Monthly Archives: June 2011

Mystery Critter #70

June 11, 2011

 

Amber-colored Spectacles

Hello, my favorite nature detectives!

Well, today is National Get Outdoors Day, so you have extra inspiration to get outside and see what wild wonders you can find.  So put on your thinking caps and let’s get to it! And remember — no cheating. ;-)

CRITTER CLUES:

  • I make my home in slow moving lakes and rivers
  • I have been called gregarious, yet shy (what a combo!)
  • I have cousins you may be familiar with
  • I dine on insects, crayfish and clams

So, what am I?

Make your guess then go to eNature for the answer and more interesting facts.

Did you get it right?

If not, no worries. You will have another chance soon!

Remember, when looking for wildlife, keep your eyes and ears open! Look high and low, and most importantly, enjoy yourself.

Nature is not a destination — it’s all around us, and beautiful in so many ways. Take the time to appreciate it, and all that it brings to your life.

What critters can you spot in your neck of the woods? Be sure to tell us!

And don’t forget! Join the Wildobs community and share your wild adventures with the world.

See ya outside! ~ The Grass Stain Guru

Creative Commons License photo credit: marlin harms

By Bethe | Posted in Activities, nature, play | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (8)

Activitypalooza: Nature & Outdoor Play Ideas

June 7, 2011

Shoes. Again.
Recently, I had the opportunity to do a really fun workshop for early childhood educators and caregivers up in Winnipeg, Canada. For me, early childhood is the best place to establish connections with the natural world and help establish preferences for outdoor play and exploration.

Reaching children and families BEFORE the plugging-in of childhood to media and electronic devices is key to help raise a generation of happy, healthy children — and early childhood professionals are  the linchpin for success.

Besides, there is no audience I would rather work with. Early childhood folks have a playful spirit and are so game for anything, including making up dances and cheers about little brown bats, pocket gophers, tree frogs and red squirrels. No, I am not kidding you.

But I digress…

So, I thought I would share one of the outcomes of our workshop here — and let me tell you, we put the work in workshop!  We created a school/program-year calendar of nature and outdoor play ideas and activities.

Click on the link below to download your calendar today. You’ll find a little bit of everything – math, art, movement, science, literacy, and lots of play and exploration. Um, and lots of snow-related activities. It was Canada, after all. :-)

calendar_nature

I hope you enjoy the calendar, and are inspired to take your teaching outside — and bring the outdoors in. I promise, there is no better way to reach and teach all children. Besides, it will “raise your game” as an educator and/or caregiver.

I would love to know what you think. And please share the calendar far and wide. The more kids we get outside, the better!

See ya outside! ~ The Grass Stain Guru

PS: To all my groovy workshop attendees, thanks for all the great ideas! What you’ll find here is a combination of your group work, the activities we did in the workshop and additional activities from me to fill in the blanks, etc. Yay team!

This post is part of the We Play link-up at Childhood 101 and the Let’s Play link-up at Let the Children Play. Viva play!

Creative Commons License photo credit: Gdpaule

 

By Bethe | Posted in Activities, education, nature, play | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments (54)

Mystery Critter #69

June 4, 2011

Farl-e

Hello, my favorite nature detectives!

You’ve worked hard all week, and now it’s time to play hard, and see what Mother Nature has up her sleeve.  Put on your thinking caps and let’s get to it! And remember — no cheating. ;-)

CRITTER CLUES:

  • I can be found in much of North America
  • I am quite beautiful (if I do say so myself!)
  • Some of my cousins have evolved to look like me
  • I have a safeguard against predators — I taste yucky!
  • I can be found in many places, including meadows, woodlands, gardens and alongside the road

So, what am I?

Make your guess then go to eNature for the answer and more interesting facts.

Did you get it right?

If not, no worries. You will have another chance soon!

Remember, when looking for wildlife, keep your eyes and ears open! Look high and low, and most importantly, enjoy yourself.

Nature is not a destination — it’s all around us, and beautiful in so many ways. Take the time to appreciate it, and all that it brings to your life.

What critters can you spot in your neck of the woods? Be sure to tell us!

And don’t forget! Join the Wildobs community and share your wild adventures with the world.

See ya outside! ~ The Grass Stain Guru

Creative Commons License photo credit: TheNickster

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By Bethe | Posted in Activities, nature | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments (10)