~ sharing homeschool tips & encouragement
This week my friend The Homeschool Scientist is showcasing different museums around the country for Museum Week. We’ve been asked to share our many trips and fun photos of the Orlando Science Center.
We renew our OSC membership each year because we love the hands-on educational fun appropriate for kids! Stop by The Homeschool Scientist to read about the OSC or other museums! (don’t forget, most museums offer a reciprocal rate!)
“I speak for the trees” ~ The Lorax
I am no Dr. Seuss, but I do have 15 Stress-Free Activities to Celebrate Arbor Day.
Arbor Day is the last Friday in April. You can celebrate Arbor Day very easily without planting your own tree nursery! (although that would make a great field trip!!)
How will you celebrate Arbor Day?
How do you celebrate Groundhog’s Day? If you have older children try science activities: shadows!
I’m originally from upstate NY. We really were into Groundhog’s Day far more than people in the south care about. I might have been the only one absolutely bummed the groundhog really had nothing to do with predicting the weather.
Let’s be honest, if you’ve made one groundhog’s craft you’ve made them all. Sorta like Johnny Appleseed. So, how do you make groundhog’s day fun again?
I went hunting for some shadow science things to do for my boys.
1. Find a long clear spot outside and chalk outline your child’s shadow early in the morning. (Surprisingly it is cool in the mornings here notice our “jackets”). We went out at 8am. We could not believe how long the boy’s shadow cast across the front yard! We went out again a little after lunch (too late), again in the afternoon and sunset. Unfortunately. We have so many trees in our neighborhood we were unable to see any shadows cast at sunset.
2. make shadow puppets. We laughed so hard we couldn’t really get anything right. Little Passports shared a shadow puppet image on facebook we’ll have to try soon!
3. make funny shadows. Of course with boys – this took up majority of our time and laughter. Be sure to outline them with chalk so you can go back and laugh some more. Or color them in.
4. shadow tag. Sadly since you can’t see your own shadow when you’re running (all the time) someone (ahem, me) has to play referee and not everyone likes that.
Maybe you don’t live in Florida (and are glaring at the screen and our shorts), play shadow puppets inside on the wall. Or make your marks on the fresh fallen snow!
Happy Groundhog’s Day – happy shadow fun!
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