It's that time of year again...little foragers (and even big ones) come home with bulging pockets filled with nature's treasures. What do you do with all of those beautiful shells, feathers and more? We display our favorites and then move them back outside, or give them a permanent home in our "museum". Labels help us remember, as well as identify what they are.
I find having nature guides, either in book form...
...or as wall charts, adds so much to our learning about the natural world. They also help me answer the many "whys?" and "hows?" my children ask.
Here are four of the children's nature books I use most:
-Trees, Leaves and Bark
-Tracks, Scats and Signs
-Nature Smart A Family Guide to Nature
-The Kid's Nature Book: 365 Indoor/Outdoor Activities and Experiences
In addition, Margie, from one of my favorite places: Resurrection Fern, added some of her recommendations in the comment section...go check them out!
Happy exploring!
I love this post. It brings back childhood memories of all my science collections and the little laboratory I set up in the basement. It also reminds me of all the time I have spent with my own children in the natural world rediscovering it with them and now again with my camera. Nature is the best teacher ever. I wanted to add a few of my favorite books to your list. The Curious Naturalist by John Mitchell and the Massachusetts Audubon Society, Tom Brown's Field Guide to Nature and Survival for Children by Tom Brown and Tracking and the Art of Seeing by Paul Rezendes.
ReplyDeleteSo many great suggestions for our summer reading! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you are back online and posting. I missed you!
Thanks for the info...B is just starting to ask questions..so these books are going to come in handy.
ReplyDeleteJust popped in from 'Crafty Crow' & I must say I am LOVING you Miss maya*made!
ReplyDeleteMay I add you to my link list? Xxx
Thanks everyone, hope you find the books useful..Margie has some great suggestions, too! I'm always looking for more books, so please share your favorites!
ReplyDeletepoppy & mei- I'm flattered and would be thrilled if you linked me up! I'm going to give you a visit now!
I just discovered you in the last couple of days. I stayed up late looking at all of your blog entries. You are so talented!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm in the process of trying to open a children's resale shop and I have gotten so many great ideas from the work you did for mama goose. Her store is so great!!
I also really like the grass in the buckets ideas. I think I'm going to try it!
I can't wait to read your blog and see what you come up with next~
Maya, this is great! I wish I had a bit of nature around my house. But we don't, so going out into nature means a bug plan for us. I hope we leave this city sometime between now and when we are old! But still, we could manage to have our nature shelf, I just started it yesterday. Maybe some little bits from the playground or the park nearby...
ReplyDeletewhat a cool idea. i'll definitely have to find some wall charts for our house. what a great visual for a question-laden preschooler!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the nice comment on my blog. i'm enjoying your blog as well!
Maya, this is wonderful! I just saw it this morning on Crafty Crow...some how I had missed it reading your blog through my reader. I'm working on a nature space for my little ones now, and I love your little nook shelf with the lables. I'm sure I can find something like that around here. Also, we're going to be useing an online nature study for homeschooling moms that I found last week. It's advanced for a 2 year old, but will give me some great ideas to get her going, and as she matures we'll be able to utilize it fully. You can read about it here:
ReplyDeletehttp://handbookofnaturestudy.blogspot.com/
This is really inspiring. We have a nature basket (with field guides, catch nexts, hand lenses and more), but I love the display area and the posters. My older daughter would especially love it. Now the only question is, where to put the nature area??
ReplyDeleteGreat Job Maya! A keepsake shelf for their favorites is great. How do you keep track of who's find is who's, didn't see it on the lable.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing these creative ideas. I have an old soda crate with 4 sections and was wondering what to do with it. Now I know!
ReplyDeletePeace to you,
Renae
Life Nurturing Education
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ReplyDeleteLove it. What a wonderful and inspiring way to keep all those treasures. I need something like this for my little boys.
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