Rain or Shine Mamma

There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes

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Spring Nature Study: Life and Death in the Forest

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March 13, 2014 By Linda McGurk

Spring is finally here and what better way to experience the changes that are taking place outside right now than by taking the kids for a nature study in the woods?

Spring Nature Study: Life and Death in the Forest. Rain or Shine Mamma

I follow the philosophy and tradition of the Scandinavian forest schools when exploring nature with my kids. That means that our ventures usually are child-led, play-based and open-ended. We rarely go outside with a specific lesson plan in mind – instead we discover the natural world together and use inquiry as a bridge to knowledge. Whatever answers I don’t have off the top of my head we look up together when we get home. Teachable moments abound in nature and I enjoy seeing what will capture the girls’ imagination each time we go to the woods.

The other day, we decided to revisit a place where we had seen a dead deer a couple of months ago. At the time, the carcass had been fresh, and now I thought the girls might be interested in seeing what had happened to it. This may sound morbid, but nature is very much about life and death, and I don’t think we should shy away from that reality when taking our kids outdoors. In my experience, they handle it much better than we give them credit for.

The deer was still there, or at least some remnants of it. We paused and observed the carcass.

“Who do you think ate it?” I asked the Big Naturalist, who is 6.

“Hmm. A fox? Turkey vultures?”

“Yes, that’s possible. And probably the coyotes too.”

The Big Naturalist was also full of questions. “What is that thing?,” she said, pointing at a bone sticking up. “Why didn’t they eat the fur?” “Why did the deer die?” “Can I poke it with a stick?”

We spent about 15 minutes observing and talking about the deer, and as we headed back toward the house I thought about all the things that the girls had just learned:

Anatomy: My daughter observed that the deer had ribs and a spine, just like she does, which led to a conversation about the difference between vertebrates and non-vertebrates, common features of mammals and the function of the skeleton. She learned that our bones are our support structure.

Ecology: The death of the deer was a good introduction to the concept of food webs and the difference between prey and predators. Food scarcity, injuries and disease are other causes of death in wild animals that we discussed.

Biology: The odor from the deer gave us an opportunity to talk about decomposition and all the tiny organisms that help clean up a dead animal. Bacteria and fungi are two common types of decomposers.

Philosophy: This particular deer had probably died from disease but we still talked about why animals kill each other and how humans sometimes kill animals for other reasons. The Big Naturalist is aware that there are hunters in our area and I encourage her to think critically about when it is or isn’t morally defensible to take the life of another living being.

“I feel sorry for the deer,” the Big Naturalist said on a tad sad note as we headed back to the house. It was a touching show of compassion, and once again gave us a chance to talk about the circle of life.

All this learning just from observing a dead deer in the woods for 15 minutes. Could you learn it from a text book? Some of it, sure. But as the old Chinese proverb says:

“Tell me, I’ll forget
Show me, I’ll remember
Involve me, I’ll understand”

Do you ever use nature for teachable moments? If so, how? I’d love to have your input!

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Related posts:

How to Do a Small Animal Nature Study. Fun nature activity for preschoolers and older kids. Rain or Shine Mamma.How to Do a Small Animal Nature Study Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)Spring Nature Walk: Learning about Wildflowers How to Celebrate the Spring Equinox. Looking for outdoor spring activities for the kids? Look no further! Greet the spring with these five fun ideas. Rain or Shine Mamma.How to Celebrate the Spring Equinox Is Friluftsliv the New Hygge? How a Deep Connection with Nature Can Save Us from the Pressures of Modern Life. Rain or Shine MammaIs Friluftsliv the New Hygge? How a Deep Connection with Nature Can Save Us from the Pressures of Modern Life
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Filed Under: Inspiration, Learn with Nature, Nature Activities, Outdoor Learning, Parent with Nature 24 Comments

Comments

  1. Leila - Mud Mud Marvellous Mud says

    March 14, 2014 at 9:00 am

    What a fantastic opportunity to talk about a potentially tricky subject. I hope to have the same conversations with Little Man as he grows and we discover nature from all its different angles. Thanks again for sharing at the Outdoor Play Party. I always love reading your posts 🙂

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      March 14, 2014 at 9:23 am

      Thanks for reading, Leila! I find that nature is the perfect place to bring up many of life’s difficult questions. I’ve found that kids often are completely unfazed by things that make adults squeamish or uncomfortable:o)

