Fun in the Sun

Summer is here! A great way to keep the kids busy this summer is to take them outside. Spending quality time together is easy and fun. Following are some simple outdoor activities that are sure to create a lifetime of memories. Don’t forget the camera!

• Catch lightening bugs
  
• Fly a kite
  
• Go fishing
  
• Look for stars in the night sky
  
• Look for wildflowers
  
• Make leaf or bark rubbings
  
• Observe and count the animals that visit your backyard or neighborhood
  
• Pack a picnic lunch and spend an afternoon in your backyard or a local park.
  
• Pitch a tent in your backyard
  
• Put up a bird feeder
  
• Take a nature walk - keep a journal of what you see, hear, smell, and feel
  

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Book List
Grades PreK-2
Arnosky, J. 1993. Crinkleroot's Guide to Walking in Wild Places. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Bull, J. 2004. Sunny Day Book. DK Publishing, Inc.
Capogna, V.V. 1999. Did You Ever Wonder about Things You Find in Your Backyard? Marshall Cavendish Inc.
Cole, H. 2003. On the Way to the Beach. HarperCollins Publishers.
Cronin, D. 2003. Diary of a Worm. Joanna Cotler.
Drake, J. and A. Love. 1998. Kids Campfire Book. Kids Can Press, Limited.
Drake, J. and A. Love. 1998. Kids Summer Games Book. Kids Can Press, Limited.
Eckart, E. 2003. I Can Go Camping. Children's Press.
Eckart, E. 2003. I Can Go Hiking. Children's Press.
Foley, C. 2001. Let's Go on a Picnic. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Fredericks, A.D. 2001. Under One Rock: Bugs, Slugs and Other Ughs. Dawn Publications.
Good, E.W. 1996. It's Summertime! Good Books.
Love, D. 1997. Backyard Camp-out Book. HarperCollins Publishers.
Milord, S. 1996. The Kids' Nature Book: 365 Indoor/Outdoor Activities & Experiences. Ideals Publications.
Payne, N. 2005. Summertime Waltz. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Pfeffer, W. 1997. A Log’s Life. Simon Schuster Children’s Publishing.
Romanova, N. 1999. Once There Was a Tree. Rebound by Sagebrush.
Rotner, S. 1992. Nature Spy. Atheneum.
Ruurs, M. 2004. When We Go Camping. Tundra.
Tresselt, R. 1992. The Gift of a Tree. Harpers Collins Publishers.
Weisner, C. 2003. Let's Get Going: The Step-by-Step Guide to Successful Outings with Children. Red Deer Press.
Wood, A. J. 2003. Beetles and Bugs: A Nature Trail Book. Silver Dolphin Books.

Grades 3-5
Arnosky, J. 2002. Field Trips: Bug Hunting, Animal Tracking, Bird-watching, Shore Walking. HarperCollins Publishers.
Art, H.W. and M.W. Robbins. 2003. Woods Walk: Peepers, Porcupines and Exploding Puffballs! What You'll See, Hear and Smell When Exploring the Woods. Storey Books.
Bishop, N. 2002. Backyard Detective: Critters Up Close. Scholastic, Inc.
Boring, M. 1999. Fun with Nature. T&N Children's Publishing.
Brenner, B. 2004. One Small Place in a Tree. HarperCollins Publishers.
Burnie, D. 2005. Bug Hunter. DK Publishing, Inc.
Burns, D.L. 1996. Berries Nuts and Seeds. T&N Children's Publishing.
Burton, J. and K. Taylor. 1999. Nature and Science of Spring. Gareth Stevens Audio.
Carlson, L.M. and J. Dammel. 1995. Kids Camp!: Activities for the Backyard or Wilderness. Chicago Review Press, Incorporated.
Cherkerzian, D. 1993. Outdoor Fun: Great Things to Make and Do on Sunny Days. Boyds Mills Press.
Ching, J. 2000. Camping: Have Fun, Be Smart. Rosen Publishing Group, Incorporated.
Criswell, S.G. 1994. Nature through Science and Art. TAB Books.
Hamerstrom, F. 1985. Walk When the Moon Is Full. Crossing Press, Inc.
Kemp, J. and C. Walters. 2007. Outdoor Fun and Games for Kids: Over 100 Activities for 3 - 11 Year Olds. Hamlyn.
Kirkland, J. 2001. Take a Backyard Bird Walk. Stillwater Publishing.
Kirkland, J. 2006. Take a City Nature Walk. Stillwater Publishing.
Kirkland, J. 2002. Take a Tree Walk. Stillwater Publishing.
Kranz, L. 2002. My Nature Book: A Journal and Activity Book for Kids. T&N Children's Publishing.
Larson, G. 1999. There’s a Hair in my Dirt. Tandem Library.
Loy, J. 2003. Follow the Trail: A Young Persons Guide to the Great Outdoors. Holt, Henry Books for Young Readers.
Maas, D.R. 2001. Kids Gone Fishin': The Young Angler's Guide to Catching More and Bigger Fish. Northword Press.
Rhatigan, J. 2005. Run, Jump, Hide, Slide, Splash: The 200 Best Games Ever. Sterling Publishing Company, Incorporated.
Rhatigan, J. 2003. The Kids' Guide to Nature Adventures: 80 Great Activities for Exploring the Outdoors. Sterling Publishing Company, Incorporated.
Ross, M.E. 1993. World of Small: Nature Explorations with a Hand Lens. Yosemite Association.
Silver, D.M. 1997. One Small Square: Backyard. McGraw-Hill Companies.
Walker, R. 2006. Nature Ranger. DK Publishing, Inc.
Warshaw, H. and J. Brown. 2003. Get out!: Outdoor Activities Kids Can Enjoy Anywhere. Sterling Publishing Company, Incorporated.
White, K.L. 2006. Cooking in a Can. Gibbs Smith.
Williams, J. 2002. Creative Kids: Nature Crafts. North Light Books.
Wilson, J. 2006. Hiking for Fun! Coughlan Publishing.
Winner, C. 2006. Kids Gone Campin': The Young Camper's Guide to Having More Fun Outdoors. Creative Publishing International, Incorporated.

