So, I talked a little about some of the things the kids have lost since making the decision to leave public school. Now it's time to talk about what they've gained!
1. Curiosity. True, they've always been curious little critters, but my kids have exploded with curiosity since being "deschooled." They question everything- how the world works, why people act the way they do, how stores and companies operate, everything about nature, space, cooking... I could go on and on! They love to have discussions, to ask questions, and to find answers.
2. Time. They now have time to explore their interests. Time has become their friend, rather than the enemy. They have tons and tons of free time to figure out what they want to do, and to cultivate these interests.
3. Love of reading. Prior to homeschooling, my kids were averse to reading. I was devastated- how could I possibly have kids that didn't love to read? I started reading young and my childhood was filled with books. I wanted that for my kids, too, but they viewed reading as a chore, another useless school task to dread. They loved being read to when they were young, and they eagerly dove into learning to read. But mandatory reading logs, book reports, etc. took away the joy. After they stopped going to school, reading became one of their favorite pastimes. Tyler is an avid reader. His comprehension and reading speed have increased tremendously. Jason is still struggling with his learning disabilities, but he's eager to read and never stops trying. Raina goes through periods where she reads a lot and then doesn't read as much (same as me!) But the main message here is that they no longer dread the written word... they've actually learned to enjoy reading.
4. Ability to learn in numerous ways. My boys play a lot of video games. A lot of video games, particularly in the winter. Some people (people who don't understand our process of learning) think that's all they do. And sometimes it feels like they are spending too much time on their computers or playing video games. But then I remind myself that computer/video games have evolved immensely since I was a kid. Gone are the days of moving a 2D character across the screen. Today's games incorporate map reading, history (especially weaponry, historical society, etc.), class structure, commerce, mathematical reasoning, trade, critical thinking, reading, and so much more. I'm often stunned when my boys demonstrate knowledge about something I don't remember exposing them to, only to find out they learned it while playing Runescape or World of Warcraft. And when my kids are given fairly unlimited time to play the games they want to play, they eventually get tired of what they are doing and move on to something else. My kids spend tons of time playing outside (last summer their favorite activity was playing Survivorman, modeled after the Discovery show.) They like to play games (yes, even the educational ones.) They enjoy field trips to the Museum of Science, the zoo, the aquarium, living history museums, the ocean, hiking in the woods, and just about any place I drag them out to. (And the vast majority of the time, they leave their computers without too much distress.) Chemistry experiments in the kitchen are favorite activities. We read together, from history books (the interesting ones, not the text books), science books, interesting fiction. If I come across an article online that I find interesting, I read it to the kids and we discuss it. If they are curious about something, we discuss it, and if I don't know enough about it, we research it. There are so many ways to learn, and none of the ways we choose have anything to do with a workbook. (Of course, the other night Tyler pulled out a Spanish work book that I bought him a year ago, per his request. He did 20 pages in it. Did I mention this was at 10pm? His choice!)
5. Confidence. Sure, they have moments of insecurity. (Don't we all?) But all of my children walk with their shoulders back, their heads up, ready to try the next new thing. They are fearless. If someone criticizes them, they deal with it and move on. Raina, a young teenager, loves to be social, but follows her own rules. They have a good, strong sense of right and wrong, and though they make mistakes, they are aware of their principals.
6. Ability to make mistakes. This is a big one for me. My kids have always feared making mistakes, despite my assurances that in order to learn, they had to make mistakes. I've spent a great deal of time pointing out the good things that come from mistakes. We've studied various scientists and explorers who made mistakes that turned out well. I've pointed out when I've made mistakes, and how it hasn't been horrible. They are learning that some mistakes require some reparations, and others are opportunities to keep trying until we accomplish what we wanted. Still others show us something new that we may not have known, or help us to learn in a more concrete way.
7. Effective use of resources. When we first started homeschooling, I poured a lot of money into what I thought we had to have. (Expensive books! Schooly type materials! Expensive educational programs!) We've since figured out that we can utilize the library (we LOVE inter-library loans!), Netflix, online sources (do you know how many FREE programs are out there for learning? Anything you want to learn, you can find videos, games, curriculum for. Did I mention there's a ton of it... FREE?) Nature hikes teach us a ton. The internet is truly a homeschooler's best friend. Cable tv has its uses, too. Documentaries, educational programming, news stories, OH MY! We have maps on the walls, we travel in our car (best way to learn geography!) and we keep our minds open. How's THAT for a resource?