      Reply
  2. Adventure Togs says

    March 14, 2014 at 9:40 am

    My children are teenagers now but I think they would still be fascinated to find and explore something like this.
    Just popping over from the #outdoorplayparty

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      March 15, 2014 at 9:55 am

      Thanks for stopping by! And yes, there are some things in nature that never cease to fascinate:o)

      Reply
  3. Char says

    March 16, 2014 at 2:59 pm

    Linda – Thanks for the great read! I LOVE the way that you approached a very “taboo” subject (Death) with a scientific and educational approach. I believe that by sheltering children from these things we are doing them a terrible dis-service. Rather, being open to discuss the significance of the circle of life allows them to have a broader respect for the role all living things play in this world. Kudos Momma!

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      March 16, 2014 at 11:00 pm

      Char, I’m so glad you enjoyed the read! Like you I do believe that openness is the way to go when it comes to kids. Of course parents need to use good judgment when it comes to what their kids can handle, but I knew this was not something that would upset my daughters, quite the opposite.

      Reply
  4. Jacquie says

    March 16, 2014 at 6:36 pm

    We happened upon a partial carcass on a trip in the woods too. I was a little worried that my youngest would be creeped out as she’s very sensitive to animals but both the kids were really intrigued by it. What a great nature study!

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      March 17, 2014 at 12:17 pm

      Thanks for reading, Jacquie! My kids are big animal lovers too and yet they have been really intrigued every time we’ve found bones and other remnants of animals in the woods.

      Reply
  5. Karen Bell says

    March 19, 2014 at 10:49 am

    Great post. I totally agree, nature teaches so much and child led is the best way. I love that proverb…..so true!
    Thanks for sharing #LetKidsBeKids

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      March 20, 2014 at 9:57 pm

      Thank you, Karen! Always enjoy linking up with #LetKidsBeKids:o)

      Reply
  6. Merlinda (@pixiedusk) says

    March 20, 2014 at 5:08 am

    So many ways to view things in life and I love how you tackled them all in your post. Your philosophy is also an idea that made me think =)

    #letkidsbekids

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      March 20, 2014 at 9:58 pm

      Glad you enjoyed the post, Merlinda! Thanks for reading.

      Reply
  7. Ann @ My Nearest and Dearest says

    March 22, 2014 at 8:29 pm

    Really great post, Linda! I think many people might have been tempted to avoid the carcass. I love that you took the opposite approach and turned it into a meaningful educational experience.
    We happened upon a dead muskrat this winter and I was surprised by how unfazed my son was by it. I treated it in a very matter-of-fact way, and like you, used it as a chance to talk about predators and prey, decomposition, etc. There is no better way for kids to learn than to experience things for themselves!

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      March 23, 2014 at 8:49 am

      Thank you, Ann! Appreciate you reading and glad to hear you got a chance to have a similar experience. Children are just innately curious of the world around them and I do think it’s important to be straight-forward with them. Like I said in the post, they can handle more than we think:o)

      Reply
  8. ghostwritermummy says

    March 23, 2014 at 3:03 am

    Absolutely fantastic! I too prefer child led play and investigations and I agree that we should not shy away from real life with our children. I love how a walk in the woods can be such a massive learning experience!
    x x

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      March 23, 2014 at 8:52 am

      Thank you! There are definitely a lot of opportunities for learning in nature!

      Reply
  9. Suzanne says

    May 25, 2014 at 4:53 pm

    A fabulous post and such an important message that death is just a part of life, and not something scary and to be hiddden away from children.

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      May 26, 2014 at 2:09 pm

      Thank you, Suzanne! I think we’re on the same page with this one:o)

      Reply
  10. Rachel says

    May 25, 2014 at 7:40 pm

    We had a similar learning experience a few years back when we found a dead deer in our garden. http://rightfromthestart.wordpress.com/2011/06/20/how-my-2-year-old-learned-about-deer-and-death/

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      May 26, 2014 at 2:07 pm

      How neat; I’ll have to check that out! Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply
  11. Nicolette says

    March 23, 2015 at 5:20 pm

    We had a really intimate encounter with this idea last month when our smallest cow died. My daughter had a difficult time with it (so did we), but we approached it with as much curiosity and reverence as possible. I haven’t written about it yet, but this post inspires me! Thanks so much for sharing…

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      March 31, 2015 at 3:48 pm

      So sad to hear that your cow died:o( Death is always difficult but it’s an inevitable part of life that children too need to explore when they’re ready. I hope you end up writing about it – I would love to see what your take on it is!

