HOMESCHOOLING

study buddy

up close

My mother always used to tell us, "Make sure there are always people in your pictures. Or else they'll be very boring." So forgive me if these pictures bore you, but I can't stop photographing the tiny wonders of spring that are taking place all around our home.

the chosen one

Inspired by an activity on the Green Hour website, Emma and I have each "adopted" a bud on the Maple tree in the side yard, that we'll be watching for the next few weeks.

Today was the first day. We marked the buds with a piece of string, took a few pictures and drew some sketches of what our buds looked like.

study buddy

always a cat willing to help

After a dormant winter, it seems like changes are happening daily, so we'll be revisiting our buds regularly to take more pictures, drawings and observations.

they spent more time....

(And for the sake of full disclosure, I just want to note that my dear children spent more time decorating the title of this chart than they did studying the buds. Isn't that the way it goes?)

I think it will be really neat to compare all the photographs once the leaves emerge. To see how these spindly, fragile red buds change and develop into broad maple leaves.

If I'm not careful, spring will creep up on me, and next thing I know I'll be looking at green leaves, and long grass, and flowering trees. Hopefully, this little project will help us savor the change of seasons a bit more.

up close

My mother always used to tell us, "Make sure there are always people in your pictures. Or else they'll be very boring." So forgive me if these pictures bore you, but I can't stop photographing the tiny wonders of spring that are taking place all around our home.

the chosen one

Inspired by an activity on the Green Hour website, Emma and I have each "adopted" a bud on the Maple tree in the side yard, that we'll be watching for the next few weeks.

Today was the first day. We marked the buds with a piece of string, took a few pictures and drew some sketches of what our buds looked like.

study buddy

always a cat willing to help

After a dormant winter, it seems like changes are happening daily, so we'll be revisiting our buds regularly to take more pictures, drawings and observations.

they spent more time....

(And for the sake of full disclosure, I just want to note that my dear children spent more time decorating the title of this chart than they did studying the buds. Isn't that the way it goes?)

I think it will be really neat to compare all the photographs once the leaves emerge. To see how these spindly, fragile red buds change and develop into broad maple leaves.

If I'm not careful, spring will creep up on me, and next thing I know I'll be looking at green leaves, and long grass, and flowering trees. Hopefully, this little project will help us savor the change of seasons a bit more.

16 comments on “study buddy”

  1. I adore this idea. Truly. We could do the same thing as our lemon blossoms turn into little tiny lemons. So cool.

    And, duh Molly. The title is always the most important thing. It sells the whole project. 🙂

  2. Your mother was right, but her daughter is very witty, and these pictures and post are so interesting and so much fun! And judging from the details of the decorations, I think your children must have first spent a good time studying those buds! Great project!

  3. My boys love looking at things with magnifying glasses. This looks like fun. My 5 year old would get into it, but my 3 year old only draws roller coasters.

  4. Fantastic idea. I love the photos. And I think it’s great that your girls spent a lot of time drawing and decorating. Little artists in the making 😉

  5. I get so darn excited when I start seeing the buds on the trees – and it does seem like they are tiny buds on day and two days later they are leaves and I feel like I didn’t take enough time to enjoy them! I think your project is a great idea!

  6. This is a super idea I’ll have to use next year when Fidge is a little older… This year is amazed by the daily growth of the little zinnia seeds we planted in a dixie cup on the counter. So sweet.

    Love that cat in the lap.

  7. That’s a neat idea. I wonder if my kids would stick with it long enough…. I like to take pictures like that, too, watching all the details outside emerge and change. I always find something surprising on my miniature photo safaris.

  8. your project inspired avery and i to start our own tree-related project. we’re counting the blossoms on our cherry tree each day and keeping a tally. i just can’t wait for cherries!

  9. hey molly. i thought you might like to see the “study buddy” project you’ve inspired over here at my house. it’s primarily for me this year, though my son and husband have been paying attention.

    i’ll say it’s been a HUGE help so far in easing my “seasons passing at high speed” angst.

    thank you for the idea.

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