Savage Little Learners

After bookwork, Legos, and reading, we headed outside to see what the day had in store. We spotted two hawks perched in a tree, collected hollyhock seeds, picked nectarines from a neighbor's tree, and got to stop by the little free library to find a new story. It is so amazing how a little curiosity, fresh air, and a sense of wonder can turn an ordinary afternoon into an adventure. ☀️

What's something unexpected you've discovered outdoors lately? 🔎

What are your favorite summer nature activities?
We love watching the birds, discovering new plants and fungi, and so much more. 🍄

Summer is a great time of year for exploring the natural world! There are insects out and about to observe, plants and gardens to watch grow, and warm evenings that are perfect for stargazing!

*Check out the link in the comments for more summer nature study activities and resources!

After bookwork today, we spent some time tending to our garden. Our tomatoes are finally starting to show some color, and while the stray cats got to our pumpkin plants, we're holding onto the hope that a little care will help them bounce back. 🍅🌱

Later, we walked to the park with our neighbors for a concert, where we enjoyed snacks, listened to music, and played Pop the Pig together. It is so much fun when we are learning through gardening, friendships, games, conversations, and the everyday moments that bring people and ideas together.

What activities have turned into learning opportunities for your family lately? 🌿

After lunch today, we cooled off with ice cream and painting before walking to the rose gardens. 🐞 Along the way, we found ladybugs hatching from pupa, followed a trail of goose feathers that felt like a scavenger hunt, and watched turtles race towards us when we stopped to sit by the water. And right before we started our walk home, we identified a new bird, a phainopepla! 🐦

Days like this are such a wonderful reminder that learning through life is more than just fun. A little bookwork, a little creativity, a little time outdoors, and suddenly the day is full of discoveries, exploration, and hidden connections. 🔍

What's something interesting you've discovered outside lately? 🌿

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Today, we took our cameras on our evening walk by the water and ended up finding so much more than we expected.

We watched swallows swoop and dive through the air catching insects, spotted fish in the water, found a hawk feather, and were invited by a neighbor to pick figs from his tree. During our fruit picking, our curiosity got the best of us, so we opened a few fallen figs and discovered some were tiny homes for all sorts of bugs and worms.

It's amazing how much there is to learn when we slow down, look closely, and spend time outdoors. 🌿

What have you and your little learners discovered outside?

Our evening walks are so much fun, and we've noticed more moths out than ever before. In our area, we've been seeing so many hummingbird hawk and American dagger moths. 🌼
Have you seen any creatures out on your adventures lately? Have you been able to identify any of them? 🔍
It is so much fun to connect with nature outdoors. 🐛

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Are there any skills you're looking forward to teaching, or learning, this summer? 📚

I can't wait for campfires and building fires, but until we get our equipment together, I'm enjoying my calculus adventures and sewing, while Arthur is having a blast learning about minerals and elements, outer space, and, of course, the added summer fun full of splash pads, learning to swim, and all of the amazing library events that feel like magic. 🌿

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Meet your children where they're at. No one is behind when the goal is to enjoy learning, incorporating it through play and so many other ways. ✨

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