Save some seed...a great fall activity!

In autumn, you can find a flower with seed inside just about anywhere. Sunflowers and marigolds are especially easy ones. You will need to look for a dead or dying flower. Then, you can pull the seeds out from the center. Then, make your own seed packet to store them in. I discovered this useful activity at the Garfield Park Conservatory.

If your marigolds look like this, they are ready for seed saving!

What you will need: 8.5 x 11 computer paper, stapler, writing utensil.

Fold one third into the center of the paper.

Fold remaining third inside over the first flap.

Fold in half.

Remove mature seeds from seed pod (this is a dead marigold flower here).

Staple one side, making an envelope with a solid bottom.
Place seeds inside.

Fold over top edge and staple shut.

Label. Finished!

Spread some seed with SEED BOMBS!

If you haven't heard of seed bombs, you are missing out on a wonderful wonderful thing! Apparently, seed bombs have been around since the beginning of human civilization, but I first learned of these magical creations from South Side Seed Bombs. Check out this site, the woman that runs this business is just as wonderful as these little bombs! http://southsideseedbomb.com/

What is a seed bomb exactly you may ask? They are an ingenious invention created to help plant seeds in a very easy way and keep predators (aka squirrels, birds, mice and other creatures) from eating your seeds before they could sprout into the plants you need. They are also an easy way to disperse seed, just throw and grow!

Seed bombs provide the solution in that they provide the protection the seeds need from predators.

What will you need?

compost (or soil)
seeds of choice (go native!)
natural clay (from craft store pottery section)
paper plate

This activity works great for all ages-you can't go wrong with mud!

What you need to get started.

1. Start with a spoonful of compost (or soil if you don't have compost) and a ball of red clay. Pick out your seeds. This is a great way to disperse native seeds in a prairie.

Smoosh. Mix it all together.

2. Mix the clay, seeds, and compost together. This part is especially fun for kids.

Roll into a ball.

3. Roll back into a ball, let dry.

Last step.

4. Throw in desired location (in ground or a pot). Great way to lay down seeds for the fall to sprout in the following spring.

Hibernation & Winter Animal Dens

Where do animals go in the winter? I posted a link earlier to my blog with information about animal hibernation and overwintering (See May 5 post). Not all animals hibernate, but ALL animals do make some preparations for winter. A fun activity that helps get kids thinking about this concept is to have kids make "mini-winter dens" for an animal of their choice.

A winter shelter for a beaver. Notice the "food."

Beavers do not hibernate, but they do prepare for the winter by collecting food and, of course, they will need a place to store that food and shelter from the elements when they are not out gathering food. In this structure, I included "samaras and twigs" as the food for the beaver. In reality, beavers actually eat branches from trees, preferring aspen, cottonwood, willow, and dogwood. They will also eat plant tubers, roots, shoots, and a variety of herbaceous plants (source: www.landscouncil.org/beaversolution/fact_on_beavers.asp).

The beaver is hidden from predators inside its den.

How the supply set up looks for this activity.

Playing with Wind

With the change of seasons comes windy days. Whether it be fall or spring, wind is a great natural part of our world to focus a lesson or activity with your kids.

 

Wind Wands 

These little ones are having a blast here with some homemade wind wands. Using slurpee straws, we taped ribbons (at least three different strands) to the top of the straw with some decorative duct tape. Just another use for that funky duct tape you find at the craft store now a days! So, now you have an excuse to go buy it. Regular tape won't be strong enough to hold it.

Just add wind & run!

Or, stand still and see what happens.

 

Scarf Clothesline

Another great way to play with wind, hang a clothesline and let your kids hang up play scarves or pieces of fabric.

What you need: clothespins, scarves and/or fabric, rope

Just hang the line, put up a few scarves and see what happens.

We used only smaller play scarves here, but you can use large fabric pieces or old bedsheets.

I did this activity with a group of 8-10 year old girls one week. I just sat back and relaxed while I watched the little girls pretend they were hanging up their clothes, then took them down to get dressed to go to church. Then they returned and took down the "tablecloth" and set up lunch. This continued through several versions of social outings, it was really incredible play at work!

It's funny how much they love to play "house" with this. Now if only we could get them to help with the real laundry....

Walking Sticks

This is a fun project to do to get kids excited about going on a hike. I acquired this idea from programs at the Garfield Park Conservatory. Start with a stick that comes up to your child's shoulder. Use a variety of items, such as ribbon, fabric, pipecleaners, beads, leather cording, and even a compass or magnifying glass.

