The season of spring offers a wonderful opportunity for the family to spend time together outside. There are many inexpensive family activities such as blowing bubbles, flying a kite, taking a nature walk, feeding the ducks, planting seedlings, planning a garden, and taking a bike ride. A family can closely observe changes right in their own back yard.

Backyard Scientist
Here is an entertaining way to closely observe the changes of nature:

•  Keep a nature journal in which to record observations.
•  Locate a section of the yard where few people walk.
•  Using string to lay out at least a three-foot diameter circle in the backyard.
•  Carefully record the changes that occur in the circle by making sketches, taking pictures, collecting seeds or leaves. Remember to record the day and time of the observation. You may want to record information such as:

               • What is the weather like?
               • What do you see, smell, and hear?

•  Older children might want to make three circles in the yard to compare and contrast the changes.

               •  Are there fewer, more, or the same amount of insects living or traveling across each
                   spot?
               •  Do the same grasses and plants grow in each?
               •  Do the grasses and plants grow at the same rate?
               •  Does each spot get the same amount of rain, sun, and shade?


Nesting Materials:
For most birds, nest-building supplies consist of whatever nature has lying around, such as wood, grass, twigs, feathers, and fur. Here is a project to do together to learn about nest building.

•  You can provide the birds in your neighborhood with easy-to-obtain nesting materials by stuffing a mesh produce bag with materials such as pet fur, strands of cloth, bits of stuffing, hay, yarn cut into short lengths, hair from your brush, or feathers from an old down pillow. Hang the mesh bag in a tree, or near a feeder.
•  In the coming weeks, be on the lookout for birds visiting the sack. Watch what trees or birdhouses to which they return. You might get to see your building materials being incorporated into the nests.

Spring is an excellent season to get outside with children. Put on old shoes and play clothes and let the children jump in puddles. Go to the park and play a game of soccer, baseball or Frisbee. Say goodbye to snow, slush, winter jackets and indoor play!