      Reply
  12. evelyne says

    March 24, 2015 at 10:31 pm

    I love this article!

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      March 31, 2015 at 3:48 pm

      Thank you, Evelyne!

      Reply

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📚📚📚Book Cover Reveal📚📚📚A few years ago, I did a poll in my social media channels to see what topic you’d like me to explore in my next book. One of them won by an overwhelming margin: the Nordic outdoor tradition friluftsliv. Well, I heeded your call. I’m pleased to share that it’s now possible to pre-order The Open-Air Life: Discover the Nordic Art of Friluftsliv and Embrace Nature Every Day from just about any place that sells books! The Open-Air Life is for anybody who is longing to lead a simpler, happier and less hurried life. It shows you how to channel the power of nature connection to improve your physical and mental health, as well as your relationship with both other people and Mother Nature. Plus, you’ll learn a few party tricks, like lighting a campfire without matches and cleaning water on the go. At a time when more and more people are starting to appreciate why they should spend more time outside, this book will show you how, with a decidedly Nordic twist.I must say that I LOVE this dreamy cover that the designers at @penguinrandomhouse created. What do you think? Pre-order The Open-Air Life here to support local book stores: bookshop.org/a/79880/9780593420942 ... See MoreSee Less
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Linda Åkeson McGurk
There are a lot of good things about tech, but exc There are a lot of good things about tech, but excessive screen time is taking a toll on children’s physical and mental health today. Many apps and games have built-in mechanisms designed to make them highly addictive and children are even more susceptible to them than adults, since their brains are not fully developed🧠Screens are so ubiquitous in our lives today that it takes conscious effort to balance them with experiences IRL. 

For the past few years, our family has experimented with screen free or screen reduced Sundays. I’m not going to pretend that it’s easy. But if the goal is to increase quality family time outdoors and encourage the kind of creativity that arises from a healthy dose of boredom, it does work🌳

Some other tips to foster a healthy screen time culture in your family are:

✅ Learn how to use the parent controls on your kids’ devices and set age-appropriate limits.

✅ Have certain times or spaces that are always screen free, for example around the dinner table, in the bedrooms and so on, and be sure to be consistent. 

✅ Create a buy-in for the kids by letting them help plan screen free activities for the whole family.

What’s your biggest obstacle when it comes to keeping screen time under control?
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That about sums it up, doesn’t it?☺️ This qu That about sums it up, doesn’t it?☺️ This quote is from Meet the Wild, a new picture book by Lindsay Kellar-Madsen of @the.madsen.littles. Inspired by the outdoor learning and play culture in Scandinavia, Lindsay wrote the book to invite children to explore nature all year round, regardless of the weather. 
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📚📚📚Book Cover Reveal📚📚📚 A few y 📚📚📚Book Cover Reveal📚📚📚

A few years ago, I did a poll in my social media channels to see what topic you’d like me to explore in my next book. One of them won by an overwhelming margin: the Nordic outdoor tradition friluftsliv. Well, I heeded your call. I’m pleased to share that it’s now possible to pre-order The Open-Air Life: Discover the Nordic Art of Friluftsliv and Embrace Nature Every Day from just about any place that sells books! (Link in bio)

The Open-Air Life is for anybody who is longing to lead a simpler, happier and less hurried life. It shows you how to channel the power of nature connection to improve your physical and mental health, as well as your relationships with both other people and Mother Nature. Plus, you’ll learn a few party tricks, like lighting a campfire without matches and cleaning water on the go. At a time when more and more people are starting to appreciate why they should spend more time outside, this book will show you how, with a decidedly Nordic twist.

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I took my kids on an overnight paddling trip last I took my kids on an overnight paddling trip last weekend and it started out with sunshine and rainbows☀️🌈 Swipe to the last video to see how it ended➡️ 

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Do you have any stories of getting in over your head to share?😃
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Summer is high season for TICKS…🕷 (I know tha Summer is high season for TICKS…🕷 (I know that’s a spider emoji, but you get the idea😅) 

A lot of people freak out at the sight of these blood suckers and understandably so, considering the diseases they can harbor. But they too are a part of nature and if we want to keep venturing outside during the warmer months (I definitely do and I suspect you do too) we must come to terms with them.

