Jun. 20, 2006
Chasing fireflies
This evening, when the day finally cooled down, we went nature hunting. Im reading A Pocketful of Pinecones and, while Im not ready to recommend it as a good read, it has given me a few ideas. I gave the girls pencil and paper and we walked around under the trees looking.
I told them to look for something interesting to draw for their nature notebooks. They surprised me with their looking. Right away they were bent over a trail of ants, even Milo, looking just as hard as the girls were. The ants were carrying eggs and seemed to be making a new home. They found an empty cocoon, a mushroom and some black-eyed susans.
The end of the walk was most productive. Near the edge of the woods fireflies blinked and were easily caught. We put them in a plastic bag and I bet they caught 20 of them.
Once home, I showed them pictures of ants and fireflies so they could see how their body parts were drawn. They drew pictures and colored them and we identified the black-eyed susans and pasted everything on a notebook page complete with illustrations.
We frequently go on walks around the yard but I dont often have them looking, hunting for interesting things. This evening they poked sticks in holes, noticed animal tracks and asked about the oak tree roots they saw above the ground. Milo seemed to know exactly what we were doing and he made me laugh poking his own stick at things on the ground and bending over to take a closer look whenever the girls did.
I think theres something to teaching them to take a closer look and listen. I know this is something we will be doing a lot more often.
Comments
Jun. 20, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by carrotqueen
Oh, that sounds so fun! I can't wait until we move into our house with a yard!
Jun. 20, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by nsremom
cool day...if only I knew what a black eyed susan looked like. :) I'd have a hard time telling my kids names of things. I'd need a book!
Jun. 20, 2006 - Children are such fun
Posted by LadyMother
When my grandsons are around the yard they find all kinds of marvelous things. Somethings I'd rather not look at :>) Life can be so adventuresome without spending a dime! Enjoy it - it's too soon gone and so are they once they get wheels.
Be blessed,
Miss Meg
Jun. 20, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Lilliepad
I'm just out for a random blog and really enjoyed reading several of your posts. Emeline's politics cracked me up and I, too, am a Five in a Row user. I'm adding you to my list of friends if you don't mind.
Jun. 20, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by tdaiken
What a fun time for sure! We used to go outdoors and enjoy the evenings when the girls were younger, but haven't done it in ages. I am wondering now if a 12 and 15 year old would think this activity too "childish" for them? I think even if they do, the lesson to dig a little deeper and discover things not immediately observed is a lesson needed, no matter the method or the age. Thanks for the inspiration!
Hugs,
Donna