8. Leadership. My kids come to work with me at my part time job at the Recreation Department, where I teach toddler classes. They have grown so much in their abilities to interact with young children in a positive, mentoring fashion. Each one of them is able to act as an assistant teacher when they want to. They can set up activities, clean up after art, snack, and free play, guide the children in appropriate play, read to the kids, model pro-social behavior, and entertain the children. The young kids look up to these "big kids," and that admiration fuels their self-esteem. At home, my kids love to learn how to cook, and love to be included in decision making. They are young leaders in the making. Yes, someday my kids will rule the world. ;)
9. Ability to think outside of the box. The way my kids think blows me away. The questions they ask are so intelligent, the thoughts they have are extraordinary. (Yeah, I know. Everyone thinks their kids are extraordinary.) I encourage them to think of numerous points of view in every situation, to think of different ways of solving problems. They never let me down in the thinking department.
I'm going to stop here for now, not because this is a comprehensive list, but because things are chaotic here and it's hard to focus. (Life is happening all around me, demanding my attention!)
I'll be posting more in the future.
Keep learning!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Comparing and Contrasting
Here's a little anecdote from our field trip to Mystic Aquarium in CT.
It's school vacation week, so the place is packed with families taking advantage of the time off to have some family fun. Each of my kids brought a friend, and we had a great day.
The aquarium had some "fun centers" set up, in celebration of "Bite Week." They had whale teeth, shark jaws, and fake coral reefs to explore. Most of the kids came over out of curiosity, took a quick glance, fought to play the game they had set up, then moved on to the next thing.
Not my kids.
Jason picked up the two whale teeth (from different types of whales), and declared that he wanted to compare them. He then examined them closely, turned them over in his hands, making connections and - gasp- learning! He asked a multitude of questions, which seemed to delight the staff member at the table. (Finally, he had an audience to demonstrate his knowledge!) Eventually, Jason was asking questions that the staff member didn't know the answers to, so it was time to move on.
Just another small example of learning in the real world. (He also had tons of questions at the touch tank, and got his own "hands on" lesson from the staff member over there on how best to pick up a crab.)
It's school vacation week, so the place is packed with families taking advantage of the time off to have some family fun. Each of my kids brought a friend, and we had a great day.
The aquarium had some "fun centers" set up, in celebration of "Bite Week." They had whale teeth, shark jaws, and fake coral reefs to explore. Most of the kids came over out of curiosity, took a quick glance, fought to play the game they had set up, then moved on to the next thing.
Not my kids.
Jason picked up the two whale teeth (from different types of whales), and declared that he wanted to compare them. He then examined them closely, turned them over in his hands, making connections and - gasp- learning! He asked a multitude of questions, which seemed to delight the staff member at the table. (Finally, he had an audience to demonstrate his knowledge!) Eventually, Jason was asking questions that the staff member didn't know the answers to, so it was time to move on.
Just another small example of learning in the real world. (He also had tons of questions at the touch tank, and got his own "hands on" lesson from the staff member over there on how best to pick up a crab.)
What They've Lost
Our decision to homeschool was an unexpected one. The biggest doubter in the world was me. I never dreamed of homeschooling my children. I've always been committed to public schooling, and couldn't wait to go shopping for the Back to School clothes and supplies, yearned for my opportunity to volunteer in the classroom, was excited by the very thought of attending Parent/Teacher conferences. I loved the thought of packing lunches, helping with homework, and engaging the children in our morning routines. If you had asked me if I would ever consider homeschooling, I would have laughed and told you you were crazy.
Fast forward to 2010, when not only am I homeschooling all 3 of my children (by their choice, no less!), but I am a huge advocate of this educational plan. And not only are we homeschooling, but we have evolved to being very laid back homeschoolers. We don't follow a specific curriculum, we don't sit at the table doing worksheets, and there is no chalkboard in sight. Despite wanting to be a public school teacher all my life (just ask my little sister how I used to demand that my mom make her play school with me), I have found that the best way to educate my kids is the organic way.
There are some doubters in my family. Everyone seems to understand why homeschooling my middle son is a great choice- school is simply not designed to meet his special needs. But there are some who can't understand why I would allow the other two kids, who are average to above average achievers, to "drop out of school." So this post is going to address the things my children have lost by leaving school, and what the future might look like for them.
