Nature
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Minibeasts
Minibeasts are always a favourite topic with little ones. Digging into the soil, turning over logs, hunting through leaf fall and noticing the small details that we often miss. Going on a minibeast hunt is a great way to slow down and become mindful of the wonders of nature! You cannot rush or zoom along, but must look closely and find the little things hidden away. These books are perfect for read-alouds, bedtime stories and inspiring young nature explorers! They are a great springboard for sparking learning opportunities, nature journaling, making bug houses, collecting leaves and twigs for art projects, junk modelling and much more! P.S – Wondering where the caterpillars, butterflies…
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Seeds
Nature projects are such a magical part of a child’s education. There are many things to discover and explore, it can be perfect for hands-on learning, and they provide a strong foundation for science studies. Nature studies can incorporate a variety of subjects – everything from science, math, crafts, creative writing, and of course stories! Stories can be placed at the heart of any element of your child’s education. Not only do you have factual books available, but you can also utilise living books. These are stories that make events come alive by drawing you into the subject, stirring your imagination and emotions, and meeting characters that bring you into…
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Trees
If you go down to the woods today there’s lots of things to find! Exploring trees as a study topic can lead you down many different paths – how a tree grows, the different types and how to identify them, the animals that make trees their homes and, of course, their importance for the environment. It can be a springboard for art projects, nature journaling, creative writing prompts and imaginative play! I’ve chosen my favourite books with a tree theme – a perfect mix of stories and facts to help you dive into the world of trees! As an added bonus, I’ve picked out a few tree-themed stories that are…
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Caterpillars & Butterflies
Learning about the life cycles of caterpillars and butterflies is such a fascinating topic, and can take you down many paths – learning about what caterpillars eat, identifying the different plants, researching how they accomplish their transformation into butterflies, and of course discovering the myriad varieties of butterflies! Going on a nature walk to spot butterflies is always a fun activity, or you could encourage butterflies to visit your garden with the plants you choose! Books are a fantastic springboard into any new project, and below I have picked some of my favourites for you to discover. Stories can open up the world of caterpillars and butterflies, sparking a child’s…
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Ponds & Frogs
Who remembers pond dipping? Grabbing a net and bucket, pulling on your wellies and seeing what strange creatures were lurking beneath the water. Pond skaters and water boatman, frogspawn and snails! It is such a perfect activity for children to get hands-on with nature – hunting, identifying, drawing and recording their findings. It can take you down many different paths – learning about the life cycle of frogs, the world of dragonflies, the secret creatures that live beneath the water, or even finding out about the larger animals that rely on the pond. I had in mind to find lots of lovely story books with a pond theme to share…