Colorful and easy to use, Lego bricks have withstood the test of time because of their unlimited open-ended possibilities. Legos provide experiences for children to think in three dimensions, strengthen problem solving and support creativity no matter their age. The value of open-ended play offered by these humble bricks is not simply an enjoyable experience, engaging… Read More
Green lacewings are often an under-appreciated group of beneficial insects, and they are so valuable for pest management. Their contribution to insect control quite is immense! As soon as the green lacewing’s eggs hatch, the hungry larvae will eat aphids, mealybugs, scale, spider mites, thrips, whiteflies and other slow moving insects. So, I decided that our… Read More
“Mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas.” Albert Einstein Since we all want to help our children learn math, it is often tempting to say, “The way you solved that problem was great, but now let me show you a faster way.” The most important thing to remember when engaging your children… Read More
Too often we give children the answers to remember rather the problems to solve. No matter the ages of your children, mathematical concepts can be shared and explored. Most of the math activities, puzzles, games that I share, intentionally do not fit into a grade-level pigeonholes. Experience math concepts through play. *************** Matchstick Puzzle There are… Read More
“Forest Has a Song” offers an opportunity to combine our love of natural places with poetry. Consider using this dear book as a springboard for writing a Mask Poem with your children. A mask poem is one that is written from the point of view of an animal, an object or even a person. Honor a… Read More
I’d like to introduce you to a sweet book. SUMMER AN ALPHABET ACROSTIC It contains twenty-six poems, alphabetically arranged. Each reveals a playful acrostic when read vertically, and each is accompanied by a wonderful woodcut illustration. Written by Steven Schnur Illustrated by Leslie Evans Here are two pages from SUMMER \ And finally, “Z” – Z-O-D-I-A-C Zigzag… Read More