Things They've Lost
1. Stress. My children exhibit far fewer signs of stress than they did while in school. They still experience stress in our everyday lives, but they are able to manage it better since their attention is not pulled in twenty thousand directions.
2. Pressure. This kind of goes along with the "stress" piece, but it's such a huge loss to my kids, that I wanted to give it its own section. My children put a lot of pressure on themselves to succeed, to be perfectionists, to never make mistakes. While some of this can be good for overall lifelong success, too much pressure is detrimental to their self-esteem and to their ability to sustain the "perfection." Schools inadvertently force the kids to feel pressure. From day one, they are warned that "this is an MCAS year." They are pressured to do things they don't want to do (including learning things they are not ready or willing to learn yet). They are pressured into fitting into a box that isn't made for them. (Sort of like the stepsisters mutilating their feet in order to fit into Cinderella's slippers, only this is school induced. If the kids don't fit in the box, we as a society are supposed to chop and mold them until they do fit.) Pressure to be just like everyone else.
3. Boredom. Okay, I admit it. They still get bored. But now they have the power to do something about it! Would you want to choose a career where you are forced to sit in a room with people you may not really like, doing mindless tasks that you may not want to do, all the time, with no power to change it? I know there are many in this world who have chosen this path for themselves, but "chosen" is the key word. What say do our kids have? I want my kids to know that they can choose the path they take in life- so why not start now? Boredom serves a purpose- a challenge for your mind to find ways to engage. But the boredom they experienced in school was a hopeless, sad boredom. And they've lost it.
4. Bullying. Yeah, yeah, they have each other to bully, but somehow it seems less damaging than what goes on in schools. My kids were lucky enough to have never been subjected to bullying directly, but they were witnesses to it, and more than likely would have become either bullied or the bullies at some point during their school careers. We still deal with the online bullying component, but we're able to address it and learn from it directly. Anyone who tells you that kids "need" to deal with bullying in order to live in the "real" world is fooling you. Having a damaged self-esteem (no matter which side of the bullying a child falls on) in no way prepares you for life in the real world. When we run into bullying situations with other kids at parks, etc. we are able to deal with it, and the kids have the choice to not play near or with those kids. But how do they escape it in school?
5. The need to wake up early. No longer do I have to drag them, groggy eyed and cranky, out of bed in the morning. They wake when they are ready to wake, unless we have to go someplace. (Isn't this also how things work in the "real" world?) They do come to work with me two or more days per week, so they understand the need to get up to go to work. We need to remember that kids and teens, in particular, have different sleep schedules. I believe in honoring them. I have always believed that high schools should start later (afternoon to evening, rather than morning to afternoon), in order to allow kids to get the sleep they need. My daughter thrives on being able to follow her body's natural sleep/wake cycles.
6. Busy work. We get a lot of flack from people who don't understand how my kids can possibly learn without workbooks and text books. I challenge you to think of anything you've ever learned from a workbook? And text books are notoriously boring and lack the depth needed to truly learn a subject. So do I choose these for my kids? Nope. We do have workbooks laying around that they pick up on occasion, but I can't say they learn from them. They learn from living and experiencing the real world.
7. Anxiety. No more panic because they are nervous about doing the work the "right" way. No more fear that they'll be in trouble for having to go to the bathroom too many times, or for forgetting to bring their signed reading log. Kids have so much to deal with on a daily basis to begin with. I'm so happy they don't have to experience anxiety about things that are unimportant.
8. Fear of learning. Prior to homeschooling, my kids thought "learning" and "educational" were bad words. They would visibly cringe if I uttered those words. After months and months and months of having to hide our learning in fun activities, then pointing out to them that they were indeed learning, they are finally firm members of the "learning is fun" club. They know the value of learning through experience, of hands on, tactile exploration. They willingly watch educational dvds, the Science Channel, National Geographic, and Animal Planet are on our favorite channel lists, and they never fear asking questions about something they don't yet understand. They know that learning is life long, and when they are ready to learn something, they know exactly how to do it.
