Nature Tray

 

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Our place is really small and any open space is a luxury right now. So to solve some of our desire to still have a little corner for nature. We are now using a small tray (14"x 8"). I found our tray in a craft store like Hobby Lobby or you can find it  here.

To add a unique touch, I hand painted it with acrylic paints, I used one main color so wouldn't take away from the beauty of our nature finds.

My inspiration for the little designs on the tray come from Nature itself but if you don't know what to do, maybe a collage would be easier, where you could select beautiful nature pictures and add to your tray, it would be a perfect project for little ones too. The idea for my Nature Tray come from a British magazine, from a article about  bringing back The Nature Table  to the classrooms, apparently in England the kids were encouraged to bring any seasonal nature specimens to the classroom to everyone to admire it. The idea to have a specific place for our nature finds was just perfect for us.

But because space is a issue for us right now to add a whole table for that purpose would be impossible, so the little tray was the next best idea.

 I love the simplicity of it and the end result.

I was just planning to write about my nature tray when I stumble is this little post about nature study.

Would like more ideas to nature study? Look here.

 

 

 

 

 

"The increase of scientific knowledge lies not only in the occasional milestones of science, but in the efforts of the very large body of men who with love and devotion observe and study nature."

Polykarp Kusch

Nature study- Early Autumn

 Early Autumn is still warm here(80's).For us is more like pleasantly warm, I should say, since summer is usually in the 90's and up. So one delightful activity is nature journaling. We usually equip ourselves with color pencils, nature books of every kind,cameras and our journals.

Nature journaling has a relax effect, is so wonderful to observe and reflect our observations on paper.

We been doing this kind of journaling on and off for a few years,but this year we will be more committed ,since we have a group that is doing the same.

We have Oak trees in abundance here, and acorn of all shapes and shades of browns, those are always fun to collect .

My daughter always surprises me with her beautiful work and choice of colors. Is fun to look on some of her journaling from a year ago and see how she adds more details as she grows.

I am always trying to be a model for her, by participate, observe,drawing and writing on my journal,and quite frankly is not hard to do, since I enjoy too. If drawing is difficult there are many resources on the web for inspiration . A few ideas is to collect some of your finds and paste to your journal, or photo journaling . I have a few wonderful ideas on one my Pin board.

morning glory, mexican sage, mist plant

Nature Journaling doesn't have to be a big ordeal, your own backyard can supply many inspirations. Flowers, bugs, plants and grass is all available in abudance everywhere. My backyard is very tiny,but we always find plenty of beauty , from bunnies to snakes.

Ladybug on  Hibiscus leaf.

Hibiscus bloosoms, perfect for flower study.

Tadpoles,every child should have the joy of observe tadpoles.

A October wild flower,name unknow to me.

Goldenrod

One of our backyard sessions.

    Books that we love for nature study:
1.Trees,a golden guide from St.Martin's press                                                                                2.A guide field identification Birds of North America
3.Anna Botsford Comstock,Handbook of Nature Study 

 

November & December overview and crafts.



Isn't that little girl a doll? She is just 3 yrs old.

   I have not post much about the many things we been learning and doing.  November and December are busy months for us,so posting anything come as last priority...
So I will attempt to post some of the fun things we did between the month of November and now.
  Including our field trips and hands on stuff for Christmas. So I will let the pictures do the talk, with little explanation on some.

 
1.  Thanksgiving at Bayou Bend.
We learn a little about the native America dances ,and about the first European settlers.



My child dancing with the natives



Speed dance

  



   

 2. In one of our a science class, we learn about our local bats.



 



this was a plus, this lady from the CITY PARKS was available with lots of information

 





Mexican free-tailed bat

 3. Learn to give




My child donate her hair to Locks of Love.


4.Christmas Crafts

With some simple ans small things found around the house you can make very cute Christmas ornaments

From a frozen juice lid

from toothpicks and sweet gun pod

  with glitter and pine cones (make a glue water and dip then in then add glitter)

and the traditionally popcorn and cranberries

5.Christmas party

I had saved some instruction on how to make those little houses for a year, finally got the courage to make a very SWEET get together, that maybe will became a tradition around here.

Here is the end product,cute right?

My child's house

 other creative little houses

 I love how each of the kids (from 2 to 7) come with amazing ideas.

A simple way to make a Christmas's tree, by using ice-cream cones...

The idea in making those little houses is to have fun, your child may be extra SWEET by the end...

Here is how you can make those little houses:

1 or more box of Graham crackers(you will need 3 crackers per child)

1 meringue powder (baking section)

powder sugar

Sugar

food coloring

and lots of colorful candy

break the crackers in half

 melt sugar on a fry pan ,as the sugar turns brown(low the heat) start to join the crackers at 90 Degree angle, those will be the wall and roof

(you don't need to join the 4 corners of the house,just the 2 will be fine)

Now prepare you meringue powder:
4t of meringue powder
4T of water
2 1/2  cups of powdered sugar
add water if too thick

from my group of 9 kids, I repeated this  recipe 5 times (it was just enough)

The meringue mix, will be the GLUE to hold your little house in place, and is what makes you able to add decorations to the houses
Also add food coloring to make the trees and to make colorful walls(use a small container for different colors)
Use a plastic knife to spread the mixture as you get ready to add decorations.
I cover small pieces of card board(like cereal boxes cut to make about 8x10 pieces) with aluminum papers ,so the kids could have a base for their houses and also makes easy to carry it home.


I wish I had post those a little earlier, but still maybe you will have time to do those with the little ones in your family at Christmas day.
The fun on the last craft is that can be use to Easter too.


Well if I don't write again this year let me wish you a
Merry Christmas
jm