Nature Walks and Outdoor Exploration

Now that the weather has been getting nicer, we've been taking the kids on nature walks.  My little scientists love exploring all things big and small in the great outdoors.  I put together little explorer backpacks for them:

Each backpack includes binoculars (although they typically wear these around their necks, not in the backpack), a bug catcher, tweezers, a clear plastic jar for collecting specimens, a magnifying glass, and a mini clipboard with a piece of paper and marker (for drawing pictures of things they observe). 

Last weekend we looked at a lot of things with the magnifying glass, including various plants, flowers, seeds, rocks, and tree bark.  We observed beetles running around on the ground, and birds gathering in a tree.  We even found some animal footprints.

Continuing with our science curriculum, Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding, we discuss the difference between living and non-living things, which items are man-made and which are found in nature, and animal classification (birds, insects, etc..).  The girls absolutely love learning about nature, and could probably spend hours examining every little leaf if they didn't have an impatient baby brother who wants to keep moving.

I'm looking forward to many more outdoor excursions this summer.