9. The need for learning to occur in a classroom. One of my favorite things to do is to take the kids on field trips. I absolutely love standing in the spring sunshine at Sturbridge Village, while the kids and I are deeply engaged in learning about life in colonial times. I can't accurately describe the look of relief on their faces when I say, "boy, this sure beats sitting in a classroom, doesn't it?" The fact is, school kids are given lots and lots of facts and information. Some of them are able to show their knowledge by acing a test or for writing a good research paper. Some are never able to succeed in school, but are able to go out and learn in the real world the things they failed to learn in school. Our school day does not end at 3pm. We don't have vacations from learning, we don't take snow days off. We learn year round, every minute. Our learning does not always look like learning to an outsider, but the knowledge these children are gaining shows itself in the most perfect moments, the way a bud emerges on a tree at just the right time and with exactly the right skill.
The one thing my kids and I have learned is that learning is not something that happens passively with someone telling you things. It's something that grows inside you, that you nurture and care for, and that fills you with joy and peace and knowledge. We have lost the strict adherence to society's rules of what we need to know and the arbitrary guidelines of when we should know it. Instead, we follow our own leads, down paths we didn't know we'd explore. And the beauty of those paths is undeniable.
Fast forward to 2010, when not only am I homeschooling all 3 of my children (by their choice, no less!), but I am a huge advocate of this educational plan. And not only are we homeschooling, but we have evolved to being very laid back homeschoolers. We don't follow a specific curriculum, we don't sit at the table doing worksheets, and there is no chalkboard in sight. Despite wanting to be a public school teacher all my life (just ask my little sister how I used to demand that my mom make her play school with me), I have found that the best way to educate my kids is the organic way.
There are some doubters in my family. Everyone seems to understand why homeschooling my middle son is a great choice- school is simply not designed to meet his special needs. But there are some who can't understand why I would allow the other two kids, who are average to above average achievers, to "drop out of school." So this post is going to address the things my children have lost by leaving school, and what the future might look like for them.
Things They've Lost
1. Stress. My children exhibit far fewer signs of stress than they did while in school. They still experience stress in our everyday lives, but they are able to manage it better since their attention is not pulled in twenty thousand directions.
2. Pressure. This kind of goes along with the "stress" piece, but it's such a huge loss to my kids, that I wanted to give it its own section. My children put a lot of pressure on themselves to succeed, to be perfectionists, to never make mistakes. While some of this can be good for overall lifelong success, too much pressure is detrimental to their self-esteem and to their ability to sustain the "perfection." Schools inadvertently force the kids to feel pressure. From day one, they are warned that "this is an MCAS year." They are pressured to do things they don't want to do (including learning things they are not ready or willing to learn yet). They are pressured into fitting into a box that isn't made for them. (Sort of like the stepsisters mutilating their feet in order to fit into Cinderella's slippers, only this is school induced. If the kids don't fit in the box, we as a society are supposed to chop and mold them until they do fit.) Pressure to be just like everyone else.
3. Boredom. Okay, I admit it. They still get bored. But now they have the power to do something about it! Would you want to choose a career where you are forced to sit in a room with people you may not really like, doing mindless tasks that you may not want to do, all the time, with no power to change it? I know there are many in this world who have chosen this path for themselves, but "chosen" is the key word. What say do our kids have? I want my kids to know that they can choose the path they take in life- so why not start now? Boredom serves a purpose- a challenge for your mind to find ways to engage. But the boredom they experienced in school was a hopeless, sad boredom. And they've lost it.
4. Bullying. Yeah, yeah, they have each other to bully, but somehow it seems less damaging than what goes on in schools. My kids were lucky enough to have never been subjected to bullying directly, but they were witnesses to it, and more than likely would have become either bullied or the bullies at some point during their school careers. We still deal with the online bullying component, but we're able to address it and learn from it directly. Anyone who tells you that kids "need" to deal with bullying in order to live in the "real" world is fooling you. Having a damaged self-esteem (no matter which side of the bullying a child falls on) in no way prepares you for life in the real world. When we run into bullying situations with other kids at parks, etc. we are able to deal with it, and the kids have the choice to not play near or with those kids. But how do they escape it in school?
5. The need to wake up early. No longer do I have to drag them, groggy eyed and cranky, out of bed in the morning. They wake when they are ready to wake, unless we have to go someplace. (Isn't this also how things work in the "real" world?) They do come to work with me two or more days per week, so they understand the need to get up to go to work. We need to remember that kids and teens, in particular, have different sleep schedules. I believe in honoring them. I have always believed that high schools should start later (afternoon to evening, rather than morning to afternoon), in order to allow kids to get the sleep they need. My daughter thrives on being able to follow her body's natural sleep/wake cycles.
