Kids love to learn about wildlife, and offering experiences that revolve around the outdoors provides motivation to learn more about the natural world. The actions of migratory birds offer an interesting study of how animals interact with the environment. Investigating hummingbirds can provide attention-grabbing lessons about these roaming creatures. There are around 340 different types of hummingbirds which can be found in the Western Hemisphere, throughout the North and South Americas. Most are tropic residing, with some having a preference for spending their summers in North America, and colder days in tropical climates. Hummingbirds use up enormous amounts of energy,… read more

The world of design has some inspiring, environmentally driven artists who have made a true difference with their talents. Designers that use their skill in combination with eco friendly undertakings to produce art and projects that give back in some way, through reducing waste or helping others, have more than just a physical ability. However, inspirational missions aren’t just reserved for the exhibition spotlight. There are some outstanding examples of those who have taken their visions and turned them into proactive, meaningful events for children on their home front. One such case is The Edible Schoolyard Project. Nearly two decades… read more

Whether you wish to gain experience before college, start a savings pool, or just want a productive way to whittle away vacation time, “green” jobs are a great way for teens to make a positive impact during their time off from scholastic duties. Work Locally Instead of applying to the nearest Starbucks, seek out positions at local cafes and bakeries instead, especially those who practice strong environmental stewardship. These could include coffee shops who only sell fair trade products or mom-and-pop restaurants who support local agriculture by using local and organic ingredients in their dishes. You could also apply for… read more

Know a kid that wants to be a superhero for most of the week? Help them dress the part with fabrics and crafts that reflect their inner crusader. Many children’s costumes can be made with things from around the house and often no sewing is even involved. The following designs are ways to recycle fabrics, felt and materials into cool costumes. Living with punks has super bat masks and a downloadable template. If your little hero doesn’t want a bat mask, alter the pattern a bit then decorate it with fabric glue and their choice of trimmings. For example, animal masks… read more

Kids love a good cardboard box, and even better than a plain one are boxes turned into fun projects. Investing a little time turning cardboard into pretend items will provide kids with hours of imaginative play. If you have ever looked at kitchen play sets then you know how costly they can be. Try making a play oven from a cardboard box that can provide all the play without the price. Martha Stewart has a tutorial for an upscale stove that doesn’t look like cardboard at all. Also, save restaurant drink holders and use them for the burners. If you… read more

Although we no longer have to worry about lead exposure and poisoning from pencils, there are still measures that have to be taken to decrease your child’s exposure to toxins and other harmful substances. Hot tap water, for instance, tends to loosen all the grime in the faucet and carry them into your cup. Yet many people either fill their baby’s bottles with hot tap water or microwave cold tap water. The latter increases your infant’s radiation exposure among other things. To be safe of both, fill your baby’s bottle with cold or room temperature water that has been boiled… read more

Game based learning has long been used in many settings, including for educational activities as well as occupational and career training. Some developers and educators see gaming as a way to reach a wider audience, and as a smart learning option for teaching core values, like ecologically responsible behaviors. With the vast assortment of games that revolve around questionable themes and subject matter, many who have gamers around may not argue, and would welcome a wider selection of more comprehensive games. By nature, games are both engaging and entertaining, a combination that can in fact lead to a successful learning… read more

Nothing can replace the smell and feel of an old fashioned book. However, embracing the digital page has its benefits, especially for tech-savvy children. While it is important that they know how to navigate an index or read a table of contents and locate a real page, an enormous amount of knowledge can be gained via online media. In a world where disposable is more often the norm, it’s reassuring to know that the advantage of acquiring knowledge, whether it be on page or on screen, is something that can’t be thrown away. Children who read are introduced to other cultures,… read more

Fostering environmental awareness at an early age through participation in informative activities results in an increased knowledge base and encourages earth friendly behaviors that can last into adulthood. Incorporating water play into a curriculum is a fun way to teach kids about water conservation concepts. Though agriculture accounts for a large majority, household water use is responsible for a great portion of waste. According to water conservation statistics, the typical household in Australia uses up 11% of their water source for daily activities, and the U.S. is predicted to consume over 10% of the entire world’s water supply reserved for… read more

The amount of U.S. paper waste totals about 29%, and paper is the most discarded solid waste product (EPA.gov). Recycling greatly reduces the amount that is thrown out but there are also many ways to use paper again. If you have an appreciation for the practical and have lots of stray papers lying around or are always doing the recycling paper toss, these are a few ways to reuse paper in the home or office. Turn Recycled Papers Into Stationary Colored, textured and other mixed media stationary can be made from usual throw-outs like junk mail, flyers or cards. Add… read more