The final project in our three-part geology series, tailored for early elementary aged kids, is about metamorphic rocks. The focus of this experiment is to show “rocks” can change through heat, compression, and time. The “rocks” in this project are actually cookies. We made cookies, making some observations about the “minerals” (ingredients) we put intoContinue reading “Rockin’ Experiment 3: Make Metamorphic Cookies”
Silent Saturday: Trail Through Time, Rock City, Mount Diablo
Photos from a hike in Mount Diablo State Park earlier this week with my Nature Time playgroup. We hiked a section of the Trail Through Time, from the Rock City parking lot to (and up) Sentinel Rock, allowing the kids to climb and play on and in the limestone rock structures and caves as muchContinue reading “Silent Saturday: Trail Through Time, Rock City, Mount Diablo”
Rockin’ Experiment 2: Make a Sedimentary Sandwich
This the second in our three-part exploration of rocks. I’m teaching my 5-year-old about the three kinds of rocks (igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic), what they are made of, and how they are created. All three science experiments are being conducted in the kitchen. Today, we’re learning about sedimentary rocks. *** First, discuss with your childContinue reading “Rockin’ Experiment 2: Make a Sedimentary Sandwich”
Rockin’ Experiment 1: A Lava-licious Igneous Meltdown
I found each of the experiments in this three-part geology series for young kids in the book, Kindergarten Success, by Jill Frankel Hauser. The first, from the book, is “Igneous Meltdown”, an exploration in how magma (rock melted deep in the earth from heat and pressure) flows out of the earth as lava, which, asContinue reading “Rockin’ Experiment 1: A Lava-licious Igneous Meltdown”
It’s Earth Science Week!
Earth Science Week is going on right now, this week, October 14th-20th. This international “event” is put on by the American Geosciences Institute (AGI) “to help the public gain a better understanding and appreciation for the Earth Sciences and to encourage stewardship of the Earth.” Sounds like a great time to teach our kids aContinue reading “It’s Earth Science Week!”
Devils Postpile National Monument
If you’re ever in the Eastern Sierras near Mammoth Lakes, you’ve gotta check out Devils Postpile. This place is incredible, and unlike anywhere else I’ve visited in California. The only other place I can personally compare it to is the Giants Causeway in Northern Ireland. Both places have these fascinating basalt hexagonal columns. You haveContinue reading “Devils Postpile National Monument”
A Fall Tradition: Corn Picking
For more information about the festival, see my post… This Weekend! Harvest Festival, Ardenwood Historic Farm
Silent Saturday: Minaret Vista
I love to watch my son enjoy a beautiful view… The Minaret Vista is a short drive from Mammoth Lakes, on the road to Devils Postpile. From here, you have wonderful views of the Minarets (the jagged, toothy peaks in the 2nd photo), Mount Ritter (13,157 ft), and Banner Peak (12,945 ft).
This Weekend! Harvest Festival, Ardenwood Historic Farm
Another of our favorite festivals is coming up this weekend… the Harvest Festival at Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont. This is such a fun festival for kids! The highlight of this event for us is the corn picking. How often do kids get to head into the fields and hand-pick corn?? My son (then four)Continue reading “This Weekend! Harvest Festival, Ardenwood Historic Farm”
South Tufa Trail, Mono Lake
On Friday, during our trip to the Eastern Sierras, we enjoyed a hike on the South Tufa Trail at Mono Lake, California. This is a short, flat 1-2 mile trail, perfect for kids, with a lot to see…. fun limestone rock formations, a salt-water lake, views of the Sierra Nevada mountains to the west, ancientContinue reading “South Tufa Trail, Mono Lake”
Butterfly, The Fen, Yosemite Valley
Quite a few of these beautiful butterflies were fluttering around “The Fen” in Yosemite Valley on Saturday morning. Haven’t heard of “The Fen”? It’s one of my favorite little spots in Yosemite Valley. It’s a short boardwalk trail through a marsh. If you follow the trail from the Happy Isles shuttle stop to the NatureContinue reading “Butterfly, The Fen, Yosemite Valley”
Nature Treasure Hunt: Autumn
I ready about going on a winter treasure hunt in Clare Walker Leslie’s book, The Nature Connection, and I thought it would be a fun thing to do during the fall, too, with some slight modifications. Here’s how you do it… On a sheet of paper (one for each child if desired or one paperContinue reading “Nature Treasure Hunt: Autumn”
Fall Foliage, Rock Creek, California
Each year, for our anniversary, my husband and I celebrate with a little trip to Yosemite and/or the Eastern Sierras. One of the things we hope to see each year is the fall foliage. Sometimes we’re lucky, sometimes we’re not. This year, the display was stunning! Late last week, the colors were amazing up andContinue reading “Fall Foliage, Rock Creek, California”
Rock Art
Take a child into nature where there are rocks and watch what the child does. Either the child will pick them up and throw them or he’ll build rock statues. Photos taken Friday, October 5th, 2012, Tioga Lake, California.
Mono Lake…
IPhone photo of our son in Mono Lake yesterday, during our walk to see the tufa towers. What a beautiful day! I can’t wait to see how the photos I took on my Canon came out.
Silent Saturday: Sunol Regional Wilderness
Photos taken earlier this week during a hike to the Cerro Este Overlook in Sunol Regional Wilderness. You may also enjoy… Silent Saturday: Bishop Ranch Regional Preserve (San Ramon) Silent Saturday: Las Trampas Ridge Trail (San Ramon) Silent Saturday: Martin Canyon Creek Trail (Dublin)
Travel Theme: Foliage
At this very moment, we’re in Mammoth Lakes, California, hopefully viewing gorgeous fall foliage. Until I can return home and post about our trip, here’s what’s going on back home in the San Francisco Bay Area. The trees are just beginning to change in our neighborhood… This week, instead of participating in the WordPress WeeklyContinue reading “Travel Theme: Foliage”
Project FeederWatch
As I wrote the other day (Let’s Count Stars!), we enjoy participating in citizen science projects. It’s a fun way to contribute to scientific research and learn about science at the same time. I wrote earlier in the week about participating in the Great World Wide Star Count. Perhaps stargazing isn’t your thing, but you’dContinue reading “Project FeederWatch”
Too hot…
We met friends this afternoon for playtime at Alamo Creek Park in Dublin, but it was way too hot to play (over 100F). My son started off enthusiastically, but quickly wilted. The ducks had the right idea. But we won’t complain. It’s supposed to cool down into the 70’s by Thursday. How’d we manage theContinue reading “Too hot…”
Still feels like summer!
I know it’s supposed to be Autumn, but the weather really heated up over the weekend. It felt hotter than it was all summer! Perfect weather for a swim! If we had the energy, our son would have us do this all day! I’m happy to stretch out summer as long as we can!
Suburban Nature Explorations 