6. Busy work. We get a lot of flack from people who don't understand how my kids can possibly learn without workbooks and text books. I challenge you to think of anything you've ever learned from a workbook? And text books are notoriously boring and lack the depth needed to truly learn a subject. So do I choose these for my kids? Nope. We do have workbooks laying around that they pick up on occasion, but I can't say they learn from them. They learn from living and experiencing the real world.
7. Anxiety. No more panic because they are nervous about doing the work the "right" way. No more fear that they'll be in trouble for having to go to the bathroom too many times, or for forgetting to bring their signed reading log. Kids have so much to deal with on a daily basis to begin with. I'm so happy they don't have to experience anxiety about things that are unimportant.
8. Fear of learning. Prior to homeschooling, my kids thought "learning" and "educational" were bad words. They would visibly cringe if I uttered those words. After months and months and months of having to hide our learning in fun activities, then pointing out to them that they were indeed learning, they are finally firm members of the "learning is fun" club. They know the value of learning through experience, of hands on, tactile exploration. They willingly watch educational dvds, the Science Channel, National Geographic, and Animal Planet are on our favorite channel lists, and they never fear asking questions about something they don't yet understand. They know that learning is life long, and when they are ready to learn something, they know exactly how to do it.
9. The need for learning to occur in a classroom. One of my favorite things to do is to take the kids on field trips. I absolutely love standing in the spring sunshine at Sturbridge Village, while the kids and I are deeply engaged in learning about life in colonial times. I can't accurately describe the look of relief on their faces when I say, "boy, this sure beats sitting in a classroom, doesn't it?" The fact is, school kids are given lots and lots of facts and information. Some of them are able to show their knowledge by acing a test or for writing a good research paper. Some are never able to succeed in school, but are able to go out and learn in the real world the things they failed to learn in school. Our school day does not end at 3pm. We don't have vacations from learning, we don't take snow days off. We learn year round, every minute. Our learning does not always look like learning to an outsider, but the knowledge these children are gaining shows itself in the most perfect moments, the way a bud emerges on a tree at just the right time and with exactly the right skill.
The one thing my kids and I have learned is that learning is not something that happens passively with someone telling you things. It's something that grows inside you, that you nurture and care for, and that fills you with joy and peace and knowledge. We have lost the strict adherence to society's rules of what we need to know and the arbitrary guidelines of when we should know it. Instead, we follow our own leads, down paths we didn't know we'd explore. And the beauty of those paths is undeniable.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Learning with Chickens
Okay, so we've learned some surprising (to me/us, anyway), about chickens, and I thought I'd share.
1. Chickens are a great form of entertainment. If you had asked me years ago if I would ever enjoy watching chickens, I would have told you you were insane. (And maybe you are, but who am I to judge?) But nowadays I find myself spending hours sitting on a bench outside their coop, watching their antics. They are seriously better than tv! I don't spend hours every day, and by hours, I really mean an hour or two, usually with other people viewing with me, but still! They are interesting little buggers. Especially when they are being treated to a new food. If you have chickens, you know what I'm talking about, and if you don't... well, you won't understand. :)
2. Chickens are scared little wimps. Yes, they are. I understand now why people who are scared are called "chickens." They run away and chirp in fright every time I walk in their coop, even though they should know I've never hurt them and that I bring food and water. Once we're in there, they become friendly and less scared (they will come to the kids to be held and even ride around on their shoulders.) But they really are wimpy.
3. Chickens chirp without opening their mouths. Call me dumb, and yes, it physiologically makes sense, but I didn't know this. I'll bet some of you didn't, either, right?? It's pretty cute, actually. They'll come right up to the fence and chirp at you, but it doesn't look like they're talking. Weird.
4. Chickens drink a lot of water. No brainer? Maybe. But I am amazed at how much water. I guess they actually drink 2 1/2 times the amount they eat. We are constantly refilling their water. (The way they drink is really cute, too.) Do they make Gatorade for thirsty chickens?
5. Chickens are like pigs. They make a lot of mud. They eat everything in sight. And they never seem to stop eating. Seriously.
6. Chickens are like sheep. They follow the leader, and don't seem to think for themselves. If we want them to try something new (a new perch, a new food, a new water container...), we have to bring one chicken to the new item first, then the others will soon follow suit. I didn't know this about chickens.
