It’s National Pollinator Week June 25, 2008

Take a look around your yard and take a peek in your fridge. What do you find in common? . . . The results of pollinators! We have both food and beautiful flowers because of these critters and creatures and I, for one, am grateful them.  It is to these guys and gals that we celebrate National Pollinator Week (June 22-28, 2008)!

Included below are a couple links for more information. If you only have time to check out one, invite your kids to sit next to you and get on the honey bee site–I LOVE IT! You can even make your own bee and send a bee-card to someone you know and love. 🙂

The second site has links that teach simple ways you can invite pollinators into your world–plants for your garden, bee condos, etc. . .

The third is a PBS special (the whole thing!) on the importance and disappearance of bees.

http://www.helpthehoneybees.com/

http://www.pollinator.org/

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/silence-of-the-bees/full-episode/251/

Happy Pollinating!

summer school links June 2, 2008

Here are a list of links that I’ll be pulling from for home summer school for my kids.  I want to keep their minds engaged throughout the summer.  There is a mix of things–from FHE lessons that can be used as “values” lessons to cool web videos about money and bees.  Of course, we will be spending most of our time outdoors, or reading books from the library, or building forts out of tables and sheets.  But, these websites help with the creativity and add to the experience!

http://www.ldslivingmagazine.com/subs/show/6
http://www.360financialliteracy.org/
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/alienempire/metropolis.html   (termites, bees, and a puzzle)
http://www.youtube.com/njbeemaster (This is a collection of videos that show beekeeping–however, I haven’t previewed them yet)

http://www.ci.rio-rancho.nm.us/index.asp?nid=722 (This is a page with links that could make for some interesting lessons)
http://www.jif.com/recipes/rec_kids.asp (a collection of kid friendly peanut butter recipes for our cooking classes)
http://www.kidsafeid.com/cardmake1.asp (for making a child ID card–child safety)
http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,31-1-15-1,00.html (a huge list of family fun activity and education links)

http://www.nwf.org/backyardcampout/games.cfm (camping out is one of our themes this summer)
http://www.dltk-teach.com/books/littlecritter/index.htm (little critter paper dolls)
http://collectdolls.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxhome.com%2Fmyfairlady%2Fnot%2Fscn3%2Fpaper.htm (My Fair Lady paper dolls)

http://www.dltk-kids.com/ (a great preschool craft site)
http://www.momsminivan.com/index.html (travel games)
http://www.kidsgardening.com/ (lots of gardening info and activities)
http://guitar.about.com/library/blguitarlessonarchive.htm (free guitar lessons)

http://ac6v.com/help.htm#LIC (Ham radio sites)
http://storynory.com/ (free audio stories)
http://www.starfall.com/ (preschool–learn to read)
http://rainforestmaths.com/ (awesome math site for elementary grades)

http://www.vam.ac.uk/moc/kids/things_to_make/ (this is a great kids heritage paper craft page)

I hope you find something here that helps you with your summer plans.  Send me links you find fun and helpful!