new for us friday: dinosaur train –the movie! We’ve done a whole lot of new-for-us things this summer, but with the excitement of our Smart Summer Challenge, I’ve hardly had time to …Read morenew for us friday: dinosaur train –the movie!
learning during read-alouds: making predictions When my family visited our local butterfly garden a few weeks ago, none of us could have predicted that one of the beautiful creatures would have …Read morelearning during read-alouds: making predictions
learning about the moon: phases, facts, flipbook, cookies We celebrated the moon today, in little ways that kept Maddy, Owen, and Cora interested after lunch and before the rest of our day. Thanks to some …Read morelearning about the moon: phases, facts, flipbook, cookies
easy, frugal, backyard water fun It’s H-O-T. Hot, hot, Hot with a capital ‘H’. I know I’ve been a total complainer, but I really don’t care. So …Read moreeasy, frugal, backyard water fun
how to teach kids to search the web: read, research, evaluate We see the same beautiful apple tree every time we walk to or from the pool. And we often talk about how beautiful the tree is and how much we love …Read morehow to teach kids to search the web: read, research, evaluate
backyard fun: dissecting, examining, and learning about flowers Dissecting flowers–totally pulling them apart–is a little bit funny for some kids. At least it was for mine. We tell them they …Read morebackyard fun: dissecting, examining, and learning about flowers
backyard science: our very own baby house wrens We have fallen hard over here for four sweet, tiny babies–four chirping, tweeting, insect-eating, feathered friends–little house …Read morebackyard science: our very own baby house wrens
outside fun: park explorer playkits Today you can find me on PBS Parents sharing an absolutely awesome, incredibly fun outdoor activity: Park Explorer Playkits. Park Explorer Playkits …Read moreoutside fun: park explorer playkits
how to teach kids where in the world they live For a long time now, I’ve realized that Maddy, Owen, and Cora have no idea where they live. Sure, they get that they live in Maryland and their …Read morehow to teach kids where in the world they live
happy july 4th flag cake (gloriously gluten-free!) The Happy 4th of July Flag Cake is one of our favorite family traditions. And though I know that I could whip that puppy out in no time flat, …Read morehappy july 4th flag cake (gloriously gluten-free!)
how kids can–and should–help with gardening It’s been a different kind of weekend over here; our littlest one has been under the weather for the greater part of the last four days, and the …Read morehow kids can–and should–help with gardening
new for us friday: ugli fruit We have a new grocery store in our neck of the woods–woo-hoo!–and it has a rockin’ fruit and veggie department. Owen, Cora, and I …Read morenew for us friday: ugli fruit
homemade st. patrick’s day shamrocks These St. Patty’s Day ‘stained glass’ shamrocks are lucky-for-us because we’re the lucky …Read morehomemade st. patrick’s day shamrocks
how to have some fun with leftover candy canes Each year, we end up with tons of leftover candy canes after the holidays. This year, I vowed I wouldn’t allow one candy cane in our house past …Read morehow to have some fun with leftover candy canes
new for us friday: the pumpkin playdough flop I’ll be the first to admit that we’ve had our fair share of flops over here, and this week we had another one of them. It was messy. It …Read morenew for us friday: the pumpkin playdough flop
painting with candy: candy experiments (part two) Maddy, Owen, and Cora had an absolute blast performing candy experiments using their Halloween loot this week, but I think the most fun they had …Read morepainting with candy: candy experiments (part two)
playing with candy: candy experiments (part one) With three overly-tired kids and three pumpkins full of Halloween candy, I knew that I had to be extra creative if I wanted Maddy, Owen, …Read moreplaying with candy: candy experiments (part one)
non-fiction reading and real-life learning with fish We’re pet sitting for the next few days, and Maddy, Owen and Cora are loving it. Nothing cuddly or furry, but these …Read morenon-fiction reading and real-life learning with fish
just a little back yard rainbow hunt Just a big pile of leaves, flower petals, and weeds? Nope. Rainbow hunt? Yes! Yep–right in our back yard, where we’ve already hunted …Read morejust a little back yard rainbow hunt
flowers and colors, coloring flowers Part of our flower fun over the last few days involved our experiment for the Virtual Science Fair which was a lesson in backyard fragrances. But …Read moreflowers and colors, coloring flowers