Nature Study: Take a Hike! with Poetry & Scriptures

The signs and beauty of spring have now come and gone.  Symbolizing the motion of the ever changing seasons and life that moves right along with them.  We were able to savor some of these budding spring moments back in April on a short hike through our city park area.  


We have found our Nature Study time is a great time to study poetry, scripture and hymns.  I typically ask the kids to copy a poem in their Nature Study Notebook, or give them a copy of a poem to read under a tree, or simply sing praise songs together while hiking.  When we are sketching and observing God's creation, it just seems like the time to reflect, praise and pray.  Poems, hymns and scripture have continually helped us remained focused during our Nature Study.  Focused on the One who made it all.


Below I have included some poetry selections, scriptures and hymns that would work great alongside your planned Nature Study.

Scripture:
Psalm 100:3
"Know ye that the LORD He is God: It is He that made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture." (NKJV)


Poem:

The Road Not Taken

"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, 

And sorry I could not travel both 

And be one traveler, long I stood 

And looked down one as far as I could 

To where it bent in the undergrowth; 

Then took the other, as just as fair, 

And having perhaps the better claim, 

Because it was grassy and wanted wear; 

Though as for that the passing there 

Had worn them really about the same, 

And both that morning equally lay 

In leaves no step had trodden black. 

Oh, I kept the first for another day! 

Yet knowing how way leads on to way, 

I doubted if I should ever come back. 

I shall be telling this with a sigh 

Somewhere ages and ages hence: 

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— 

I took the one less traveled by, 

And that has made all the difference."

~ Robert Frost

Scripture:
Isaiah 44:24 
"Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and He that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadth aboard the earth by Myself;" (NKJV)

Scripture:

Revelation 4:11

"You are worthy, O LORD, our God, to receive glory and honor and power.  For You created everything, and it is for Your pleasure that they exist and were created." (NLT)

Poem:

"My KING is strong and mighty,

Ever faithful and true.

The world will not shake me,

For He is always there for me and you."

~ Joyful Socks Mom

Nature Study Resources:

• The Handbook of Nature Study blog and Outdoor Hour Challenge + FOLLOW Barb's Pin Board because she is rockin' the nature study, as usual! 
• Great Nature Study Post and lovely photography at Spell Out Loud + Maureen's Nature Learning Pin Board
• Ultimate Nature Study Homeschool Cooperative Pin Board by @JimmiesCollage
• Don't forget to come follow my little ole' Nature Study Pin Board

Many blessings for a safe, fun and healthy summer break!

Happy Homeschooling!

The Joyful Socks Mom

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Natural Play: The Hair Care Tray

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Today, we are bringing you a new, and quite necessary learning tray.  The Bug and I left the kitchen for more pressing Personal Care matters.  Mr. Big Daddy Mac, the Bug's papa, has been unhappy most recently at our child's lack of hair washing abilities.  The Bug is equally discontented.  She does not want Daddy to wash her hair, "He's not good with the soap, Mom."  Whilst Mr. Mac's complaint is, "She is old enough to do it herself."  Time for some conflict resolution betwixt father and daughter, Answer:  Super mom and her Tray to the rescue.

Hair Care can tend to be an enormous task in our home . . .Okay, perhaps not enormous as some - like my friend Smockity Frocks with 6 girls who require hair maintenance.  Let's just say our process in caring for our hair may be a little bit looooonger a process than others.  Long hair x 3 Ladies = Lots of vacuuming!

Materials Needed:

Shampoo and Conditioner (if you use it, we don't)
Comb
Brush
Hair styling products (if you use, we don't)
Hair clips, barrettes, headbands, etc.
Blow dryer

Here the Squeaker is demonstrating brushing for the Bug.  See how helpful older kids can be? ; )

Instructions:

1.  Teach your child dry brushing techniques first.  We teach the following: Brushing from the top to bottom, Counting to 100 while brushing hair, Brush hair with head pointed down from the nape of the neck to brush out dirt and particles, How to part hair while dry.

