a piece of trash you didn't drop, or to conserve when it is so easy just to get a new one?  You have to care.  

So, by all means, make crafts from your trash and plant seeds.  But, if you really want to help your kids love nature, go out and find the little animals living in your neighborhood, and see if there is something you can do for them.


P.S.  After I published this post, I came across a similar post from Mae at Mommy Loves Trees, that includes some research and a few more ideas about helping kids love nature.  Check out 3 Totally Crazy Ways to Spend Earth Day.





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More ideas for inspiring kids to love nature

I spy rot!: Effortless science lesson

I Spy: Rot!

Nature walks are a great way to nurture your children's love of inquiry science.  Along the way you can notice interesting things, and express interest in his discoveries.  On this particular day, we were interested in this log.

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What we saw

We were taking a Nature Walk at a nearby preserve when the Pony Artist noticed that this log sported green mushrooms.  Green mushrooms are somewhat new to us, so it was worth stopping to take a look.  We had recently checked out (affiliate link)  The Magic School Bus Meets The Rot Squad: A Book About Decomposition by Cole, Joanna published by Scholastic Paperbacks Paperback ,from the library and read it, about fifteen times, so we were really excited to find our own rotting log.

What we wondered

We are curious whether this log sports any Betty Beatles like the ones Ms. Frizzle found.  We also are curious how long it will take the log to turn all the way back into dirt.  We wondered if the green mushrooms were a different variety than the brown ones, or if they just turned green for some reason.

What have you found recently?

Other Posts You May Enjoy:

I Spy: A little stream of light!

I Spy: An echo chamber!

Toy Car Physics!  A Playful Integrated Unit for Kindergarten to Second Grade.

Ocean habitat lesson that your children will love

The other day the Pony Artist found a box of shells I had been saving.  She spent most of an hour just looking, then announced that she had thought of a great activity to share with you! The result was an amazing sensory play set. Here's how you can set up this lesson for your kids as well.

(This post does not include affiliate links as originally written, but I may add them in the future.)

Three Ways to See Animals Without a Zoo

Last week, my child wanted to see a turtle.  Our city, like many, does not have a zoo of its own.  We did see some turtles though! Traveling to the zoo is definitely worth the effort, but not an every day excursion. Here are three ways we can all make opportunities for our children to develop their love of nature by watching animals.

Hang out out of doors

If you have a yard of your own, pay attention to who shares it with you.  Consider adding habitat and food sources that will attract and support insects, birds, and other creatures of interest. The National Wildlife Federation has some good information on making your yard into a habitat. The turtle above actually showed up in our yard one Sunday.

Even if you do not have your own yard, you can sight animals in the wild. Find a quiet corner of the park and sit still and quiet for ten to twenty minutes.  Keep your eyes open as you ride down the trail.  You might be surprised at what creatures you can sight even in major cities.

Visit a Pet Shop

This is how we found turtles to watch last week.  The great home town business we visited actually keeps a few animals just for display.

We have visited several shops over the years, and staff have always seemed pleased to let children wander and gawk.

Watch videos on-line

When we lived in the Middle East we did not go anywhere much.  I would ask what my children wanted to learn and find videos about it.  If you are stuck in doors or want to see something particularly exotic, videos a great free way to watch animals from home.  National Geographic and Animal Planet have good You-tube channels, but be sure to do your own search too.  There are some fantastic amateur videos out there that give your child the opportunity to simply observe animals in their natural habitats.  

If we want children to take good care of nature, we must give them the opportunity to fall in love with it.  Simply making time to observe creates that opportunity.  How are you going to see some animals today?

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Do It Yourselves Pretend Pony Barn

Each month we enjoy participating in the Recycle!Create! challenge.  I have found this project to be a perfect opportunity to encourage my children to build their engineering skills.

When I asked the Pony Artist what she wanted to make from food containers, her response was immediate:  "A barn for my ponies!"

First, she chose her materials from the recycling bin.

Next, she removed the top, and one end of each box.  Notice the scissor practice.

The Pony Artist says the barn looks better this way, and I would say removing the top makes play easier.  

I helped her paint.  She chose bright colors for the walls, dark back walls, and straw like floors.

A few days later, after the paint was dry, we added pine straw to make the ponies comfortable.  But, "Not too much, because it makes the baby uncomfortable."

It was a great chance to discuss what kind of environments are best for horses. Understanding the needs of living organisms is perfect preschool level habitat study.

Each pony has its own job in the pony family, and I was treated to a long short story.  The daddy fights for the whole family.  The big sister only fights for the baby.

Do you have an idea for using food containers to do a project with or for your children?Share in the comments, or link it up!

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