July 27, 2026

Category: Simply Nature

A Mind Wide Open, Biology, Botany, Chemistry, Earth Science, Ecology, Emotional Awareness & Maturing, Imagination, Knowledge Base Expansion, Lils, Physics, Science Discoveries, Self Esteem, Self Management, Simply Nature

Herbology 1 : Hogwarts Greenhouse One

Kala participated in her first Outschool course today, “Herbology & Magical Plants”. Here’s a recap: I learned about magical plants with many, many uses. We talked about cool plants like the Nightshade. The Nightshade is so pretty, it was used to dilate women’s eyes which used to be considered a beauty standard. As time passed, […]

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A Mind Wide Open, Art, Biology, Bugz & Her Explorations, Care & Nurture, CDE Standards Reference, Compassion, Conservation, Earth Science, Fine Motor Skills, How We Learn Best, Imagination, Lils, Responsibility, Simply Nature, Stewardship

Squirrel!

Today we made our squirrel food box. We’ve decided that instead of throwing away our compost-like scraps, we will give them to the squirrels, chipmunks (since we actually had one this summer), and the birds over the winter. So we made a special box that will keep the food dry, and hopefully entice the little […]

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The Table of Elements
A Mind Wide Open, CDE Standards Reference, Chemistry, Construction, Earth Science, History, How We Learn Best, Invention, Knowledge Base Expansion, Lils, Math Discoveries, Pattern Recognition, Physics, Questions from Lily's Brain, Science Discoveries, Simply Nature, Societal Studies

The Table of Elements

While we’ve discovered 118 elements in the physical world, there are 25 (or so) Minecraft elements. This is the beginning of our exploration.       Elements as Building Blocks The periodic table is organized like a big grid. Each element is placed in a specific location because of its atomic structure. As with any […]

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Tsankawi
A Mind Wide Open, Biology, Botany, Bugz & Her Explorations, CDE Standards Reference, Creative Solution Generation, Culture Appreciation, Earth Science, Economics, Exploration, Geography, History, How We Learn Best, Imagination, Invention, Knowledge Base Expansion, Language Development, Lils, Movement & Coordination, Pattern Recognition, Physical Development, Playing, Resources, Responsibility, Simply Nature, Societal Studies, Society & Culture

Tsankawi

And here was our afternoon… We talked about Africa, primarily Eastern Africa, and the region surrounding Kenya, where a friend Lily made last fall spends a fair portion of her time.     We also read: We’re exploring these topics, specifically on a global perspective. She’s learned that 100 cents = 1 dollar, and we’re […]

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A Mind Wide Open, Art, Artistry, Beautiful Curiosity, Botany, Bugz & Her Explorations, Chemistry, Construction, Creative Solution Generation, Culture Appreciation, Engineering, Geography, Geometry, Lils, Playing, Sculpture, Simply Nature, Society & Culture, Storytelling / Recollection, Thought Process & Development

On Electronic Media and the Jicarilla Apache

Perhaps I’m in the current trend minority, but I don’t see any benefit to limiting electronics access. Here’s my experience: By 14 months old, as a result of the screen, various devices, and my engaged involvement with my daughter, she was fluent in ASL, had 700+ signs, and the words (verbally) to go with them. […]

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A Mind Wide Open, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Economics, Economics: Global, Global History, Lils, Physics, Questions from Lily's Brain, Simply Nature, Societal Studies, Society & Culture, Thought Process & Development

Atmosphere & Americans

Yesterday, Lily inquired, as we were on our way to our Alamosa group for play and discovery, about the atmosphere and global economics. She indicated she understood the concept of the water cycle, mostly.  Though I think she is skeptical at just how cyclical the whole thing is, but mostly, she questions where the water came from […]

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A Mind Wide Open, Beautiful Curiosity, Biology, Botany, Care & Nurture, CDE Standards Reference, Compassion, Construction, Developing Self, Empathic Awareness, Engineering, Geometry, Imagination, Invention, Lils, Math Discoveries, Movement & Coordination, Physical Development, Playing, Responsibility, Self Awareness, Simply Nature

Houses, Castles, & Questions

I’ve decided that to best keep track of my own mind, as well as attempt to record the finer points of Lily’s development and her day, that I really have to just leave a post window open all day long. I see it, I write, I add pics, whatever… Today began with Lily showing us […]

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