If you want to know more about tick prevention, I just wrote a pretty detailed post about it on my blog. Head over to rainorshinemamma.com to learn and share this post with others who worry about ticks!👌🏻
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I missed a meeting Sunday night😬 An informal me I missed a meeting Sunday night😬 An informal meeting, yes, but still…I take pride in being dependable and prompt, and I hate to be flakey. 

I’d like to think that it was because I got distracted when my daughter called from my mom’s house and said she was running a fever, but in reality I got sidetracked well before that. Weekends are my time to zone out from schedules, emails and social media, and spend more time outside, especially this time of the year. 

So I missed a meeting. But I gained a quiet paddle through pastel waters as the sun slowly descended below the spruces on the horizon. An hour to myself to just be one with the lake, the light and the promise of the summer that still lies ahead☀️
__________________________
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This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations @wiet This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations @wietinghannah, you’re our winner!🎊

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Have you heard the term "ecohappiness"? If not, this is your chance to learn more! 

Author Sandi Schwartz and I have teamed up to give away a copy of her book "Finding Ecohappiness," an inspirational manifesto and practical guidebook for families to get outside and enjoy nature together. Packed with ideas for outdoor activities like animal yoga, forest bathing, sit spotting, float therapy and nature art, this book is definitely one to add to your collection📕 

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Having scientific reasons and explanations for doi Having scientific reasons and explanations for doing things is good and there are any number of ways free climbing benefits our physical and mental health. But sometimes you’ve just got to trust your guts, feel all the feelings and enjoy the joyride🙌🏻🌳

What makes you feel joy in nature?
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I’m not going to lie - there are times when my c I’m not going to lie - there are times when my children’s dawdling drives me nuts. Like when they take 45 minutes to finish breakfast even though we’re running late . But I also envy their ability to be completely unhurried and present in the moment, and I realize that it’s a quality that I need to protect🐌

As parents, we need to make space for our children to play, get bored, dawdle, wander, wonder, create, sleep in, be wild and free and watch the clouds go by. Let them be where they are and not push them to achieve arbitrary milestones or condition them to think that a packed calendar is the key to success and happiness.

As always, Ginny of @1000hoursoutside is on point🙌🏻
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Did you know that camping for as little as two nig Did you know that camping for as little as two nights straight can help you reset your circadian rhythms and improve your sleep for several weeks afterwards? That's because the natural light helps the body regulate melatonin, a hormone that tells the body when it's time to get up and go, and when it's time to rest and recuperate🌗 

My melatonin levels weren't top of mind when @jeanetteosterman and I started our challenge to sleep outside at least once a month for a year. But I must say, I rarely sleep as soundly and feel as energetic as I do when I sleep under the skies.

Have you ever tried sleeping in a camping hammock? I bought my first one a few years ago and I ❤️ it!
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Raise your hand if you have a teen or tween and fe Raise your hand if you have a teen or tween and feel like you're constantly negotiating/fighting/fretting over your child's screen time👋🏼 

Well, you're not alone😰 

Since 2011, when mobile internet had its breakthrough, teens' and tweens' screen time has increased dramatically. At the same time, physical activity has decreased significantly. The WHO recommends that teenagers get at least one hour of physical activity every day, but in reality 85% of the girls and 78% of the boys globally don't meet the target.

Making outdoor activity a normal part of your daily routine can help  your tween or teen get the exercise and fresh air they need  and lay the foundation for lifelong healthy habits. I'm the first to admit that it isn't easy, but then again, nobody said parenting would be a cakewalk🤪

Hang in there and check out a few of the strategies that help me balance screen time with 'green time'. Do you have any tips to share?
______________________
#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #parenting #parentingteens #parentingtweens #getoutside
“I’m not thrilled about looking older. But wha “I’m not thrilled about looking older. But what unsettles me the most about the 40s is the implication that I’m now a grown-up myself.”
- Pamela Druckerman

Forty-four laps around the sun today and I still find that the passing of time is one of life’s greatest mysteries.
_______________________________
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