Pack a basket with learning opportunities.  • paper and pencil • picnic basket • blanket • paper plates • napkins • cups • camera • homemade sandwichesInvite your child to help check off a list of the foods and supplies that you will bring on your outing. Ask your child to help you write a list of picnic items. (He can cut and […]
 This simple clip-on device makes it a cinch to hang your child’s school drawings — and periodically replace them with her latest works.  Yardstick Binder clip Monofilament  First, attach a binder clip to the top of a wooden yardstick about 2 inches in from each end. Then tie the ends of a […]
Pad of paper and felt-tip pens, or instant camera Yard, park, nature walk, or other outdoor area Magnifying glass Bug identification book (optional) Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Walk or drive to a park or nature area. Bring a small pad of paper and drawing materials, or an instant camera, if you prefer. Walk through the area and help […]
Measuring Dinosaurs  Identify and compare the length of four dinosaurs. State that dinosaurs needed food to grow and that food helps us to grow too.  Prepare the Dinosaur Cards (PDF) Cut 144 feet string to the length shown on each dinosaur card. Attach and wrap length around each card as follows:  70 […]
 A pineapple Sand Peat moss Used coffee grounds 6 inch pot Large sharp knife Container to mix soil  Cut top off pineapple about 1 inch below base of leaves. Let top dry for two days. Mix and moisten one part sand and one part peat moss with a handful of coffee grounds. Put […]
Egg shells Grass seeds (they germinate in a few weeks) or bean seeds (they germinate in a few days) Potting soil Egg carton Container to mix soil Popsicle sticks (optional) Tempera paint or Markers Hot glue or white glue A small square of cardboard or a small piece of a pipe cleaner. Â To give […]
 Here’s a super-simple way to assemble a flock of featherless friends. This nearly no-mess project is easy enough to make in minutes and lets kids add lots of inspired elements of their own.   Scrapbook paper Scissors Pencil Colored paper clips Tape Glue stick Hole punch or pushpins  For each, draw a […]
 2 round wooden beads (we used one 16-millimeter and one 25-millimeter bead) with holes large enough for a doubled pipe cleaner to fit through 6-inch pipe cleaners acrylic paint craft feather (pom poms for bunnies) fine-point marker  First, paint the beads with acrylic paint. When they have dried, bend a 6-inch pipe cleaner […]
