Butterflies and Ladybugs (the Dynamo Rhino homeschool blog)

by on May 1, 2013
in play learn explore ·

DRObservingInsects

Today I want to invite you over to our newest blog, The Dynamo Rhino homeschool blog.

We’ve been observing ladybug larvae and Painted Lady butterfly caterpillars for weeks and this week the time was right to release them into the wilds of our back yard.

From the post:

“After weeks of waiting and watching, we were able to release our insects this week!  Our butterflies and ladybugs have been released into the garden and I think it is safe to say that one can assume the insects were as happy as the children to be free.”

[Come and read the rest at The Dynamo Rhino.  See you there!]

Building a bird feeder and more Earth Day activities from PBS Kids

by on April 22, 2013
in play learn explore · 1 Comment

PBSbirdhouseSK

Please note we were given a screener of Curious George Swings into Spring to review and some of the materials for the Earth Day crafts from PBS Kids.  I was not paid for this post and all opinions expressed are my own.  Thanks!

To celebrate Earth Day, which is today, April 22, PBS Kids is premiering Curious George Swings into Spring.  You can watch a preview here on the PBS Kids YouTube channel.  We were given a screener to review in advance and my kids loved it.  Check your local listings for air times.

PBS Kids also has some fun activities to go along with the special and help put you and your kids in an Earth Day frame of mind.  At our house we’ve been crafting up a week long celebration of Earth Day fun, starting this bird house we made yesterday using chopsticks and a 2 liter bottle we snagged from the recycling bin.

This was an easy craft to do, with a bit of adult supervision and help, and the kids have been eagerly stalking the window hoping to catch sight of our first feathered visitors.

[Read more...]

Weekend links and some Earth Day activities from PBS Kids

by on April 21, 2013
in play learn explore, showcase · 2 Comments

AlmostTulips

[Read more...]

Unplugged Play: sidewalk chalk

by on April 1, 2013
in play learn explore, Unplugged Play · 7 Comments

sidewalkchalk

After a long winter, the kids and I were thrilled that the Easter Bunny brought a glorious warm and sunny weekend with him.

Spring has been around for a few weeks, at least according to the calendar, but it certainly hasn’t felt like it at our house.  In fact, this time last week we were enduring a snowfall that made March one for the record books.

Hooray for changing seasons! Last weekend was gorgeous and sunny and we, of course, headed outdoors to celebrate!

Jackets were shed, sunglasses were donned, and one of our favorite sunny weather unplugged play toys came out:  the sidewalk chalk.

I bet it is one of your family’s favorite unplugged play toys, too.

[Read more...]

Name play activities for young writers

by on March 13, 2013
in play learn explore · 6 Comments

Name play activities

Written by Amy Anderson of Let’s Explore.

Often, one of the first things a young child learns to write is her own name. From the first scribbles to finally mastering a tricky e, name-writing is a very satisfying confidence-booster!

When my girls were preschool-age, I wrote their names on large index cards and laminated for durability. They loved to carry around their name cards, trace the letters with their fingers, and scribble on the cards with dry erase markers or crayons.

Here are a dozen playful ways to explore forming letters and name writing. Of course, if your child is not interested in his name right now, and would rather spell and write dinosaur or butterfly or Grammy, those are fun words to practice, too!

[Read more...]

«Older Posts