Decorated by an 8 year old for a toddler to use. The cloth bag is a pouch
to hold natural treasures that may be found on a hike.

The walking stick I have pictured here is pretty simple, as it was created by a child. But, you can get very elaborate with this project!

She's ready for a hike!

Mini Teepees/Mini Forts

Building structures out of sticks is perhaps one of my most exciting childhood memories. I remember we would vacation near a forest and my mom would take us out to the woods to build teepees. She would bring twine and a sheet and the magic would begin!

This is a similar activity you can do on a much smaller scale in your backyard. I am not sure if it is politically correct to use the word "teepee."  You could call them mini-forts instead. I did do a google search about using the word "teepee," but nothing in particular about the name being disparaging. If anyone can think of a better name that is respectful to Native Americans, please tell me. .. I think the kind of play that could accompany it could be disparaging if kids are taught to "run around the teepee as an Indian" and patting their mouth while yelling "whoo whoo!" I think if we discuss this with kids that they are what we, as humans, used as our homes before we had houses and that Native Americans used these in the Great Plains, it is fair to call it a "teepee."

Begin with bundling  sticks (cut 10-12 inches long) and tie together with a string.

Stand up the sticks and spread apart. This is best to do
on the grass, mulch, or soil.

Wrap a piece of fabric and secure with a string. Enjoy some
creative play, maybe make a village?

Sunflower Bird Feeders

Check out this fun and SUPER EASY activity to make a bird feeder out a sunflower!

Who doesn't love a cheery sunflower?

It makes me incredibly sad when I see them do this! 

At some point, after the bees have visited it in their nectar frenzy, the sunflower becomes too heavy to support itself and flops over. So, what to do? When life hands you lemons, make a bird feeder!

This is a closeup of the head of the sunflower that flopped over. 

Look closely underneath the little yellow blooms, recognize anything? Yes, seeds! The same ones we eat in from the store! We love to eat them and so do birds. Have you ever purchased a bag of sunflower seeds for birds? It is close to $15 for a small bag they tear through in a week.

A sunflower bird feeder

Simply cut the sunflower head off at the base of the stem then tie a string. You can't actually see the string I used but I just tied it onto the sunflower stem and then made a loop to hang it on a hook. You could get very, very fancy here, but I went for the quick and dirty route. Be sure to hang it near a window so your kids can watch the birds visit easily. It may take the birds a few days to find it, fyi, so don't be discouraged if they do not visit right away. The other bright side to cutting this sunflower head off is that you are "freeing some space up" for the plant. If you look in my second picture you can see another sunflower bloom behind this big, heavy one, just beginning to poke its pretty little head out.

Homemade Binoculars for Tots

Kids love binoculars, but real ones can be too bulky and cumbersome for them. These are a great "training tool" to use before the real thing! I like to call these "Nature Spotters" and I originally learned this project from the Peggy Noteabart Nature Museum in Chicago. www.naturemuseum.org

1. String 2 toilet paper rolls on a long piece of yarn.

2. Bring the ends of the yarn together.

3. Tie a knot at the end and pull tight. The two tubes will come towards
each other side by side as you do this.

4. Finish your knot and you have a pair of Nature Spotters!

These are a great way to "focus in" on small details or animals out in nature. Sometimes, all the green can be overwhelming to a child. Peering through these help kids "hone in" on an object far away such as a birds' nest or an animal.

Leaf Clothesline-Display beautiful autumn colors!

There are countless possibilities to get creative with autumn leaves. Their colors just beg for it! This is an activity you can do anytime of year where there are leaves present, but it is particularly pretty in autumn.

Many ages can work together on this project.

Begin with finding two trees (or poles) to hang a rope from. I used a clothesline from a dollar store in this pictures. It was a dollar...you can't beat that! I did a couple simple knots. Make sure the rope is taunt enough so you don't create a tripping hazard.

 Next, just hang the leaves and clip on with clothespins! We had a problem with the clothespins being to heavy for the leaves, so you need to use larger leaves or clip several together. This is another reason to make sure the rope is taunt, it will keep the leaves from flipping. 

This can be done inside as well as a mini clothesline.. Just find a wallspace to hang it, especially if you have corkboard.

How to identify animal tracks

There is nothing quite as mysterious in a forest as finding animal tracks. What was there before you and what was the animal doing? Here is great PDF to help you identify animal tracks. This is a great way to spark some curiosity in even the most reluctant minds!

