Hi! It’s Tuesday, April 6, 2010 and time for Science at ClickSchooling!
Recommended Website:
Nature Rocks
Age Range: All (with parental supervision; non-readers will need assistance)
Bookmark this site now! Not only does it provide some of the best natural science activities and ideas I have seen to date, it’s the answer to what I endearingly refer to as HDD – Homeschool Desperation Disorder.
You’ve undoubtedly experienced HDD – it’s the anxiety and restlessness you feel on a day when things don’t go according to your homeschool plan. The kids won’t cooperate, everyone’s bored by the curriculum, the dog chews up the workbook – and you just want to do ONE educational thing that your kids will enjoy so you can relax and not feel like a total failure. (Trust me, we all suffer from this malady from time to time.)
Nature Rocks is the antidote for HDD. It’s a free “national program to inspire and empower families to play and explore in nature” so that kids of all ages “will be happier, healthier and smarter.”
Founded by the Children & Nature Network and ecoAmerica, it has been funded through partnerships with The Nature Conservancy, REI, the Flora Family Foundation, and American Camp Association.
When you get to the site, explore the menu that includes:
*Find Activities – Get dozens of free activities and nature explorations that are conveniently filtered by:
- TIME you have for the activity. Choose from 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2-3 hours, a day, or an overnight or weekend.
- LOCATION where you’d like to do the activity, for example: at home, in your backyard, in the community, or in your region.
- AGE of your child. Select infants/toddlers, 4-6 years, 6-8 years, preteens, teens, or whole family.
*Find Nature – Enter your U.S. city or zip code in the search engine and a map will highlight all of the places you can go to “get your nature on” including: aquariums, zoos, parks, wilderness, farms, lakes, rivers, beaches, and nature centers. The map also shows locations where you can bike, fish, hike, raft, swim, watch wildlife and more. It even shows you where to find camps, outfitters, nature clubs, tour guides and more!
*Connect – Join the Nature Rocks social networking clubs online to find friends locally who also enjoy nature activities, or to keep up with nature events taking place near you.
*Extras – Download your free, printable “Nature Rocks” Game.
Nature Rocks is a terrific resource you can use again and again. It earns a ClickSchooling Award for excellence!
