Insect Lab Nature Investigation

Spring brings flowers, warm air, green grass . . . and insects. Many, many insects! Due to mild weather and their natural instinct to hunt for food after winter hibernation, insects are abundant in the spring. Many spring insects are young; they have recently hatched out of an egg case or matured from pupae to […]

“April Showers Bring May Flowers” Handprint Art

Have you ever gazed at your child and wondered to yourself, “How did he get so big?” or, “Did she grow in her sleep last night?” Colin had just come home from preschool and was excitedly sharing what he had learned that day from his teachers. As he yapped on and on, it became one […]

Rainbow Song

This week we’re exploring weather themes, and here to start off the week is a great video from Angelique teaching a rainbow song! Watching Angelique’s videos always makes me smile!  You can watch the video of the rainbow song here: Having trouble viewing the video? Click here to view it on YouTube, and don’t forget to subscribe […]

Planting a Three Sisters Garden

Short on space but still want a garden?  Try planting a Three Sisters Garden with your kids this year!  With a few modifications this Native American technique can even be adapted to grow in a pot and you can enjoy all the benefits of these plants that help each other grow in even the smallest […]

5 Simple Experiments with Water

April is known for it’s rain showers.  What better time to try some simple science experiments with water!  Today, I’m sharing with you 5 simple experiments that need only a few items and take just a few seconds to set up, yet are fun and explore different properties of water.  1.  Bending pencil experiment  Materials […]

DIY Button Flower Learning Game for Kids

Signs of Spring are showing up everywhere! What better way to welcome Spring than with a bouquet of bright, colorful flowers? We made our bouquet with simple buttons and pipe cleaners, but took it a step further and made up a button flower game. It’s quick, easy, and lots of fun! Here is what you’ll need: […]

A Visit to the Art Museum

Several weeks ago, my husband and I decided to take the boys on an outing to the local art museum.  An art museum has a completely different culture and set of rules than a children’s discovery museum and I’ll admit, I had concerns about whether or not they would behave appropriately during this new experience.  […]

Around the Web: Birds

This week we shared a fun and creative way to make hanging shape bird feeders as well as the benefits of letting your child use real tools to build a bird feeder. But we don’t want to stop there! Here are even more inspiring links about birds.  1. Go on a frugal field trip and […]

Building Bird Feeders with Real Tools

Building bird feeders with your kids isn’t only doing something nice for the birds. It’s also great for your kids! You can encourage a great sense of capability by trusting them to use real tools to get the project done.  I have many warm childhood memories of spending time in my Grandpa’s workshop. He and […]

Around the Web: Colors

There are so many fantastic color activities around the web, and finding them this week has made me happy! It’s hard not to smile (and look forward to spring) when you are checking out so many bright and colorful ideas. Enjoy! 1. Purple Crayon Mural via Inner Child Fun- This is a fun activity to go […]

Learning in an Instant: Color Word Hopscotch

Combine sight word practice with big fun by playing a quick game of color words hopscotch! This simple activity will get your kids active while they learn the color words. This is easy to set up and can easily be played inside or out. If it’s a pretty day, get outside and draw the hopscotch […]

Learning Color Words with CandyLand

Ever wish you could get more educational value from board games you already have on-hand? Here’s a quick and easy way to make CandyLand, a childhood classic from Hasbro, even more educational for your kids while sneaking in some sight word learning too! To give this game a fun and educational twist, I decided to […]

Learning in an Instant: Writing Letters

A quick and easy way to learn more about being a good friend (while sneaking in some fun writing practice) is to write a friend a letter.   Is your child not ready to write a full letter? Have them draw their friend a picture instead!  Have a wonderful weekend!

A Friendship Song for Kids

February is a wonderful time to focus on friendship, and this week we are going to give you several ideas! We’d like to start the fun by sharing a sweet bilingual friendship song for kids.  Can’t see this video? You can watch it here. Angelique Felix believes in the magic of play. You can find out […]

Learning in an Instant: Balloon Bop

Give a kid a balloon and you’ll instantly cure any sign of boredom. Have you ever noticed that balloon play always leads to a game of balloon bop? You know, where you have to keep the balloon in the air by skillfully and energetically bopping it repeatedly? Just the process of this balloon bop play […]

Around the Web: Outdoor Learning in Winter

We’re finishing off this week with 5 inspiring links that share ways for you to get outside and learn in winter.  Make some beautiful Icy Ornaments via Inner Child Fun Learn about the Science of Sledding via Fireflies and Mud Pies Read your favorites during a Snowy Story Time via Inner Child Fun Have fun […]

Learning In An Instant- Temperature

This week’s Learning in an Instant encourages you to get outside with your kids to learn about thermometers and the temperatures of your area in winter.  You can begin by briefly introducing the thermometer and explaining or reviewing the words temperature, thermometer, degrees, Fahrenheit, and Celsius. Show your kids how to read a thermometer and […]

Exploring Water’s 3 States of Matter

Winter provides many natural learning opportunities for children. We’ve spent much time bird watching and hiking, and discussing the needs, adaptations and homes of animals in the winter. When Owen asked one day where icicles came from, I thought we’d attempt to dive deeper into science, and explore water’s 3 states of matter. Explain It: […]