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlifemapping/handouts/animal-tracks.pdf

Another link describing in great detail all the signs that indicate an animal has passed through an area.

https://www.princeton.edu/~oa/nature/tracking.shtml

Frame Some Art by Nature

Make a work of art from natural materials! These empty frames are simply placed on cement, then the kids fill them in with their designs. No glue or mess, but they won't last forever...you will need to "live in the moment" and enjoy them. The works of art can be taken apart when done and re-used again and again. Great recycling!

Where do animals go in the winter?

Part of what makes spring fun is seeing all of our favorite animals return to the forest and our neighborhood. I found a great website that explains hibernation, migration, and winter survival techniques of local animals:

http://www.exploringnature.org/db/detail.php?dbID=5&detID=2280

It is clearly written and very well done with pictures, too!

Getting Your Child Ready for Springtime Mud

The Midwest was flooded this past week with water absolutely everywhere. A few days later, I had nearly forgotten about all the rain until I went to visit our favorite nearby forest preserve and found our usual trail under 2 feet of water!

Luckily, I had predicted that there would be mud...just not knee-height wading water, and packed our rain gear. I purchased a Tuffo Muddy Buddy suit for my toddler so she could really get into the environment and not worry about getting dirty, chilly, or wet. Tuffo Muddy Buddy Waterproof Coveralls (Google Affiliate Ad)

I'll have to say I felt pretty silly buying it at first, but I really believe in playing outside in all types of weather, so I thought I should put my money where my mouth is a properly gear my tot up. The suite is around $30.

I also bought a pair of just plain rainpaints by IPlay, which we keep in my purse for impromptu fountain visits, strolls on muddy paths, or crawling in damp areas. The Muddy Buddy Tuffo suit I usually take on planned outings. I really like these rain paints as they are very light, comfy, and breathable. Not at all like the vinyl ones I had and hated growing up. I've only had them a month, and I've already washed them 5 times. They are a great investment for explorative play! I Play. Solid Waterproof Rain Pants - Toddler (Google Affiliate Ad)

We also got a pair of kids' golashes at the thrift store for $2. The Tuffo Suit has bunched elastic at the ankles so I was able to seal her feet in. Below, she is up to her knees in rainwater and not a single sock got wet!

Tuffo Muddy Buddy Suit Size 18 months on a 17 month old

Toddlers love mud!

My toddler absolutely loved stepping on the new, slippery surface. She enjoyed the muddy surfaces just as much as the flooded surfaces. It seems like it would be a nightmare to do laundry afterwards, but it wasn't. I only had to rinse off her suit. The rest of the clothes were untouched by mud.

Quiet Nature Time Everyday for Mental Health

Try this with your child whenever you can, even if you have a toddler or baby! Find a quiet place to sit or lay down. We use garden kneeling pads, it simulates "storytime" at the library and signals to the child that it is time to "do something." Wear a watch.

Have your child close their eyes, take a deep breath and exhale. Tell them that you will be closing your eyes and listening to the world around you for a set a amount of time (I start with 30 seconds for the first time regardless of age, and aim to build up to one minute with toddlers.) Now, listen to the sounds around you. Make sure you do this with them, too! After the designated time is up, you can talk about what they heard. At first they will probably say "people talking, cars beeping, or music playing." With practice and time, they will learn to drown these artificial noises out to hear the more natural noises, such as the leaves blowing in the wind or birds chirping.

Another version, if you are in a forest or other natural place is to do nature observations. This can even be in your yard or local park early in the morning when it is quiet. Find a spot to lay or sit. Lay for at least 5 minutes and watch the same area. After time passes, children may see changes in the setting, including birds flying, insects crawling and trees swaying. This is particularly therapeutic for eyes that have been trained too much on tv and phone screens.

Find a serene, natural view for observation, whether it be in a forest preserve or local park.

The sky provides great opportunity for observation. Nothing can seem more mystical or get a pair of eyes lost better than a grand set of tree limbs.

And who doesn't love cloud gazing one imagining what shapes the clouds could be!?

Even the smallest eyes can benefit from some quiet time with their parent watching the natural world. You may think, "oh, my toddler will never sit still!" Give it a little time and set an example, and they will be more likely to follow your lead!

The grass in your backyard may just seem like a jungle if you look closely enough at ground level.

Bare patches amongst a grassy area can provide some very interesting observation if you look closely. A variety of weeds usually inhabitant these sorts of spaces, bringing with it lots of bugs and flowers, too!