Finding Bug Boxes for our Insect Collection

We recently found 198 insects on an impromptu bug hunt at Indiana Dunes Beach. Now I need a place to store them. I found these amazing microphone storage cases at Goodwill for $2.00 each. They close to a perfect seal (so no flies or tiny bugs can get in.) I'll still add my moth ball case for added security and prevention of infestation.

Finding Bug Boxes for our Insect Collection

I checked at the store that the cushioning is removable, which it was. I ripped out the lining - and here's what they look like.

Encouraging Learning About Nature with Sidewalk Chalk: Easy Toddler Activities

Encouraging Learning About Nature with Sidewalk Chalk: Easy Toddler Activities, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

Baby girl often asks " play with me" or "stay with me." And I'm happy to oblige. I see my 8 year old older son and I know these days are fleeting.

We love our go to staple activity of sidewalk chalk. It's easy to store, long lasting, and hours (with endless ideas for play) kind of fun.

Today baby girl asked me to draw something for her. We had just received some "new To me" hand me down books from my brother. A wonderful book was included on amphibians and reptiles. I found my favorite, red eyed tree frog, and began to draw. I asked baby girl "where's the frogs nose," "where's his tail," and "his eyes, mouth?"

Some body parts were evident, some weren't pictured. We talked about his colors, spots, features, etc. She asked to "help you" color in his body... She has the yellow parts covered!

I've learned over my time with the kids that they learn through reading and being read too, but so much of their learning is thru observation, and being immersed in conversation of "something" - in this case, a red eyed tree frog.

The proof is in the pudding - so the saying goes - a few days later baby girl was thumbing thru this same book I left laying in the kitchen table, and she told ME: "mama, this is a red eyed tree frog, here's his eye, here's his toe, he has no tail, it's gone!" She's 2 am a half 1/2 years old... And amazing!!

See more of our learning and fun at areyousureaboutthatblog.blogspot.com

Make mistakes. Breathe, reflect. And Laugh.Out.Loud

More Nature Sensory Tub Fun - Changing Rock Colors with Water

More Nature Sensory Tub Fun - Changing Rock Colors with Water, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

My daughter loves water play. Anything and everything wet us her favorite activity. One afternoon I needed to tend to the garden and she of course wanted to help. Once we decided to play with water, I remembered wanting to do this activity with her.

My sons and I have been collecting rocks, beach glass, driftwood and fossils, from our many beach visits along Lake Michigan. Yes you can access a beach in the middle of the United States! We have 3-4 nut containers full of our finds.

One fascinating aspect of these rocks is many of them change color when wet. So we explore each rock, one at a time, and guess what color it will be when it's wet. We also had some porous rocks in our collection and baby girl was guessing if it would "float or sink."

She's only two years old, but amazingly gets concepts quickly! I simply would say "look that rock sinks to the bottom." I said this several times. Then I intentional grabbed a porous stone and dropped it in the water tub, "look, this one is different! It floats!"

She was thrilled - for each rock after that we'd say "float or sink?" This initial 10 minutes of play had her interested for an additional One Hour!

I got to weed and mulch and she enjoyed playing (and learning).

Reminder: This picture looks only partially shaded. It was late afternoon and the tree shades this part of our patio completely - within 10 minutes of this photo being taken. Remember to place your water play in the shade so kids tender young skin doesn't burn. Also be cautious with the water levels in the tub / container of water. If your kid trips or falls in, even accidentally, water levels need to be considered!

Enjoy time with your kids. See more of our play and learnings at areyousureaboutthatblog.blogspot.com

Make mistakes. Breathe, reflect, and Laugh.Out.Loud

When School and Home ideas dont match, What is a mom supposed to do? Our Parent Job and Homework

My 8-year old son brought home a 3rd grade Math Worksheet. Questions about "prediction: will happen / won't happen / maybe, but I'm not sure." We check homework before returning sheets to school.

I run my house with some rules. We have etiquette rules posted, and then we have some everyday rules. For example, school age children don't watch TV during the school week. (Ever! And our kids are ok with that.) In our house TV is only allowed on weekends. 

As for the homework sheet on Likely and unlikely events,... my son selected "Sure to happen" on "¿Will you watch TV on Saturday?" I agreed.

On "¿Will you travel to the moon?" he originally answered "surely not to happen." We've talked about it before, so I reminded him of the "Mars One 2024 project" to inhabit Mars (we've discussed this often).

When School and Home ideas don't match, What's a mom to do?, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

When School and Home ideas don't match, What's a mom to do?, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

Older Son: "but Mom, there's no oxygen on Mars."

Mom: "yes, and the space explorers will create there own atmosphere. But the plan is NOT for them to return to earth either."

He pondered that thought. "Ever?"

Mom: "Never, AND as for human-space travel, we will have an excursion air-travel service to the earth's outer limits called "Zero Gravity" for $150,000 per person by 2015 (Virgin Atlantic Airlines)."

He reconsidered his answer to "maybe, but not sure." Both those answers, disappointingly, were marked wrong by the Substitute...!

My shock and horror!  (Which I kept to myself.) If you read this blog you know we are naturalists at heart and scientist in mind. We discuss facts, make deductions and apply our learnings everyday. making links to other ideas, etc., etc., etc., so I was disappointed at the narrow sightedness here.



When he came home concerned about his low grade... I needed to give home some answer why home and school answers sometimes don't match. And in this case are very different. Sometimes we have more information at home, or our deductive reasoning applied so early in the kids young lives. The substitute teacher doesn't know about our rules. But he's young, and it's too soon to jump into the education debate for him.

So I went the easy route:

Mom: "Sometimes we will have different information at home. As long as you made a logical choice, getting something wrong is ok."

Make Mistakes. Breathe, reflect. And Laugh.Out.Loud