PODCAST: International Mud Day

International Mud Day

Click for the PODCAST EPISODE

Click for the Blog Post

Article:

Let’s Get Messy: Exploring Sensory and Art Activities with Infants and Toddlers

By Trudi Schwarz and Julia Luckenbill

YC Young Children

Quotes:

The mud will wash off but the memories will last a lifetime. Let them play.

Some people could look at a mud puddle and see an ocean with ships. Zora Neal Hurston

The world is mud-licious and puddle wonderful. –e.e. cummings

Book Pick:

Charlie's House:  A young boy in humble circumstances in South Africa builds an even better house and car of mud and scraps after seeing his own house built. His imagination takes him on a ride in the car! Thanks for the suggestion, Tricia L. (aff link)  

Resource:

Timbernook—Angela Hanscom, Occupational Therapist

Balanced and Barefoot (aff link)

PODCAST: Loose Parts at Home

Loose Parts at Home

PODCAST EPISODE

Blog Post: Loose Parts at Home

Loose Parts Inspired Toys

Natural Treasures

Research Article:

Let the Children Play: Scoping Review on the Implementation and Use of Loose Parts for Promoting Physical Activity Participation

By: Houser Roach Stone Turner Kirk

Quote:

“Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning.”

Fred Rogers

Book Pick:

Most Magnificent Thing (aff link)

The Most Magnificent Thing is about a girl determined to make the most magnificent thing ever! She gets discouraged as it isn't working out exactly as planned. Her dog takes her for a walk and upon her return, she is refreshed and ready to keep working with her bits and parts to make the most magnificent thing! Thanks for the suggestion, Linda and Kristina!

Resource:

Montessori Restore—lovely sets for the home or classroom—beautifully and intentionally designed so the materials encourage the adults to play as well!

https://www.facebook.com/montessorirestore/

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MontessoriReStore?ref=hdr_shop_menu

PODCAST: Beginning Birding in Early Childhood

Beginning Birding in Early Childhood

PODCAST LINK! 

Beginning Bird Books and Activities--lots of great resources, such as the Audubon birds and books I mention

Make your own bird guide

Growing Up Wild--curriculum for early childhood with some birding units

Flying Wild--birding curriculum for K-12, but can be adapted to preschool

I didn't talk about this beyond dress up/dramatic play in the podcast, but these wings (aff link) have been well loved. There are several different kinds, including butterflies. There is a lot of pretending to be birds with these. 

Check your local parks and Audubon Society to learn more

Birding in Indiana and What's this Bird? Facebook groups

Merlin Bird ID App

Stanley Clark and birding project

Our Feathered Friends Preschool Birding Curriculum

Migratory Bird Treaty Act for the US—easy explanation

Cannot keep birds nests, feathers, parts of birds in the US 

Want to take better birding pictures? My 8 yo son has been taking great pictures with this Nikon CoolPix P900! (off link) Photos by Carbon Gull--he is the 4 year old who got the Identiflyer and Birds of Indiana for his birthday! His list for our birding challenge is getting longer and he asks to go out many times a week! 

ARTICLES:

Teaching and learning about birds in the early years – A few ideas to for getting started; Ann Smith 2009 Teaching Science

For the Birds

Jan. 2008, YC Young Children

Russo, Calurciello, and Kelly

QUOTE:

Everyone likes birds. What wild creature is more accessible to our eyes and ears, as close to us and everyone in the world, as universal as a bird? –David Attenborough

Book PICKS:

April Pulley Sayre

Vulture View

My review: https://insideoutsidemichiana.blogspot.com/2012/11/vulture-view.html?m=0

Find it on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2Fy0r28 (aff link)

Woodpecker Wham

My review: http://insideoutsidemichiana.blogspot.com/2015/05/woodpecker-wham-book-review.html

Find it on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2GkMwtu (aff link)

Podcast: Finding Loose Parts!

Finding Loose Parts!

PODCAST EPISODE: http://loosepartsnatureplay.libsyn.com/finding-loose-parts

15+ Ways to Find Inexpensive Loose Parts

http://insideoutsidemichiana.blogspot.com/2018/02/15-ways-to-find-inexpensive-loose-parts.html

Article:

Loose Parts in a Museum Setting Summary:

http://insideoutsidemichiana.blogspot.com/2017/09/loose-parts-in-museum-setting-article.html

Quote:

“Children learn most readily and easily in a laboratory-type environment where they can experiment, enjoy and find out things for themselves.” 

Simon Nicholson

Loose Parts Books:

http://insideoutsidemichiana.blogspot.com/2016/04/loose-parts-books.html

Rosie Revere, Engineer:

http://amzn.to/2BOFWva (aff link)

Beautiful Stuff:

http://amzn.to/2HLDy8L (aff link)

Another book we really liked is Rosie Revere, Engineer. Rosie is a girl who is always squirreling away odds and ends for her engineering projects as a young girl. I can relate to this as my 7-year-old's eyes get so big when he finds a new object to add to his stash. He most recently discovered duct tape (Thanks, Cory and Holly) and is in heaven! Rosie's aunt is Rosie the Riveter whose only regret is not flying, so Rosie the younger sets out to make a flying machine. However, the machine falls flat. 

I loved this quote on the page, "With each perfect failure, they all stand and cheer, but none quite as proudly as Rosie Revere." Rosie soon appreciated that we learn from mistakes and can use them to inform future projects. I love all the bits and baubles combined for creations.