Nature Crafts : Does it Belong in Nature?

Fall is the perfect time for nature walks, and while there are lots of nature scavenger hunt ideas out there, one thing that’s not always on the list, but which you’re likely to find, is garbage.

I love the approach of asking if something belongs in nature when you see trash on a nature walk, and teaching kids to pick up and remove those things that don’t belong in nature.

Rain or Shine Mama takes it a step further with her does it belong in nature scavenger hunt, in which she distributes things that don’t belong in nature around a space for kids to collect.

It’s an easy way to get kids observing and looking out for trash in the environment, and it can lead to questions such as where does trash go and what can we do to help take care of nature.

Learn more at Rain or Shine Mama.

[Photo: Rain or Shine Mama.]

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Celebrate Earth Day with Kids

I’m in deep denial about the fact that new year is almost upon us again! It’s been the fastest and the longest year at the same time, and I can look back and see some good things as well as some things I wish had gone differently.

Doing a year in review with your kids — whether in the classroom or at home — is a good way to capture some of their memories and the things they really liked about the year gone by.

There are a lot of different printable year in review worksheets you can use if you want to make this super easy. Here are links to a few (often part of larger posts about NYE celebrations with kids that are worth a read, too):

Teach Beside Me has lots of fun printables fro the end of the year, including a year in review that covers favorite memory, funniest memory and the best book they read, among other topics.
NurtureStore‘s version has space for a self-portrait and prompts like favorite toy, best day out this year and future dream job.
Remember favorites, their “best idea” of the year and have room for setting goals for next year with this one from The Keele Deal.
The year in review from Yes We Made This has room for drawing or writing and includes things like something they learned, a memory they made and a place they visited.

Of course you could pretty easily make your own year in review for the whole family to do that asks questions based on what you most want to remember. (Favorite video game? Best friend? Favorite family memory?)

And if after the year in review you’re ready to look ahead a bit, Mrs. Merry has new year’s resolution printables to inspired kids to look ahead and set goals for things they want to try. You can totally fill this one out as a grownup, too.

[Photo: Mrs. Merry]

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