2.  Explain the shampooing process in your home.  Example:  Wet hair, Shampoo, Rinse, Repeat  . . .   Use clear, easy to follow instructions.  Try to make this process less than 4 steps, using points of reference that are age-appropriate.  Example: "Pour a quarter-sized amount of shampoo into your hand."

3.  Now your ready to let them hop in the shower and give it a try.  Great time to review shower safety!

4.  Teach the wet hair parting and brushing method.

5.  Explain and demonstrate how to dry hair.  We did not set her free on this task, but if your child is ready for this responsibility then go for it.

6.  Finally explain a hair style that the child can fix on their own.  The Squeaker demonstrated the sideways braid and the Bug was able to duplicate this.  

Now, everyone is happy . . . for now anyway.  : )

  

Have some fun banging hair ladies!

Happy Homeschooling!

The Joyful Socks Mom    


Where we are at:
Homeschool on the Cheap 

Natural Play Day: The Lemonade Tray

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Natural play is more than just reaching for unfinished wooden blocks or a play-silk, in my humble and NOT-so-professional opinion.  For our family, it is a method of teaching. It is a way of life.  It is taking responsibility for your own child with intentional parenting, as you equip them with all they need to know.  Taking hold of all that God has provided our family with and being content.

The application of this method, of course, will vary in each home, but essentially our method is the same.  Natural play means using the daily routine and rhythm of each God-given day in your home, to help instruct our children.

We proudly present "THE TRAY".  This is a simple way of presenting daily work and personal care instruction to your child at home.  We began with this tray . . . Okay, I know lemonade is not considered "essential" in most homes, but this is TEXAS and it gets hot.  It is essential in TEXAS!

MATERIALS NEEDED:
Tray (obviously)
Lemons
Raw Sugar
Spoon
Knife (age appropriate - if your child is small, cut the lemons with them or have the lemons already cut)
Cutting Board
Measuring Cup (1/2 cup)
Small Juicer
Pitcher

INSTRUCTIONS 
Give verbal and visual instruction according to your child's developmental abilities.
Example: The Bug is 8 years old and has some experience in the kitchen.  She can work with a knife, but not independently.  I also only give her two or three step instructions and wait with her to complete them before giving her the next set of instructions.

1.  Clean your work surface.  Give child appropriate house cleaning materials.  The Bug is cleaning with vinegar and water solution.

Loving her choice of wardrobe on this particular day.

2.  Wash your hands.

3.  Listen to instruction from parent and then repeat instructions.

4.  Prepare Lemonade.  Cut lemons in half, if not already provided.

She loves when she is trusted with big responsibilities.  Look at that grin.

5.  Squeeze Lemons

6.  Pour Lemon juice into pitcher.

7.  Pour in desired sugar.  (Desired amount may differ from child to child . . .parental digression is advised. *wink*)

8.  Stir lemonade.

9.  Clean work space and put away ingredients.

10.  Enjoy lemonade sharing!

We are including at least 3 trays per week for the Bug.  Her older sister, The Squeaker, is 13 and enjoys preparing these activities with Mommy, so that helps a ton.  We are using these lessons to help our children connect with God and bring Him glory through work and learning to love the work they are called to by God.  Does she look joyful?  I think so.

What tray would you like to see next?  Leave some comments for upcoming posts.  Thanks!


The Joyful Socks Mom  


Where We Are At:
Homeschool on the Cheap!

