-John Lubbock
This summer, Minds in Bloom will be focusing on nature – certainly one of the greatest inspirations for creativity. Posts will mostly be activity based, starting with this one:
An ABC Nature Walk is fun for any group of kids – or even adults. Choose a natural setting such as a park or forest. Make sure you have a clipboard and a pencil for each child. Participants can use this free ABC recording sheet to write and/or sketch things found in nature that begin with each letter of the alphabet.
You can all walk together, or let older children strike out on their own. Encourage children to use their imaginations. For example, “X” could be an “extremely small ant.” “C” could be “frog croaking.” At the end of the activity, compare answers. Which letters were easy? Which were challenging? What were some of the creative answers that people came up with?
Another option is to allow participants to fill in the sheet over a period of days or weeks, using several different settings. This could work well for a summer camp activity.
Be sure to check back soon for more nature activities! You could even become a Minds in Bloom follower by clicking the link on the right sidebar.
Loving your site! I just came across it from a freebie I downloaded from your TpT store. Thank you! I am a former public school teacher (2nd) and will be a homeschooling mom for the first time in the fall to my 3 children. I will be coming back to your site and TpT store for your wonderful resources. Just from what I've downloaded already, I know my daughter will be thrilled.
Hi Brandy,
Thanks so much for your kind words! You have a big job ahead of you with 3 kids…but as I am sure you know, being a teacher already will help. I homeschooled my daughter for the last 3 months of her third grade year (dreadful teacher, sadly. I should have pulled her earlier). It wasn't too hard since I have taught third grade, so had plenty of resources. That was BEFORE TpT though.
Thanks for participating in the mega give away! Thanks for the nature walk idea!
Thank you for your encouraging words. I don't think being a teacher has prepared me to homeschool as much as others assume it will.
My daughter has had very sweet teachers, thankfully. But, we are looking for more for our children than the school system we are zoned for can provide. It was a very difficult thing to decide…but now that the decision is made, I wonder why it took so long!
Thanks Mrs. Polston…I hope you will find many things you can use here.
Brandy,
I'm sure you know this, but there is a big community of homeschoolers on the web – lots of great blogs with tons of ideas.
I bet you will do great!