This Week's Bug of the Week July 6th–July 12th Have you ever been outside on a hot summer day and heard a loud buzzing sound coming from the trees? That's probably a cicada! You may hear them long before you see them. These amazing insects spend most of their lives underground before making a grand entrance each summer. Let's learn four fun facts about cicadas. Fact 1: Cicadas Spend Years Underground Most of a cicada's life is spent underground as a young insect called a nymp

This week's word is resilient — able to recover from challenges, adapt to difficult situations, and keep going. I always remind my son that learning new vocabulary isn't just about sounding smart it's about having the words to describe our thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Words like resilient also teach valuable life lessons. Everyone faces setbacks, but resilience reminds us that we can get back up, learn, grow, and keep moving forward. Whether your child is learning a n

This week's word is meticulous — showing great attention to detail; being very careful and thorough. I always tell my son that having a large vocabulary gives you more ways to express yourself. Instead of relying on the same words over and over, you can communicate your thoughts clearly and confidently. 💡 Challenge your kids this week:✨ Learn the word meticulous✨ Use it in three different sentences✨ See who can remember to use it the most! What's your family's Word of the W

July invites us to slow down, step outside, and discover the true origins of our food. This month, we focus on the theme of Farm to Table and Simple Living, offering children a chance to learn by doing, exploring local farms, and understanding the hard work behind every meal. Instead of just reading about farming, kids will experience it firsthand, meeting farmers, observing animals, and tasting fresh produce. This hands-on approach helps children connect with nature and appr

This Week’s Bug of the Week June 29th-July 5th Have you ever seen a shiny dragonfly zipping over a pond or lake? They may look small, but dragonflies are some of the coolest insects on Earth. They’ve been around for a very long time and are amazing hunters. Let’s explore four fun facts about these fascinating insects. Fact 1: Dragonflies Are Ancient. Dragonflies have been around for more than 300 million years. That means they lived long before dinosaurs walked the Earth. Lon

This week, we're taking a closer look at one of nature's greatest masters of disguise... stick bugs! Recently, our homeschool group had the opportunity to visit the University of Maryland's Insect Zoo, where we got to see stick bugs up close. These incredible insects are experts at camouflage and can be so well hidden that predators often mistake them for real twigs and branches. Stick bugs are found in many parts of the world, especially in tropical and subtropical forests t

Have you ever walked along the beach and seen thousands even millions of bright blue blobs covering the sand? That’s exactly what has been happening along the West Coast in California, Oregon, and Washington! These strange ocean creatures are called “By-the-Wind Sailors” (Velella velella). Even though they look like jellyfish, they aren’t actually jellyfish! They are tiny floating colonies made up of many specialized parts working together as one animal. They have a small cle

Rams Head Dockside There’s something about being near the water that instantly slows life down a little and as a homeschool mom, I truly appreciate places that let both me and my son relax, learn, and enjoy the moment together. One of our favorite spots to visit is Rams Head Dockside. We love heading there during the week when we need a little change of scenery from our usual homeschool routine. Sometimes I’ll bring my laptop and work outside by the water while my son reads

May 16 – May 22 This week, we’re taking a closer look at one of the most misunderstood insects around… flies! They may seem annoying at times, but flies play an important role in nature. Some help pollinate flowers, break down waste, and even serve as food for birds, frogs, and spiders. This week’s activity is all about slowing down, observing, and discovering the tiny, fast-moving world right outside your door. 🔍 This Week’s Challenge: Fly Watchers Head outside and see how

Tiny Crawlers, Big Jobs in Nature! Beetles are one of the largest groups of insects on Earth with over 350,000 species worldwide! They come in many shapes, sizes, and colors, from shiny green beetles to tiny spotted ladybugs. Some beetles help gardens by eating pests, while others help break down dead plants and animals in nature. This week in Backyard Bug Science, we’re taking a closer look at these amazing little insects and discovering how they help the ecosystem around us