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Natural Play: Re-Purposed Play-set Woodlands

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We have hit some Yard Sales recently and have been coming away with a few essentials (okay, and probably a few totally NON-essentials) to finish some projects in our Natural Play area.  We decided that a Woodland theme would be a fun and easy addition to our collection.  Here is what we re-purposed from around the house:

• Big Daddy (the Bug's amazing daddy) cut some more natural logs for us.  He cut a nice large slice and a few smaller disks.  We were in charge of sanding, which is a great handy work item for any 8 year old . . . even the prim and proper girly kind!
• We inherited some wooden animals and landscape crafting items from our lovely next-door neighbor, who is retired and trying to lighten her load of crafts.  Maybe I should consider that?  NO WAY! We received: the owl, the rabbit, the goose-looking animal{please comment if you have any clue what strange avian-type animal this is, we like to be in the know} , the miniature toadstools and the miniature nest.
• Searched out and found a couple of pine cones for our owl to perch on, from our local obliging park.  (I do clip the sharp points off with the garden sheers before handing them over for playtime - just to clarify)   ; )
• I also re-purposed a material gift bag from Hanukkah to hold it all nice and tight.

Here are the things we added from the "outside" sources:

• Found a ton of old silk leaves and fall-like flowers to add to our landscape $0.75 @ Resale shop.
• Bag of green decorating gems. $1.00 @ Dollar Tree
• Purchased another bag of decorator rocks for good measure.  Solid! @ $1.00 Dollar Tree
• Nice basket for storage. $1.00 @ Dollar Tree

Total for our Seaside Re-purposed Play-set?  $3.75 plus tax!
If anyone is keeping score (which I doubt) . . .  swish, nothing but net!  That's a record baby.

How are your Natural Play days going?  What is in your Natural Play baskets?  Leave your comments below to share in the creativity!

Happy Rowing All!

The Joyful Socks Mom 

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P.S.  We have a HUGE little announcement coming up!  Be sure to subscribe to this blog via email so you won't miss the BIG small news! : )

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Natural Play: Re-purposed Play - At the Seaside!

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The quest to provide natural play options for my kid continues . . .

With the Spring well on it's way and my thoughts towards "re-purposing" in full force, I continue my quest, keeping my budget in mind of course, to provide the Bug with natural and imaginative playing options.  I feel like a crusader!  I have set my sights set to Yard Sales and Resale Shops in order quench my thirst to "re-purpose", stay within budget and create fabulous play options for the Bug.

First, let me start with what is already available to us.
We are starting with a Seaside theme . . . frankly, because we it was the largest theme we already had on-hand.  Here is what we re-purposed from around the house:

• We found lots of shells around the house, where they came from?  Who knows?  The imagination soars.  Galveston.  Florida.  Philippines.  Fiji?
• Searching through the bucket-o-animals proved to be useful.  We found a starfish, sea turtle and a crab.
• Clipped pictures from magazines of the seaside and ocean animals.
• We ran down to the city beach to grab some sand.  Then we cleaned the sand and dried it out for use.
• We searched through books we already had on hand and added them to the bag.
• Throw in a pair of stylish (or maybe not so stylish) sunglasses.  

Here are the things we added from the yard sales and resale shops:

• More ocean "clown-fish" looking toys. $1.00 @ Dollar Tree
• Wooden bowl. $2.00 @ Yard Sale
• Sand dollars. $1.00 @ Dollar Tree
• Blue marbles and decorative beads for water. $1.00 @ Dollar Tree
• Old sailing ship statue. $1.25 @ local resale shop
• Nice basket for storage. $1.25 @ local resale shop

Total for our Seaside Re-purposed Play-set?  $7.50

What do you think?  What else could we add to this Play-set?  What theme should we "re-purpose" next?

Happy Homeschooling

The Joyful Socks Mom  


Where we are at:

Here's more Seaside Themed items:


      

Frugal Living: Natural Play on a Dime!

As promised, we have completed filling the Bug's Natural Play area with fun and engaging toys that will keep her time filled with imaginative play and education.  Now, that might sound like a tall order, but it was much simpler than you would think.  I did not spend hours crafting.  I did not spend hundreds of dollars (you guys know me better than that, don't you?)  What I did do, was look at the resources we had on hand.  I took some time at thrift shops and yard sales to look for a few odds and ends.  We used my husband and his handy-dandy shop to fill a few requests from the Bug.  We set some ground rules for her new Natural Play area, and there you go.

