By contributing writer Marci

Fireflies, lightning bugs, whatever you call them, they have fascinated me since I was little. Those little dots of light slowly rising and then disappearing in the low light of dusk. It is like magic sprinkled with fairy dust for a young child.

We used to run through the yard capturing lightning bugs in quart jars. In my young mind, the bigger the jar, the better. My mom would poke holes in the top of the jar so our little guests would have some air. I always put my jar of light on my bedside table so I could watch the light show as I fell asleep.

Whether your kids are like I was or not, you can help them learn more about fireflies with these interesting firefly facts and a fun firefly craft that even older kids enjoy.

Where to Find Fireflies

There are 2000 species of lightning bugs on all continents except Antarctica.  Chances are, you have lightning bugs where you live.

Firefly Larvae

These bugs like warm, humid areas. Their larvae live on rotting wood and plant matter near the water’s edge. The adults only live a few weeks and can be found in the forest as well as in tall grass where they can hide during the day.

Firefly Facts

• Fireflies use their light to attract mates and to communicate with other fireflies
• The light of the firefly is the most efficient light in the world. 100% of the energy involved is emitted as light. Compare this to an incandescent light bulb that emits only 10% of its energy as light and the rest as heat. Fluorescent bulbs are us 90% of their energy as light.
• Firefly larvae eat snails, worms, and other insects. The adults may eat nothing because of their short lifespan.
• Adults live a few weeks. It’s just long enough to mate and lay eggs. Larvae live one year.
• The glow of a firefly is a bioluminescent chemical reaction.
• Fireflies can be poisonous.

Firefly Craft

Even my 10 and 14 year old had fun creating their own bugs with this firefly craft.

Supplies Needed

• Plastic Easter eggs
• Pipe cleaners/chenille
• Plastic eyes
• Paper or other material for wings
• Battery-operated tea light

Instructions

1. Cut the chenille into lengths for the antennae and 6 legs.

2. Poke small holes into the eggs where the antennae and legs should go. We used a thumbtack for this. Insert the wires into the holes.

3. Glue eyes and wings onto your firefly.

4. Open up the egg and place the battery operated tea light inside.

You’ve got a firefly!

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By contributing writer Beth

If you’re thinking of introducing US geography to your children, consider these great books as well as a craft and activity ideas to jump start the fun!

Great US Geography Books

The Scrambled States of America by Laurie Keller

This book is a silly introduction to our nation’s 50 states.  The thing I love most about this book is that it introduces the name and shape of each state.  The book also features the physical location of each state as part of the story.  All my kids love this lighthearted introduction to US geography. 

Scrambled States of America Talent Show by Laurie Keller

This sequel introduces the idea of cities, counties, state abbreviations, and order of statehood.  It follows in the fun-loving personality of the original book.  My kids were excited to follow up with each of the states that they “met” in The Scrambled States of America.

My America: A Poetry Atlas of the United States selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins Illustrated by Stephen Alcorn

This is a great US geography book for older children.  It’s a delightful collection of poetry that highlights the diverse regions of our nation.  The book introduces the concept of geographic regions that tie our states together and give them a mutual heritage.  The best part of this book is the vibrant illustration by Stephen Alcorn.  What breathtaking and heart-warming imagery he shares with us!

Magnetic State Shapes

I saw these little state shape cutouts and I thought it would be a fun craft idea to make magnets.  Other state cutouts were in the scrapbook area of my craft store, but the wood veneer seemed like a better choice instead of cutouts from card stock.

Please note that this is not a puzzle. The states are not to scale and they do not fit together. It’s a fun way to learn about state shapes and maybe play a little matching game with your Scrambled States of America state shape pages.

Supplies Needed

• Magnetic tape
• Wood Veneer State Cutouts
• glue gun
• glue sticks

Instructions

The hardest part might be making sure the magnet goes on the “back” of each state.  It took me quite a while to make sure the states were facing the correct direction since the front and back have the same finish.  This is a fun way to get the kids involved making sure they’re all lined up correctly.

Use caution when heating up the glue gun.  Children must have supervision to avoid burns with these high temperature craft tools.  I like to set my glue gun on a piece of foil lined parchment to protect the craft table from gooey drips.

Cut the magnetic strip to the tiny length you need for each piece.  The magnetic tape has a self-adhesive backing, but I use a glue gun to make sure that everything stays put together solidly for as long as possible.

Apply the magnet pieces to the back side of the states.  Allow the glue to cool completely.

These states will stick to any metal surface like a magnetic white board, a fridge, or even a cookie sheet, which makes them easily portable from room to room!

Activity ideas for using state shape magnets

• Use with magnetic letters to try and spell the state names.
• Match the state shapes with the state identification page in The Scrambled States of America.
• Group together states that are in the same geographic region.
• Use the shapes to talk about places you’d like to visit.  Have the child draw a picture of what they’d do if they visited each state.
• Show state shapes when you talk about friends and family in different states.

Fun Tip:  You can also have hours of geography fun with the Scrambled States of America Game.  It’s a blast for kids who are reading age.  They have fun while learning about state nicknames, state capitals, and so much more!

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By contributing writer Colleen. 

It finally feels like spring is here, and I love getting outside to work with my kids in our yard. I want them to feel connected to their world, and gardening, planting, pruning, and playing outside all help them relate to nature, and in turn, want to protect the environment.

It becomes more about being good stewards of the world they’ve been given, rather than something they should do just because people say they should.

A few years ago, we started a compost pile to show them ways we could reduce and recycle waste. Composting with the kids was great fun and super easy to do with little ones.

What is composting?

Compost is a nutrient-rich soil that is created when organic materials like leaves, grass clippings, and food scraps are allowed to decompose naturally.

By creating a composting bin in your yard, you’re trapping beneficial microorganisms within the pile of organic materials, and speeding up the process of decomposition. You’re left with a dark brown, crumbly soil that smells like a forest floor. It’s amazingly nutritious for your garden and house plants.

Why compost?

There are many reasons to compost with your kids. Here are a few:

• Organic waste (fruit peels, egg shells, grass clippings, vegetable scraps, etc.) makes up more than 30% of the trash that ends up in our landfill.
• Plants are healthier and hardier when you grow them from soil rich in composted nutrients.
• When you add moisture to compost-rich soil, it is retained better, making plants healthier.
• Compost can make sandy soil usable.
• Home composting is a great opportunity to teach kids about recycling and about the natural cycle of life.
• It’s fun.

How to compost

So, how do you do it? How do you and your kids build a compost pile in the yard?

1. Choose a location: Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t really matter if your pile is in a sunny or shady spot. It’s the microorganisms at work that heat your pile up. It should, however, be at least two-feet away from any structures and in a well-drained spot.
2. Decide on a pile or bin: Composting doesn’t require any special equipment. You can start a simple pile in your backyard or purchase a special bin for it. A bin keeps it contained and might make the decomposition process go faster, but either works.
3. Load it up with materials: Fill your compost bin or pile with about 60% chopped up brown leaves and 40% grass clippings and food scraps. You don’t really need to chop everything up, but it will speed the process.
4. Add water: As you build your pile, water from time to time. The microbes need moisture to survive – but not too much. Tell your child that you need to keep it as damp as a wrung-out sponge.
5. Turn your pile: Once a day, use a shovel or pitchfork to turn your pile, breaking up clumps and infusing oxygen into the material so your microorganisms thrive. You’ll keep your compost healthier and it will work faster.

Are you ready to start your own compost pile? You and your kids will learn a lot and your garden will thank you.

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