March 27

The Doiley

I’ve been restoring antique linens that I inherited. Oh, how I wish I knew which hands crocheted each one. The beauty of these doilies is remarkable and what a fun way to learn math! The maker would also need excellent fine motor and focusing skills. They remind me of the intricate patterns in snowflakes. Many of the doilies I have are larger than these and in a variety of shapes.

Learn more about the history of the Doiley from Junkbox Treasures here and Wonderopolis here. I cleaned my vintage linens with Mama’s Miracle Linen Soak, an amazing product that has removed all the brown storage stains. What is the science?



The doilies were popular during the Victorian period. In one of the videos I watched, the antique dealer stated that doilies are making a comeback!

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Paper Cuttings

Snowflakes

Category: All About Mrs. Bright, Art, Math, Science, Social Studies | LEAVE A COMMENT
March 25

An Eclipse is Coming

Get ready for the total solar eclipse which will be observable on April 8. Go to the NASA site here and the Great American Eclipse site here. Check out Tinkergarten’s eclipse activities here. Don’t forget ISO certified viewing glasses!

Go here to view full screen.

The following story, Eclipse by Andy Nash, was published recently about a father and a son who observed the eclipse together in 2017. It is told from the son’s perspective. Such fun illustrations!

Go here to watch full screen.

Go here to visit Andy Rash’s site.

Go here for a previous post about the 2017 Eclipse

Category: Reading, Science | LEAVE A COMMENT
March 18

An Invader

How would you describe a squirrel? Words such as persistent, acrobatic, determined, and trickster are my first thoughts. I remember my dad waging war to keep them off our bird feeders and to his frustration, with little success. My favorite attempt was when he greased the pole, but these clever rodents were still able to reach the birdseed. My backyard is wooded, so I use suet feeders which until today had not attracted squirrels. It was entertaining to watch him try to reach the seed. Watch the antics here.

Staring Contest

Go here to view full screen. A fun engineer mentor text! Identify the character traits of the main character.

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Baby Squirrels

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Category: All About Mrs. Bright, Reading, Science | LEAVE A COMMENT
March 13

Waterfalls

Waterfalls are often the destination on a hike or a beautiful surprise encountered on a woodland adventure. I recently visited Amicalola Falls which is Georgia’s tallest waterfall and the highest cascading falls east of the Mississippi River. Other photos below include waterfalls I saw in Montana. There is something about water that is peaceful, yet powerful!


Let’s learn more about waterfalls. Go here to view full screen.

Read more about waterfalls from National Geographic here.

Category: Science | LEAVE A COMMENT
March 11

The Little White Moth

On Winter walks in Atlanta, the only living creatures I am fortunate to encounter are deer, squirrels, and birds. But today near my path, I met a tiny moth. He didn’t seem able to fly, so perhaps he had just left his cocoon. I clearly annoyed him trying to capture a photo, and honestly, I didn’t think a photo of it would prove very interesting, but I was clearly wrong. When I enlarged the photo, how surprised I was to see not only a spring green abdomen, but green eyes peering back at me. I am perpetually amazed at the beautiful details in the small, even microscopic, creatures we just pass by.



Receiving the side eye because I continually poked my phone in its face!

 

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Compound Eyes

Butterfly or Moth?

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Antennae

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March 6

Outside In

Books about nature are my favorite! Outside In by Cindy Derby won a Caldecott Honor in 2020. The illustrations in this picture book are delightful! The story explores the many ways we are connected to nature whether we are inside or outside.

Watch here full screen.

Some examples of bringing the outside in:



Ask your children or students to draw or paint a landscape. Then paint a window around the landscape or cut out a window and glue it over the picture.


Category: Art, Reading, Science | LEAVE A COMMENT
March 4

Volcanoes

Last fall after visiting Santorini, Greece, I wanted to learn more about the geological history of this remarkable area.


Santorini is in a small circular group of islands (archipelago) consisting of overlapping shield volcanoes in the Aegean Sea. One of the largest volcanic eruptions in history occurred in approximately 1620 BC, destroying the advanced Minoan culture. A caldera, a large bowl-shaped volcanic crater, where the mouth of the volcano collapsed, was created as a result of this massive eruption. It has filled with water over time. The caldera is easily visible when you stand on the cliffs in Santorini. Two small islands lie inside the caldera which is the largest in Europe. To read more, go here.


The volcano has erupted nine times in the last 2000 years, the last in 1950. Vulcanologists believe it could erupt again.

Watch full screen here.

One of our tour guides pointed out how clouds form around the caldera. Why?

The ground was littered with volcanic (igneous) rocks when we hiked the Fira-Oia along the clifftops overlooking the caldera.

My husband and I visited Antigua, Guatemala for a family wedding about a year ago. Go to this post to learn more: Volcanoes in Guatemala

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Volcano Science Lab

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A Volcano Metaphor

Category: All About Mrs. Bright, Reading, Science | LEAVE A COMMENT