Oh SUMMER SUMMER! I love it!
I love being outdoors so often, being out in nature, life, wind, running freedom. Maybe it is because I am the mom of 5 boys and when the weather isn't so 'hot' the energy inside can be a little through the roof. I love it when the boys can just run and roam freely outside. Camping out in the wilderness, hanging out at seashores, hiking the trails, there is just so much more room for everyone,
With all the outdoor time comes a time of noticing the workings of nature. The greatest scientists, naturalists, mathematicians all started with just noticing the world around them and wondering, why? or how? It was Thales of Miletus himself, considered to be the first Greek philosopher. But it was his trying to learn and explore how things worked, noticing that nature has some natural laws and it wasn't he argued all the Gods up there on Mount Olympus causing nature to do Her thing) that set him apart and earned him the title of the 'Father of Science'. It was the beginning of the science revolution; looking for patterns, rational explanations of the natural world by comparing the natural consistent processes he saw all around him. He would hypothesize why and how the mechanics of nature worked by relating similarities, macro examples of the micro and micro examples of the macro.
On your summer outdoor adventures ore even your laze around summer days, look around and notice all the connections right under your nose. We take so much of the excitement and wonder of nature for granted as we whiz past in a hurry. Slow down, breathe in the warm summer breeze, and connect with your inner scientist wanting to discover. Inspire your child to see through the lens of a naturalist; noticing nature and her inner workings up close. Here is an activity that you can do with your child, or they can do on their own (reading help may be required). No materials essential, although a sketch book/journal and some pencils are great to have one hand.
I love being outdoors so often, being out in nature, life, wind, running freedom. Maybe it is because I am the mom of 5 boys and when the weather isn't so 'hot' the energy inside can be a little through the roof. I love it when the boys can just run and roam freely outside. Camping out in the wilderness, hanging out at seashores, hiking the trails, there is just so much more room for everyone,
With all the outdoor time comes a time of noticing the workings of nature. The greatest scientists, naturalists, mathematicians all started with just noticing the world around them and wondering, why? or how? It was Thales of Miletus himself, considered to be the first Greek philosopher. But it was his trying to learn and explore how things worked, noticing that nature has some natural laws and it wasn't he argued all the Gods up there on Mount Olympus causing nature to do Her thing) that set him apart and earned him the title of the 'Father of Science'. It was the beginning of the science revolution; looking for patterns, rational explanations of the natural world by comparing the natural consistent processes he saw all around him. He would hypothesize why and how the mechanics of nature worked by relating similarities, macro examples of the micro and micro examples of the macro.
On your summer outdoor adventures ore even your laze around summer days, look around and notice all the connections right under your nose. We take so much of the excitement and wonder of nature for granted as we whiz past in a hurry. Slow down, breathe in the warm summer breeze, and connect with your inner scientist wanting to discover. Inspire your child to see through the lens of a naturalist; noticing nature and her inner workings up close. Here is an activity that you can do with your child, or they can do on their own (reading help may be required). No materials essential, although a sketch book/journal and some pencils are great to have one hand.
Your Special Place
Discovery is all around us just waiting to be noticed.
Find your special place. It can be a spot in your backyard, a nearby park that you visit lots. Find a place to just sit with nature and notice, experience and discover.
Bring along a journal, sketch book, pencils, a camera or even just your minds eye.
Sit quietly at your spot. Take a few nice relaxing deep breaths of fresh outdoor air. Fill your lungs and then release.
Now with all your senses experience this special place in nature.
Close your eyes for a few moments and ask yourself....
Now open your eyes.
Notice a a few things around you and compare them. Are they the same shape, the same size. Is one bigger, by how much do you think (double the size, 10 times the size). Are they from the same kingdom (are they both birds, or insects, or plants). See if you can find 5 things they have in common and 5 ways they are different. Think about your items you are noticing in your special place, are they connected somehow?
Now take some time to write down in your journal what what you noticed or how you are feeling. Draw some pictures of your special place. Come back lots to your special place. Even take a few minutes each day to sit in your special place. Notice the changes, the similarities from day to day. Let yourself relax and be part of nature (as you are part of nature!) You are now a Naturalist!
To download a printable of this so your learner can take it with them out in nature to their special place, just click the download file below.
Discovery is all around us just waiting to be noticed.
Find your special place. It can be a spot in your backyard, a nearby park that you visit lots. Find a place to just sit with nature and notice, experience and discover.
Bring along a journal, sketch book, pencils, a camera or even just your minds eye.
Sit quietly at your spot. Take a few nice relaxing deep breaths of fresh outdoor air. Fill your lungs and then release.
Now with all your senses experience this special place in nature.
Close your eyes for a few moments and ask yourself....
- What do you hear? Is it loud? Quiet? Listen more, do you hear anything else? Birds? Water? People?
- What do you smell? Can you smell the grass? Or flowers? The air?
- What do you taste? Can you taste the air?
Now open your eyes.
- What do you see? What can you see far away? In the sky? What can you see up close? Beside you? Underneath you? Are their any creatures making their way around? Birds? Insects?
- What colours do you notice? How many shades of those colours can you see?
- What textures are around you. Feel the grass, plants and flowers nearby. How do they feel?
- What kind of shapes do you see? Can you see any circles? Rectangles? Triangles? What about spirals?
Notice a a few things around you and compare them. Are they the same shape, the same size. Is one bigger, by how much do you think (double the size, 10 times the size). Are they from the same kingdom (are they both birds, or insects, or plants). See if you can find 5 things they have in common and 5 ways they are different. Think about your items you are noticing in your special place, are they connected somehow?
Now take some time to write down in your journal what what you noticed or how you are feeling. Draw some pictures of your special place. Come back lots to your special place. Even take a few minutes each day to sit in your special place. Notice the changes, the similarities from day to day. Let yourself relax and be part of nature (as you are part of nature!) You are now a Naturalist!
To download a printable of this so your learner can take it with them out in nature to their special place, just click the download file below.
| inspirative_learning_your_special_place.doc |
And to really amp up observation and FUN, check out this Doodling in Math Vihart series of 3 short videos. It is so neat to notice the connections. I am sure your naturalist will be making a few connections out there regarding the Fibonacci sequence and plants after this! I LOVE the Vihart videos. She is so fabulous, enthusiastic and Fun at its finest!
And speaking of the Fibonacci sequence, have you heard or read about the 13-Year-Old Makes Solar Power Breakthrough by Harnessing the Fibonacci Sequence?
Read more: 13-Year-Old Makes Solar Power Breakthrough by Harnessing the Fibonacci Sequence
Well enjoy your Fibonacci Summer Days. I am going to go look for spirals in the sky and a few 'slug cats' (gotta watch vihart!).
Read more: 13-Year-Old Makes Solar Power Breakthrough by Harnessing the Fibonacci Sequence
Well enjoy your Fibonacci Summer Days. I am going to go look for spirals in the sky and a few 'slug cats' (gotta watch vihart!).
Image: FreeDigitalPhoto.net
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