Jo Watson Hackl's Blog

What kind of birds would you like to attract to your yard? Research bird feeders and bird food. Place a bird feeder outside your window, fill it with the best food for your area, and watch what happens. Identify the birds that come to the feeder in your Nature Journal.

Wind down with the sun. This week watch at least 3 sunsets!

Start your day outside! For at least 5 minutes every morning, go outside and do 10 jumping jacks. Write down in your Nature Journal whether it made a difference in your day.

Search outside for interesting foliage. Every day for a week, bring in some greenery to decorate your space.

Make a leaf rubbing! Pick your favorite leaf and spread it out on a sheet of paper. Cover it with another sheet of paper. Using a crayon or the side of a pencil point, rub lightly across the top sheet. Watch as the shape of your leaf appears.

Collect at least 6 different types of leaves and identify each plant that it came from. What animals depend on the plant for food or shelter? Record in your Nature Journal.

Look for animal tracks. Identify at least one animal by its tracks. Does the track give you clues as to how heavy the animal is? Draw the tracks in your Nature Journal.

Look like a rabbit. Find a grassy place to sit outside and study your surroundings. What do you see that you didn't notice before? How many different types of plants and animals call that spot home? Make a list in your Nature Journal.

Find a wood sorrel patch and search for ripe seed head cones. Warm the cone gently between your fingers and watch what happens. Write a paragraph about your experience in your Nature Journal.

Visit www.johackl.com/activities and www.outdoorosity.org for more fun!

For a week, spend at least 10 minutes a day outside and keep a nature journal.
Your challenges:
❖ Day one- find at least one insect, look up its name, and draw it.
❖ Day two- find a leaf on the ground, identify the tree that it is from, and make a rubbing of the leaf.
❖ Day three- find one bird and research its name/diet/habitat/nesting habits. Draw a picture of it in its nest.
❖ Day four- find one mammal and look up its name/diet/habitat. Draw a picture of it's tracks.
❖ Day five- find a nut or seed, identify the tree or plant that produced it, and write down how it spreads to grow a new plant.
❖ Day six- listen for bird calls, identify at least one bird whose call you hear, and research whether or not the bird migrates.
❖ Day seven- sniff the air. Identify a plant by the smell of its leaves or flowers. Draw the plant and write about how it makes you feel.

Visit www.johackl.com/activities and www.outdoorosity.org for more fun!