I ended up only purchasing only a few separate items for her play area.  Total for the entire revamping of the Bug's toys?  $12 Total!  Natural Play without breaking the bank or breaking Mommy's back!

What's in the Natural Play baskets?  Clockwise from top:

• Tea Time basket - This is actually an older set that has been up on the shelf.  Since moving to the Natural Play area it has seen far more action.  We use this together at least two times each week for "Mommy and Me" teatime.
• Seaside basket - I spent a little extra funds on this basket.  I purchase a bag of nice shells at Big Lots for $6.00, adding to them with various shells we collected last summer at Galveston beach.
• Forest basket - I purchased some nice smooth rocks at the Dollar Tree . . . you guessed it, $1.00.  I had some feathers, pin cones (from the local park), some paper and fabric flowers already on hand from my craft supply cabinet.  The felt owl was a gift from Mr. Fix-It, one of my Co-op students.
• This is a partial shot of the Bug's exclusive Natural Play space.  It is actually a space that is part of our homeschool area in the living room.
• Food and Kitchen basket - This basket features a few items we already had around the house.  I would really like to add some wooden and felted foods to this basket, but that is for another time.  The Bug had a wooden pedestal and mortar which is perfect for mimicking kitchen action.  I gave her a salt shaker (full of salt but with a cotton ball stopper) left over from a sensory bucket we did in the Fall.  Then a few simple fun things like: a plastic apple, chopsticks, cinnamon sticks, small "mixing" basket and wooden sticks for mixing.
• Play "Silks" basket - Okay, this is where we did a bit of skimping.  I am not going to spend a ton of money on genuine play silks, there, I said it and it's out there.  Instead, we just went through Mommy and Great-Grandma's wide selection of handkerchiefs, bandannas, scarfs and head-coverings.  The Bug picked her favorites and we piled into a basket for her.  Done.  I like my way better than the more expensive play silk method, just saying.

What's in the Natural Play baskets?  Clockwise from top:

• Gnomes from the Bug's Woodland play basket.  We made these little cuties out of salt dough.  We used yarn and felt for hats.  We are currently working on dresses for for the little "gnome" sisters.  The big kids have been reading the Hobbit out loud.  I think she has been inspired to create many "shire" like play scenes using these as her hobbits.
• This is a little inspiration display that we created together.  It sits just above her play area.  The old photo is a picture of her daddy when he was a little boy with her grandfather (his daddy).
• Wood baskets: The Bug has several different wood block baskets.  Hey, her dad is a carpenter so this is an area of plenty!  He cut the round blocks out of natural wood and left the bark.  I don't know how he hollowed the wood, but she LOVES to use this in play.  I've seen it become a bird house, a gnome home, Bilbo Baggin's home, a casserole dish, a secret hiding place . . . and the list goes on.
• Wood figures from her Woodland play basket.
• Woodland play basket:  This is the basket that holds the hodgepodge of her woodland characters.
• This selection of woodland play came from all over.  The figures were gifts from friends over the years.  They are old ornaments that I took the hooks off of  and re-purposed them as woodland angels.  The little decorated drift wood was given to her by our neighbors, who are surrogate grandparents.  The wife used to craft these little items.  She gave a finished one to the Bug and she also inherited all the craft goodies that went into making these.  Nice!  
•  More Wood play baskets: Here are more blocks.  Yes, there is a basket full of old Jenga blocks that I got at a yard sale for $0.75.  They work great for all the many things she needs to build.  She doesn't seem to mind that they say Jenga on the side either.
• Accessory basket: This is where the Bug stores all the Salt Dough goodies that we made for her.  Plates, flatware, food, trees, toadstools, etc.  This only took an evening of family fun to create and everyone had fun chipping in.  Cost?  The salt, water, oil and flour that we already had on-hand.

So, there you have it.  Not exactly organic, but as natural as we are going to get on a tight-budget.  It has made for one happy little girl, which is part of the point!

Happy homeschooling,

aka The Joyful Socks Mom

www.TheMacRak.com

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