Grades 6-8
Atkins, J. 2000. Girls Who Looked under Rocks. Dawn Publications.
Cornell, J. 1994. Journey to the Heart of Nature. Crystal Clarity Publishers.
Fletcher, R.J. 1997. Ordinary Things: Poems from a Walk in Early Spring. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.

Grades 9-12
Backwill, F, Rolph, M., Darley-Usmar, V. 1995. Microbes, Bugs, and Wonder Drugs. Portland Press.
Edsall, M.S. 1985. Roadside Plants and Flowers. The University of Wisconsin Press.
Milne, L.J, L. Milne, M. Milne, and M. Lorus. 1980. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders. Knopf Publishing Group.

Searching for Wildlife in Your Backyard

Many times urban areas are overlooked in the search for wildlife. In urban areas, students must look closely at their daily routines to find habitats. Project Learning Tree’s “Are Vacant Lots Vacant?” takes students to a bit of wildness in the city limits.

As an extension, look for other areas in your town/city where wildlife can be found. These places may include stream beds and un-mowed areas in parks. Nature is all around us!

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Book List
Grades PreK-2
Bunting, E. 1996. Secret Place. Clarion Books.
Capogna, V.V. 1999. Did You Ever Wonder about Things You Find in Your Backyard? Marshall Cavendish Inc.
Cooper, A.C. 2000. In the City. Rinehart P.
Davis, W. 1998. City Park. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Di Salvo-Ryan, D. 1994. City Green. HarperCollins Publishers.
Eclare, M. 2002. Harvest of Color: Growing a Vegetable Garden. Handprint Books.
Edwards, N. 2000. Glenna's Seeds. Child & Family Press.
Ehlert, L. 2004. Nuts to You! Harcourt.
Epstein, S. 1989. Bugs for Dinner?: The Eating Habits of Neighborhood Creatures. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Fife, D.H. 1996. The Empty Lot. Sierra Club Books for Children.
Fleming, D. 1995. In the Tall, Tall Grass. Henry Holt & Company, Incorporated.
Fleming, D. 2000. Where Once There Was a Wood. Henry Holt & Company, Incorporated.
Giogas, V. 2007. In My Backyard. Sylvan Dell Publishing.
Herberman, E. 1989. The City Kid's Field Guide. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Hester, N. 2004. The Living Town. Watts Pub Group.
Huelbig, C. 1996. City Kids and City Critters! McGraw-Hill Companies.
Koontz, R.M. 1998. The Complete Backyard Nature Activity Book: Fun Projects for Kids to Learn About the Wonders of Wildlife and Nature. McGraw-Hill.
Lunis, N. 1996. Life in Your Backyard. Newbridge Educational Publishing.
Morrison, G. 2004. Nature in the Neighborhood. Houghton Mifflin Company.
Raintree Steck-Vaughn. 1987. Animals in Cities and Parks. Steck-Vaughn.
Rammell, S.K. 2006. City Beats: A Hip-Hoppy Pigeon Poem. Dawn Publications.
Rockwell, A. 2006. Backyard Bear. Walker & Company.
Ruurs, M. 2007. In My Backyard. Tundra.
Schwartz, D.M. 1997. In the Park. Creative Teaching Press, Incorporated.
Thornhill, J. 1996. Wild in the City. Sierra Club Books for Children.
Wheeler, J.C. 1993. Beastly Neighbors. ABDO Publishing Company.

Grades 3-5
Barrons Educational Series. 2000. Urban Animal. Barron's Educational Series, Incorporated.
Bash, B. 1992. Urban Roosts: Where Birds Nest in the City. Little, Brown & Company.
Green, J. 2002. In a Backyard. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Gustafson, K.B. 2005. Aunt Gussie And Grandfather Tree. Beaver's Pond Press.
Hirschi, R. 1987. City Geese. Penguin Group.
Hodgkins, F. 2000. Animals among Us: Living with Suburban Wildlife. Shoe String Press, Incorporated.
Kirkland, J. 2006. Take a City Nature Walk. Stillwater Publishing.
Maurer, R. 1989. City Kid's Field Guide. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Morgan, S. 2001. Cities. World Book, Incorporated.
Morgan, S. 1998. Homes and Cities: Living for the Future. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Sanders, S.R. 2002. Crawdad Creek. National Geographic Society.
Shattil, W. 1997. City Foxes. Alaska Northwest Books.
Stetson, E. 2004. Kids' Easy-to-Create Wildlife Habitats: For Small Spaces in City-Suburbs-Countryside. Williamson Books.
Turner, S. 1999. Communities. Raintree Publishers.

Grades 6-8
Aldis, R. 1992. Towns and Cities. Silver Burdett Press.
Barrons Educational Series. 2000. Urban Animal. Barron's Educational Series, Incorporated.
Bruning, N.P. 1992. Cities against Nature. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Cochrane, J. 1988. Urban Ecology. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Fleischman, P. 1999. Seedfolks. HarperCollins Publishers.
Gralla, P. 1999. How Cities Work: Open Your Eyes to the Wonders of the Urban Environment. DIANE Publishing Company.

Grades 9-12
Adams, C.E. 2005. Urban Wildlife Management. CRC Press.
Bosselaar, L.A. 2000. Urban Nature: Poems About Wildlife in the City. Milkweed Editions.
Lomberg, M. 2004. Healthy Cities: Improving Urban Life. Smart Apple Media.