*All studies are digital unless otherwise noted.

The Firefly Nature School Blog

Close up: Using a Pocket Microscope for Nature Study

Close up: Using a Pocket Microscope for Nature Study

by Laura Stroup
  Why We Love Them One of our favorite tools for nature study, our pocket microscope* is requested by our kids regularly, both at home and at nat...
Between the Tides: Simple Tips for Exploring Tide Pools

Between the Tides: Simple Tips for Exploring Tide Pools

by Laura Stroup
  In the Zone The intertidal zone is a diverse place to live and an important ecosystem! It helps protect the shoreline and provides food for many...
My Top 5 Reasons for Nature Schooling

My Top 5 Reasons for Nature Schooling

by Laura Stroup
Whether you choose to nature school exclusively or add nature study to your regular rotation of curriculum, the reasons are vast and compelling to ...
An Introduction

An Introduction

by Laura Stroup
Hey friends, I think an introduction post is in order because it’s been nearly forever. My new blogget, which is a combination of bullet journal an...
The Wonder of Nature

The Wonder of Nature

by Laura Stroup
Many moons ago, when we first moved to southwest Missouri, I worked at a remarkable nature education museum and aquarium. Maybe you have heard of Wonders of Wildlife. It re-opened a couple of years ago after receiving a major facelift, and it has taken Springfield and America by storm. 
A Good Read

A Good Read

by Laura Stroup
We sure enjoy a good read aloud book around here, so when I saw The Nature Club book series on Facebook, I searched it out right away. Nature, kids, books, all rolled into one. I ordered the first book in the series called Taking Flight. 
Cold Play

Cold Play

by Laura Stroup
My kids want to play outside all the time...I mean ALL.THE.TIME. This doesn’t change when winter comes and brings its bitter north winds, dreary clouds, short days and occasional snow. They still ask to go outside, and I almost always reply with an emphatic “Yes!” 
Three

Three

by Laura Stroup
As I reflect back on the year, I can hardly believe 2018 is coming to a close. This has by far been the busiest year of my life, and it shows. Not just with the check boxes next to things I wanted to accomplish, but it shows in the (hopefully not permanent) circles under my eyes, the late nights, the early mornings, the ten years I feel I’ve aged in this last trip around the Sun.
Welcoming Winter

Welcoming Winter

by Laura Stroup
As a little girl growing up in Iowa, I am used to snow. We had plenty of it and we LOVED it. When I say “we” I am referring to the kids. Me, my sister, our cousins, and our friends. I’m pretty sure my parents did not relish the white stuff like we did. As an adult, I understand a lot more about my parents because I see things from their perspective. Snow means cold, wet, puddles in the house, extra layers, extra laundry, hazardous travel, the list goes on.
A Unique School

A Unique School

by Laura Stroup
Most schools aren’t designed to create self-directed learners. In order for us to create self-directed learners, we must recognize that learning is an act of individual self-discovery.There is little time for self-discovery when moving from assigned class to class trying to learn a curriculum that you didn’t have any part of designing.
Halloween Leftovers

Halloween Leftovers

by Laura Stroup

We’ve all heard of Thanksgiving leftovers. I love them. Turkey sandwiches, pumpkin pie for breakfast. You know the drill. But what about Halloween leftovers?!? Around here, we don’t get any trick or treaters at our house in the country, so I never buy candy for us to have around the house. Never fear, Halloween leftovers can be put to good use, in fun and even educational ways.

Motivation

Motivation

by Laura Stroup
Research on motivation to learn has been growing for decades. Researchers, educators, and psychologists are finding more and more evidence that support the critical role that motivation and engagement holds the key to learning. One theory in particular, called Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000) suggests that there are three psychological needs that must be met in order to learn at an optimal level: Competence, Autonomy, and Relatedness.