The beauty of homeschooling is the freedom to explore topics any way you choose. One of the Grade 1 science outcomes includes building knowledge about seasonal changes. Since we live in Alberta, signs of seasonal changes are apparent everywhere.
Now that a foot of snow covers the ground, I thought I better share one of my favourite projects from our Autumn nature study.
We had some pretty mild autumn weather, so we spent a lot of time gathering leaves. After we collected our leaves, we sorted them. Round leaves, pointy leaves, rippled edges, smooth edges, red, yellow, and brown; there are so many ways to sort leaves. Suddenly this science activity turned into a math exploration which included finding the “core” of a pattern and repeating it. This is what I love about homeschooling… the ability to adapt lessons to include content from multiple subjects.
I was also inspired by Courtney’s blog, A Life Sustained. She shared the toddler activity of placing leaves on clear sticky paper. I decided to try this activity with my own toddler.
The display was beautiful but didn’t last long. So, my oldest daughter and I created a simple, permanent, leaf display. We refer to it as our leaf “curtain”. My daughter arranged leaves on laminating paper, we put the sheets through the laminator and then hole punched the sheets in order to hang them together.
We connected the sheets with fancy, swirl-shaped, paperclips. When the project was finished we hung the leaf display. Isn’t it beautiful?
So now that the snow is on the ground, we are embarking on a nature study about winter snow. I am so excited as my ideas are abundant and numerous! I look forward to sharing them with you in the near future!
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Love it! Our nanny did something similar with Little A. Such a great learning idea!
Have a great week!
xoxo
I love this idea! We still have some leaves I can collect off the ground to make this. I can’t believe you have a foot of snow already. Wow! I’m down in Michigan and we’ve had a little snow, but it’s still warm enough that it melts.
I’m so glad to hear you liked this idea. I would love to see your finished product too!
I keep hoping our snow would melt… but alas, I think winter is here to stay.
We had great fun with it… and it’s so pretty to look at too!
You have a great week as well!
xoxo
Hi Jennifer! I LOVE your leaf curtain! That is so cool, I’ve never seen anything like that before. I wonder if you hung it by a ceiling light if it would be like a nature chandelier?
We got snow yesterday, so I thought of you. Last time I was here, I told you how we were still in the fall mode. Well, it’s in the twenties, and the snow is here. (I still like looking at those leaves though!)
Happy Tuesday, my friend :)
Ceil
Oooh, that would be lovely wouldn’t it! I’m sure it would work too!
Wishing you a happy Tuesday as well!
What?! You own a laminator? That’s as cool as owning a giant paper cutter!
What a great idea!! I love this! There are so many things to do with these laminated leaves, I don’t think I’d be able to stop creating them once I started. And I love how science becomes math and evolves into art. You make it took so easy Jennifer
That is beautiful! I really like how it turned out. What a great lesson as well!
Yes… I own a laminator and a paper cutter too (how giant are we talking here Robin)? Don’t you wish you lived next door? *winks*
I seriously wanted to do a wall of them. They’re so pretty!
I’m getting into the groove of planning “lessons” that meet the content of multiple subjects! I love it!
Thanks Tammy! I’m super pleased with it too! I wish I had more leaves… alas the snow has covered them up.
Wow you did an amazing job. I might need to send Madison to Alberta for you to homeschool as well. If only you lived closer we might have been able to meet up when I get to London this Christmas. I’m not too keen for the snow though. :)
I LOVE this idea! What an ingenious way to preserve these leaves for further study. And they’re just plain pretty too. :)
I feel home schooling is even more challenging than just being a SAHM. I have a huge amount of respect for you.
x
Thanks so much! This certainly is a learning process for both my daughter and I. I am enjoying it though. I would have loved to have met you and Madison in person… alas we would still be a few provinces away!
Thanks Courtney… and thanks for the initial inspiration! Without it, I wouldn’t have this posting.
Going to check it out right now! Yay!
Yay! So glad to have you over today! I love your post!!
xoxo
Thanks Z! I love it. It’s challenging but in a different kind of way.
Yay! Thanks for visiting and commenting! I encourage you to poke around Tiffany’s blog, she’s pretty sweet and a great blogging friend. Her daughter is a little over a year older than Dylan. I think you two would get along fabulously!
Thanks again for commenting… I truly appreciate the kindness, enthusiasm, and encouragement you share with me.
Wishing you a lovely evening.
xoxo
Thanks again for the opportunity Tiffany. You have a lovely corner of the internet and it was an honour to publish on your site.
Wishing you a wonderful evening.
xoxo
It’s like a leaf installation! Such a gorgeous way to celebrate the season… and get ready for the next one :)
It is! I think I prefer the name “leaf installation” it sounds so much more distinguished than a curtain. Thanks for stopping by Cassidy! It’s always nice when we get to connect.
I love how you say that your journey isn’t what you expected. I say the same. It’s 100x better. :)
Thanks for sharing that perspective Jackie! I agree!
Very cool! We don’t have changing leaves here, so we make faux fall leaves with different materials. This is fantastic! Any excuse to use the laminator, I always say! :)
I just love the way your “curtain” turned out, and how you turned this into such a learning experience for the kids! Thank you so much for sharing with us on We Made That Wednesday!