7. It's impossible to keep grass in the chicken run. We have an outdoor section for the chickens, and the whole thing is down to bare ground. They even dig up the roots. (See #5, above.) We have to import green stuff for them to eat from other parts of the yard. (Can't let them totally free range because of the dogs and hawks and stray cats...) This gives us a great means of disposal for all the clippings around the yard, though. The chickens get so excited when they have more green stuff to eat, and feeding them lots of greens is supposed to help make their yolks yummier, too.
This list is just the "chicken behavior" kind of stuff we've learned through observation. We've learned a great deal more, too, about raising hens, building coops, food choices, egg yolks, etc.
Our girls haven't started laying eggs yet, as they are too young, but I'm excited for when they do. My kids love eggs, and I've learned that farm fresh eggs are lower in saturated fat and cholesterol, higher in beta carotene and vitamins A and E, more Omega 3's, and deeper colored yolks that taste great! Can't ask for better than that.
1. Chickens are a great form of entertainment. If you had asked me years ago if I would ever enjoy watching chickens, I would have told you you were insane. (And maybe you are, but who am I to judge?) But nowadays I find myself spending hours sitting on a bench outside their coop, watching their antics. They are seriously better than tv! I don't spend hours every day, and by hours, I really mean an hour or two, usually with other people viewing with me, but still! They are interesting little buggers. Especially when they are being treated to a new food. If you have chickens, you know what I'm talking about, and if you don't... well, you won't understand. :)
2. Chickens are scared little wimps. Yes, they are. I understand now why people who are scared are called "chickens." They run away and chirp in fright every time I walk in their coop, even though they should know I've never hurt them and that I bring food and water. Once we're in there, they become friendly and less scared (they will come to the kids to be held and even ride around on their shoulders.) But they really are wimpy.
3. Chickens chirp without opening their mouths. Call me dumb, and yes, it physiologically makes sense, but I didn't know this. I'll bet some of you didn't, either, right?? It's pretty cute, actually. They'll come right up to the fence and chirp at you, but it doesn't look like they're talking. Weird.
4. Chickens drink a lot of water. No brainer? Maybe. But I am amazed at how much water. I guess they actually drink 2 1/2 times the amount they eat. We are constantly refilling their water. (The way they drink is really cute, too.) Do they make Gatorade for thirsty chickens?
5. Chickens are like pigs. They make a lot of mud. They eat everything in sight. And they never seem to stop eating. Seriously.
6. Chickens are like sheep. They follow the leader, and don't seem to think for themselves. If we want them to try something new (a new perch, a new food, a new water container...), we have to bring one chicken to the new item first, then the others will soon follow suit. I didn't know this about chickens.
7. It's impossible to keep grass in the chicken run. We have an outdoor section for the chickens, and the whole thing is down to bare ground. They even dig up the roots. (See #5, above.) We have to import green stuff for them to eat from other parts of the yard. (Can't let them totally free range because of the dogs and hawks and stray cats...) This gives us a great means of disposal for all the clippings around the yard, though. The chickens get so excited when they have more green stuff to eat, and feeding them lots of greens is supposed to help make their yolks yummier, too.
This list is just the "chicken behavior" kind of stuff we've learned through observation. We've learned a great deal more, too, about raising hens, building coops, food choices, egg yolks, etc.
Our girls haven't started laying eggs yet, as they are too young, but I'm excited for when they do. My kids love eggs, and I've learned that farm fresh eggs are lower in saturated fat and cholesterol, higher in beta carotene and vitamins A and E, more Omega 3's, and deeper colored yolks that taste great! Can't ask for better than that.
Raising Frog Eggs
I mentioned in the last blog about how we captured some frog eggs from the pond. I may be even more excited about this than my kids!
At first, when we were exploring the pond, I noticed the small black eggs in the gelatinous blob, but didn't know exactly what they were. Luckily I had brought a book about pond life with us, and the book had pictures of frog eggs. We decided to take a few eggs (they lay about 3,000, so I thought it would be okay to borrow some for our own scientific observation...), so we scooped them into our specimen containers and brought them back to the classroom. That night (Wed. 6/17), I googled "frog eggs" and learned, with the kids, about how to best care for them, and what to expect.
When we got to class the next day (nature camp at the rec. dept.), the eggs had changed shapes (from round to oblong). Through the magnifier, the eggs were the shape of goldfish crackers. So cool! Thursday was the last day of camp, so we brought the containers of eggs home with us, along with a larger container filled with pond water and some plant life for the future tadpoles to eat.
