• Sep. 4, 2006
A Great Labor Day
We had a great holiday together today. We went to a state park which is very close by. We enjoyed the nature center, especially the wildlife room. We saw many birds, some chipmunks, a frog, and a bunny. That was a real treat for my kiddos. They LOVE seeing wildlife. We call DD31/2 our little nature spotter. She is the one who spotted the frog. Guaranteed that none of us wouldn't have seen it if she hadn't pointed it out to us! He was pretty well camoflauged.
The park has a large creek with a waterfall. We ventured down into the canyon for some time in the creek. It was a blast. We all walked across some massive rocks for some time wading in the quiet and shallow part of the water. Lots of rock skipping and wading going on.
We also took a great nature walk. Mainly noticing the difference in tree bark. I like to find one thing to kind of focus in on while we're on a nature walk. Today, it happened to be tree bark. We discussed the differences between the bark of the red pine (scaly), the American beech (smooth), and the sassafras (furrowed). Very cool. And we found some great leaves from some tulip trees we encountered along the way. So, we'll be adding these to our nature notebooks and focusing on them in upcoming walks. I like to choose one thing to teach and then kind of focus on it in subsequent walks to solidify it in the children's minds. They almost "over" learn it that way. And it really helps them to know it, rather than just be able to identify it in a book or something later on.
Oh, and I forgot to mention the picnic. A real treat because we were out in nature and enjoying such quiet...no cell phones, tv, radio, etc. What a relief and rest today was from our normal routine. And the kids got juice boxes, which is a real treat-a-roo for them. So they were especially excited and thinking I was an extremely cool mom! Gave me extra mileage when I had to tell them it was an early-bedtime night later on. 
A great Labor Day to be sure!
Comments
• Sep. 4, 2006
Untitled Comment
Posted by chickadee
we love doing nature walks. sounds like a fun day.
• Sep. 5, 2006
Tag!
Posted by MaryBeth
OK, here is a tag I got and am so lovingly passing along to you! Ü Check out the questions on my blog... they are actually pretty thought provoking!
• Sep. 5, 2006
Untitled Comment
Posted by OurLittleSchoolRoom
Sounds like a lovely day! So much to learn. My two were moaning today because none of us got out away from the house today. A walk would have been good.
Blessings on your week,
Karen
• Sep. 5, 2006
Untitled Comment
Posted by davidandkatie
Sounds like it was a great day.
