I want to take a short break from the talk about games and share a great place to get outside! This month's Exploring Oklahoma article features the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Sallisaw. My kids and I really enjoyed this trip, even though it was COLD when we went! If you're looking for a good place to get out and enjoy nature with your family, I would definitely recommend it. The drive isn't bad, the landscape is gorgeous, and best of all, it's free!  

Even if you can't make the trip out there right now, I wanted to share a few ways you can incorporate nature into your school day, especially for your younger kids.

I Am an Artist: My 5 year old was "rowing" this book at the time we went to the Sequoyah NWR and it went along perfectly! This is a lovely picture book that shows all the art you can find when you stop and look around you. If you are familiar with the Before Five in a Row curriculum, you'll recognize this one!

Scavenger Hunt: A nature scavenger hunt would be a great activity for kids of all ages. Use a pre-made one (like this or this) or make one specific to the site you'll be visiting. Many places have information online about what kinds of plants or animals you're likely to see when you visit, so you can tailor your hunt to your kids and their ability level. Bring a camera so you can capture all of your finds and leave the site as it is!

Tree Learning: Spring is coming and it's going to be a great time to get outside for science! Check out a more in-depth unit for your bigger kids, like Delightful Deciduous Trees. There are tons of good nonfiction books on trees out there, but two that our family has enjoyed are A Tree for All Seasons and Tell Me, Tree.

Leaf Study: Even young children can notice the differences between kinds of leaves, especially with a visual guide. Print out some cards (these are cool and free!) and bring them along to see how many you can find!

Five Senses: A nature walk is a wonderful place to learn about the five senses. Well, four, really, since you probably aren't going to want to taste unless you're visiting a berry farm or somewhere like that! Print out this free sheet to record what you experience on your nature walk!

Nature Crafts: Even if you only head to your backyard, you can probably find some materials to make some fun creations!

Remember to check the weather forecast before you go. You might need heavy coats or you might want flip flops, depending on the day. Enjoy some outside time and I'll be back next time with some fun math games for you!