We've had so much fun watching the eggs change, waiting with great anticipation for them to hatch. Yesterday morning we finally woke to little tadpoles swimming around the tank! There are many of them, so we'll have to put most of them back in the pond sooner than later (you're only supposed to have 6 to a gallon of water, and right now there are over 50...oops!) Raina and Tyler are camping with their father, but Jason and I put a lily pad in the tank with them, and they promptly attached themselves to the food source.
This is one of those life experiences that I really want my kids to have, and I'm thrilled that we happened upon the opportunity. Watching tadpoles turn into frogs is an educational and interesting way to pass the time. Who needs tv when we have a tank full of little emerging life to marvel at?
And don't worry- the kids all know that when the metamorphosis is complete, the frogs will have to go back to their home in their native pond. We're just helping increase the odds that they'll survive the journey, while enriching our minds in the process. :)
At first, when we were exploring the pond, I noticed the small black eggs in the gelatinous blob, but didn't know exactly what they were. Luckily I had brought a book about pond life with us, and the book had pictures of frog eggs. We decided to take a few eggs (they lay about 3,000, so I thought it would be okay to borrow some for our own scientific observation...), so we scooped them into our specimen containers and brought them back to the classroom. That night (Wed. 6/17), I googled "frog eggs" and learned, with the kids, about how to best care for them, and what to expect.
When we got to class the next day (nature camp at the rec. dept.), the eggs had changed shapes (from round to oblong). Through the magnifier, the eggs were the shape of goldfish crackers. So cool! Thursday was the last day of camp, so we brought the containers of eggs home with us, along with a larger container filled with pond water and some plant life for the future tadpoles to eat.
We've had so much fun watching the eggs change, waiting with great anticipation for them to hatch. Yesterday morning we finally woke to little tadpoles swimming around the tank! There are many of them, so we'll have to put most of them back in the pond sooner than later (you're only supposed to have 6 to a gallon of water, and right now there are over 50...oops!) Raina and Tyler are camping with their father, but Jason and I put a lily pad in the tank with them, and they promptly attached themselves to the food source.
This is one of those life experiences that I really want my kids to have, and I'm thrilled that we happened upon the opportunity. Watching tadpoles turn into frogs is an educational and interesting way to pass the time. Who needs tv when we have a tank full of little emerging life to marvel at?
And don't worry- the kids all know that when the metamorphosis is complete, the frogs will have to go back to their home in their native pond. We're just helping increase the odds that they'll survive the journey, while enriching our minds in the process. :)
Our week of Nature Camp
We just finished a week of teaching Nature Camp at the Recreation Department to preschoolers. I was sad for the week to come to an end, as we learned and accomplished so much! I'm always amazed at how eager children are to soak up any knowledge pertaining to nature, and how calm and peaceful kids are when they are allowed to "just be." And though it was a preschool class, my kids and I were able to learn and explore as well!
The first day it was raining, but we managed to get out for a mini-nature hike (dodging raindrops.) We collected some items that we found on the ground- small twigs, pine cones, acorns, pine needles, flowers, leaves. We brought them back to the classroom and, using magnifying glasses, we explored our collections, made observations, and wondered. We had inadvertently picked up a few bugs in our collection, but this led us to a conversation about respecting all life, and the important role bugs play in our lives. (I know, this part is easy for us to forget!) We played with our "pet bug" for a while before letting him out to find his family. When we were done exploring our treasures, we made nature collages, using brown and green paints mixed in with glue. They came out beautifully, and I was amazed at how long the kids spent on these two activities! Later in the day we read a book on decomposition, which really helped open a window on something we didn't often think about.
The four day camp included so many fun things- we identified trees by their leaves and bark, talked a lot about respecting all nature, explored the pond, caught a frog in the net (and promptly let him go, because he was scared), observed fish and birds and bugs, read about pond life and backyard nature, made pine cone bird feeders for the kids to bring home (with shortening and bird seed, since we can't use peanut butter in our programs), smashed open geodes, looked under rocks, went bird watching (not so easy with preschoolers, but they did well!) We even captured some frog eggs, and learned about metamorphosis. (My kids knew about the process already, but hadn't experienced it hands on.) We even took the time to smell flowers and to hug a tree!