Spider on a leaf Did you know spiders are not insects? Spiders belong to a special animal group called Arachnids. One of the easiest ways to tell if a creature is a spider is by counting its legs. Spiders always have 8 legs, while insects only have 6! A spider’s body has two main parts: The cephalothorax (head and chest combined) The abdomen (where silk is made) Unlike insects, spiders do not have wings or antennae. Many spiders also have 8 eyes, although not all spiders see

If you asked me a few years ago what homeschooling would look like, I probably would’ve said lesson plans, schedules, and a lot of structure. But in our home?It looks a little different. It looks like following my son’s interests… and building learning around them. It Started With Bugs… My son has loved bugs for as long as I can remember. Not just a little interest I’m talking stopping mid-walk, laying on the ground, watching ants for 10 minutes type of love 😂 And instead of

April 27 – May 3 Spring is here, and that means the tiny builders of nature are back in action ANTS! This week, we’re slowing down and taking a closer look at one of the busiest creatures right in our neighborhoods. Whether you’re at a local park, your backyard, or even on the sidewalk, ants are everywhere… and they have a LOT to teach us. This Week’s Challenge: Follow the Ant Trail Grab a magnifying glass (if you have one), head outside, and let curiosity lead the way. Here’

! 🔍 Bring Your Explorer Tools You don’t need much to turn a regular walk into an adventure: Magnifying glass 🔎 Notebook or paper 📓 Crayons or colored pencils 🎨 These simple tools help kids slow down and really notice the small details around them. 🌸 Count & Notice the Details Take a moment to stop and look closely at flowers and plants. Try this: Count the number of petals on different flowers Compare shapes, sizes, and colors Look for new flowers blooming this season 🌼

Ants might be tiny, but don’t let their size fool you—they are some of the hardest workers in the insect world. In fact, ants can carry 10–50 times their own body weight. That’s like you picking up a car! 😳 🏡 Ants Live in Communities Ants don’t live alone—they live in large groups called colonies. Each colony has different types of ants with special jobs: Queen Ant 👑 – The leader who lays eggs Worker Ants 🐜 – They gather food, build tunnels, and care for baby ants Soldier

This week in our Spring Bug Series , we focused on one of the most important (and misunderstood) insects — bees 🐝🌼 Our goal each week is simple:Keep learning fun, hands-on, and real . What We Learned About Bees We started by going over a few key facts: Bees are pollinators that help plants grow 🌸 They move pollen from flower to flower Without bees, many of the foods we eat wouldn’t exist Honeybees live in colonies with a queen, workers, and drones Bees are not aggressive

Caterpillars are one of the most fascinating insects to observe, especially for kids! With their soft, wiggly bodies and tiny legs, they may look simple but they are actually in one of the most important stages of life in the insect world. These little creatures are future butterflies and moths, making them a beautiful part of nature’s cycle. One of the most important things to know about caterpillars is what they eat. Caterpillars LOVE to eat leaves! In fact, their main job

Nature is one of the best classrooms a child can have. Time outdoors helps children explore, ask questions, observe carefully, and build real-life understanding of science, animals, plants, weather, and ecosystems. It can also support attention, creativity, problem-solving, and overall well-being. For homeschool families, nature makes learning more hands-on and memorable. Instead of only reading about science, children can see it, touch it, and experience it in the world arou

If you are homeschooling and want to go beyond the usual park outings, Anne Arundel County and nearby areas offer a wealth of educational field trips that make learning exciting. From interactive museums to aquariums and hands-on STEM centers, these destinations provide engaging experiences that bring lessons to life. Whether your child loves history, science, or creative play, you will find plenty of options to turn any day into a memorable learning adventure. Museums and Le

Homeschooling a child with ADHD often feels like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. Traditional learning methods rarely match how ADHD brains work, which can lead to frustration for both parents and children. The key is not to force a rigid schedule but to use tools, flexibility, and support that align with your child’s unique needs. This post shares practical strategies and resources designed to help your child stay engaged, build confidence, and nurture curiosity