We save all our change for our homeschool field trips. It’s gotten to the point where Summer will fish the coins straight out of his Daddy’s pockets to put in the pickle jar that now serves as a coin-bank. Papa saves his change for the boys too; and between the two jars I rolled a…
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How Unschooling Has Changed Our Lives
Back in October when we decided to make the shift from homeschooling to unschooling, I had no idea how drastically it would change our lives. I hoped it would have a positive impact on our family, but there was no way I could comprehend the full implications of this change; no way of knowing how…
Avoiding cabin fever in Maine
The snows and cold used to come a lot earlier to Maine thirty and fifty years ago, but now, in this time of increased climate change, winter doesn’t seem to really get underway until January and February. I remember my mother’s stories of snow that reached the second-story window, and how she and her brothers…
Winter Family Fun Day at Mount Blue State Park
Maine is fortunate to have a bounty of state parks and public reserved lands. We also have a number of organizations whose only goal is to get the people of Maine outside to enjoy and appreciate this great state and it’s natural wonders. On Saturday, January 29th from 10-3 families can participate in the Mt…
Successful first-ever meeting of Somerset beekeepers
It was originally scheduled to meet last Wednesday night, the 12th of January, but because of a messy Nor’easter last week I had to postpone the first meeting of Somerset Beekeepers to Monday, the 17th. So Monday night we all gathered at the Somerset County University of Maine Cooperative Extension in Skowhegan to establish…
Best field trips to teach science
Field trips with a focus on science are a great way for your family to learn more about science in real life. Providing examples of professionals utilizing the tools and processes of science can lead your own children to pursue careers in science, technology, and industry, for which our nation has a growing need. When…
What Exactly is Citizen Science?
I’ve mentioned it a couple of times in some of my posts, participating in a citizen science program at-home. I also wrote about central Maine’s lack-of citizen science and environmental activism programs. I even started a new blog recently, called Green in Central Maine–hoping to create more opportunity for citizen science where I live. But…
Science for Preschoolers
Establishing an atmosphere of science-inquiry even when your children are small, will set the foundation for a scientific lifestyle that encourages your family to explore their curiosities and learn more about the science of the world around them. Most young children are naturally curious and inclined to exploration. The traditional school system cannot encourage this…
Age is No Limit in Big Scientific Discoveries
This is amazing. Just two days ago, on January 2, this 10-year old Kathryn Gray in Canada was using a computer program that compares new and old images of the same portion of the night sky when she located a previously undiscovered supernova. She is now the youngest discoverer of a supernova, proving that age…
Exploring Winter Through Play
The boys have been spending time outside almost every day learning about winter first-hand. Summer received a shiny new sled for the holiday from Papa, and could scarcely wait to get home to try it out. I like watching them from my front room picture-window; they can practically sled right out the back door and…
