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Not long ago, I introduced you to our way of {hopefully} solving the homeschool winter blues – Exploration Station!
It’s just the idea of a ‘learning corner’ — setting out materials for the children to explore and play with. Last week I decided to focus on our winter nature table, which was practically bare with just a few pinecones (ahem).
So, after a general math Exploration Station, this one focused on trees and winter!
Again I set out everything on trays, and offered the idea of making snowy trees out of the materials. Then I basically left my boys (ages 4 and 8) alone to do the making.
While they worked away, I offered a tidbit here & there on evergreens. I kept having remind myself this was NOT a unit study — just exploration! 🙂
What I set out on trays:
- Crayola’s terra cotta air-drying clay
- evergreen branches from our backyard
- ModPodge for glue, paint brushes
- white and silver glitter
- scissors for trimming branches
Last year I used Swagbucks to purchase the trays on Amazon. These are handy not only in our schooling and Montessori-style learning times, but also for taking food outdoors!
By the way…
If you’re interested in a great ready-to-go study on trees, check out Amanda Bennett’s Tremendous Trees unit study — we’ve used it before and it’s fabulous!
The boys added white and brown felt pieces to create the scene (the brown was also used in our Going on a Bear Hunt unit last year) and then stretched out cotton balls for ‘snow’.
Throughout the week, various animal figures have appeared; I encouraged my 2nd grader to double-check if these animals would be found outdoors in the winter.
A few rocks and pinecones were added, and this completed our winter nature table for this season!
So um yeah…it was an itty-bitty-very-small study on trees, animals and winter. Shhhh…..
posted linked to Collage Friday
Suh a wonderful activity. I love your material choices too. Thank you for sharing. Pinned to my winter board.
Thank you Heather – appreciate you stopping by!
how fun. Found you over at Homegrown Learners. Love your learning going on! Blessings to your weekend.
So pretty!!