It's my opinion that people are too hurried these days, and we hurry our kids. But kids need this time in nature; to observe and think, to wonder and imagine. And it's not just the little kids who wonder about what lives under the rocks- my kids and I had a ball exploring and discussing these things! I'm so glad that we never stop learning, because what a boring world it would be.
The first day it was raining, but we managed to get out for a mini-nature hike (dodging raindrops.) We collected some items that we found on the ground- small twigs, pine cones, acorns, pine needles, flowers, leaves. We brought them back to the classroom and, using magnifying glasses, we explored our collections, made observations, and wondered. We had inadvertently picked up a few bugs in our collection, but this led us to a conversation about respecting all life, and the important role bugs play in our lives. (I know, this part is easy for us to forget!) We played with our "pet bug" for a while before letting him out to find his family. When we were done exploring our treasures, we made nature collages, using brown and green paints mixed in with glue. They came out beautifully, and I was amazed at how long the kids spent on these two activities! Later in the day we read a book on decomposition, which really helped open a window on something we didn't often think about.
The four day camp included so many fun things- we identified trees by their leaves and bark, talked a lot about respecting all nature, explored the pond, caught a frog in the net (and promptly let him go, because he was scared), observed fish and birds and bugs, read about pond life and backyard nature, made pine cone bird feeders for the kids to bring home (with shortening and bird seed, since we can't use peanut butter in our programs), smashed open geodes, looked under rocks, went bird watching (not so easy with preschoolers, but they did well!) We even captured some frog eggs, and learned about metamorphosis. (My kids knew about the process already, but hadn't experienced it hands on.) We even took the time to smell flowers and to hug a tree!
It's my opinion that people are too hurried these days, and we hurry our kids. But kids need this time in nature; to observe and think, to wonder and imagine. And it's not just the little kids who wonder about what lives under the rocks- my kids and I had a ball exploring and discussing these things! I'm so glad that we never stop learning, because what a boring world it would be.
Upside Down Rainbow
Apparently I'm not very good at keeping up with this blogging thing. We're so busy living and learning that it's hard to find the motivation to share it all! But I do find myself thinking sometimes, "I really have to blog about this!"
One thing that was amazing in our lives recently was our experience with an upside down rainbow. Every hear about one of those? If I have heard about them, I'd forgotten.
We were driving home from work the other day, and I was chatting on the phone (I know, I know!) Tyler was saying something about a rainbow, but I assumed he meant the little rainbows that show up in the car as a reflection from a cd or something. Then Raina said, "Mom, look! There really is a rainbow!" I was thinking there was no way- there was not one drop of moisture in the air, it was noontime, and it was incredibly sunny! But I did look, and there was a rainbow! Clear as day. Not only that, but it was arcing upward, like a smile, rather than down like a frown. So I asked our friend, Jim, who I know is usually easily able to get on the computer quickly, to research it for us while we were driving. He did, and gave us some info. over the phone. Apparently, it's a rare phenomenon, and I won't go into details here (I can't do the details justice), but I do invite you to google "upside down rainbow" to read some wonderful descriptions.
As we drove away from the "rainbow," I couldn't help but marvel at the fact that my kids were able to observe this sight. Had they been trapped in a classroom, they would have missed it. And I would have, too, because it took a curious and observant child to lead me to the beauty.
One thing that was amazing in our lives recently was our experience with an upside down rainbow. Every hear about one of those? If I have heard about them, I'd forgotten.
We were driving home from work the other day, and I was chatting on the phone (I know, I know!) Tyler was saying something about a rainbow, but I assumed he meant the little rainbows that show up in the car as a reflection from a cd or something. Then Raina said, "Mom, look! There really is a rainbow!" I was thinking there was no way- there was not one drop of moisture in the air, it was noontime, and it was incredibly sunny! But I did look, and there was a rainbow! Clear as day. Not only that, but it was arcing upward, like a smile, rather than down like a frown. So I asked our friend, Jim, who I know is usually easily able to get on the computer quickly, to research it for us while we were driving. He did, and gave us some info. over the phone. Apparently, it's a rare phenomenon, and I won't go into details here (I can't do the details justice), but I do invite you to google "upside down rainbow" to read some wonderful descriptions.
As we drove away from the "rainbow," I couldn't help but marvel at the fact that my kids were able to observe this sight. Had they been trapped in a classroom, they would have missed it. And I would have, too, because it took a curious and observant child to lead me to the beauty.
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