Science at Home – Write Away

May 31, 2016

A Robin in the Wreath

Sometimes, you just have to take a breath and look at the world. Or, out your front door and onto a wreath, where a robin built a perfect nest. For at least the last three weeks, I’ve been hosting a new family of robins. It was pure magic to see the mother twist the last pieces of… Continue reading

Interdiscipinary learning, Science at Home, Speaking and listening, Teaching and Learning

Curiosity, Teach at home, Wonder

January 4, 2016

Science at Home: For the Birds!

To help students learn to read, teachers design their classrooms as literacy-rich environments. You know how to support this at home, by having books available and reading with your child. But did you know that supporting science at home is just as easy? The key is to make the science accessible and a natural part… Continue reading

Science at Home, Teaching and Learning

August 18, 2015

Summer Night Sounds

Right now, I’m sitting near an open window and listening to a nighttime chorus of katydids and crickets in huge numbers. Want to listen, too? How many night insect sounds can you identify? Besides being relaxing music from nature, children find it incredibly interesting to learn about insects and how they create their songs. Make… Continue reading

Celebrations, Family, Music, Rituals, Science at Home, Speaking and listening

cricket, insect music, katydid

July 14, 2015

Pluto: A Girl, A Grandfather, and A Teacher

Eighty-five years ago, 11-year-old Venetia Burney sat at breakfast with her grandfather, who was a university librarian at Oxford. He talked to her about the latest exciting news story, that a new planet had been discovered. A suitable name hadn’t yet been found, he pointed out. Venetia’s teacher had taught her students that the other… Continue reading

Interdiscipinary learning, Science at Home, Social and emotional development, Speaking and listening, Teaching and Learning

New Horizons, planetary discovery, Pluto, space, Venetia Barney Phair

April 19, 2015

Quoth the Ravens? “Watch Me Parent.”

The ravens at Wellesley College, in Wellesley MA, have returned for a second year and are caring for three nestlings. Watch them live on Wellesley’s Ravencam. Check my 2014 post about them. The ideas I shared for teachers are terrific activities for parents to use during April school vacation. This year, I am mesmerized by… Continue reading

Arts, Science at Home, Teaching and Learning

Birds, children, observing