Natural Learning at Home®
August
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ACTIVITY: Cooking With Nature
Imaginative play can be a lot of fun for all who are involved. Why not cook with nature? With your child, enjoy creating mud pies or stone soup as a delicious treat. Use baking trays, bowls, spoons, and other kitchen utensils to make recipes from items found outdoors.
Need a recipe? Try “Stone Soup”. An easy recipe to make use a pot or bucket, water, and stones. Mix stones, a bit of water, and other nature items to enjoy. End the activity with a great “feast” where your child can enjoy their creations with you or others. Read Stone Soup by Jon J Muth, to encourage your child to create their very own stone soup!
PLANT OF THE MONTH: Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina)
Grown for its soft, fuzzy foliage, Lamb’s Ear is a wonderful addition to your garden, and can even be grown in container pots! Originally from Iran, this perennial plant provides excellent ground-cover; producing bright purple or pink flowers in mid-summer. In addition to being an attractive plant, the soft leaves also provide a great sensory experience for children, helping to develop children’s appreciation for plant diversity.
RECIPE: Watermelon Agua Fresca
Ingredients
-
- 4 cups cold, chopped seedless watermelon
- 1 cup cold water
- 1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice or lime juice
- 1 1/2 tablespoon honey
- Fresh mint leaves (optional)
Instructions
- Put the watermelon pieces, water, lime or lemon juice, mint and honey into blender.
- Blend ingredients until the mixture is smooth.
- Serve right away or cover and refrigerate up to 4 hours. Make sure to stir before serving.
- Enjoy!
