I hate to cancel hikes just because it’s raining. So, on Saturday, November 12, we left for our hike to Blue Mound State Park despite a wet forecast. As predicted, it poured on our way there. But by the time we got there, the rain stopped. Perfect. Temps were in the 50s and it was […]
Damp Day Delight: Stone tools and why I hate to cancel trips Read More »
Kids love a good scare, especially a fun scare. We all got our screams out on Saturday night when 30 kids – yes 30 kids — and lots of adults from Goodman Community Center went to the Haunted Hayride at MacKenzie Environmental Center in Poynette. The kids were very excited and the night was perfect-mild
Haunted Hayride: The Joy of Fright Read More »
Q: What kind of tree has no money? A: A Burr Oak. (say it out loud if you don’t get it.) I learned this joke yesterday from a fourth grader when I was giving a guided tour of a tall grass prairie at Schumacher Farm County Park. I shared it with his class and they
Prairie Humor: Joke reveals African-American history Read More »
With Halloween right around the corner, it’s important to remember that nature can be scary for kids. The heart of the Pheasant Branch Creek Nature Preserve in Middleton is a huge spring. Water boils up from the ground and looks like a cauldron of boiling water and sand. The spring intrigued the K-5th grade kids
Bubble bubble toil and trouble: Dealing with fear Read More »
Old Fashioned Threshing at the Rock County Thresheree Talk about getting kids outside. For farm kids, being outside is a way of life. I was reminded of this over Labor Day weekend, when I attended the Rock River Thresheree in Edgerton, Wisconsin. The Thresheree is an agricultural festival where proud owners show off their finely-tuned
Farming: When Getting Kids Outside Was a Way of Life Read More »
It’s hot and no one in child care goes outside in this kind of heat. It’s just not safe. Q: So, what do you do with all those kids inside? A: Treat it like a rainy day. We made tin foil sculptures and played in the gym, watched a video about dinosaurs, went to swimming
Hot, Hot and Hotter: What to do when it’s too hot to go outside! Read More »
Bubble art takes many forms. More than I could imagine. So I learned on Saturday, July 31 when more than 25 kids, parents and adults showed up at Meadowridge Library to play with bubbles. The concept is simple. Just blow bubbles (colored with food coloring) on to paper. When the bubble pops, it leaves the
Bubble Art: Creative & Colorful Fun for all Ages Read More »
Next time you’re at the beach, notice the kids digging in the sand. Very likely, these kids are the next generation of engineers, geologists, road builders, artists and chefs. Creative play flourishes at the beach. Just watch. The engineers, road builders and mechanics build elaborate river systems, dikes, canals and cities. The geologists experiment with
The Beach: Engineer and Artist Training Ground Read More »
Devil’s Lake is beautiful, but it can also be dangerous. So, it was with a healthy dose of caution that I took 9 kids on a 2.5 mile hike. We went up the East Bluff Trail, down the Balanced Rock Trail, and then back to the North Shore along the railroad tracks. It’s a classic
Devil’s Lake: Danger, Turkey Vultures & 2 Billion Year Old Rocks Read More »
Friday we had insect club with 15 Kindergarten and first graders. The plan was to have the kids dig pitfall traps and then hunt for insects. We did both of these things, but the outcomes were different than expected. I’ll make some observations and then suggest changes for the next outing. Observation One: Kids love
Insect Safari with Kindergarten and 1st graders: Notes and Tips Read More »
