12 Days Of Summer With Nature's Dark Treasures
Summer break is a time to keep our kids wise. During the long and bright days of summer, 'Nature's Dark Treasures' is the perfect learning companion. We have curated the '12 Days of Summer' activities series for each month in our ingenious calendar book that are ideal for summer break. Let's get started!
Day 1: Dark Soil - Plant a sunflower house
The first dark treasure we learn about is the dark, rich soil of our planet. It provides the best foundation for strong growth and a fruitful harvest. Discover why good soil is dark on the January page of 'Nature's Dark Treasures' and encourage your children to examine your backyard's soil as you prepare it for planting impressive mammoth sunflowers. Consider planting them in a circle or rectangle to grow a sunflower house!
Day 2: Mommy's womb - Build a cardboard house
The month of February acknowledges the soothing darkness that already surrounds us in our mother's womb. Gather some moving boxes and tape, and have the kids build a cozy box fort to experience the comfort of a snug, dark space.
Day 3: Pupils: Light experiment
No matter who you are and where you're from, everybody's pupils are black. The third page of our calendar book reveals the secret of that round black thing in the middle of your eyes. It is responsible for that well known phenomenon, that you have a hard time seeing when you come inside on a sunny day. Try it out and time how long your eyes and pupils need to adjust to less light inside the house.
Day 4: Space - Who can spot the first star in the sky
One of the first dark elements in nature that comes to mind is probably the vast night sky above our heads. In April, 'Nature's Dark Treasures' offers incredible facts about outer space. You can ponder these while enjoying the magic of a summer night outdoors and see who spots the first stars appearing as day gives way to darkness.
Day 5: Dark Food - Make a dark berry ice popsicle
Fresh berries taste just like summer, and on the May page of 'Nature's Dark Treasures', we learn why darker berries have superpowers. Combine both facts by making a refreshing popsicle: blend blackberries, blueberries, and dark cherries with a tablespoon of honey, then pour the mixture into popsicle molds to freeze.
Day 6: Close your eyes - Guided summer meditation
5 minutes of darkness can change your whole day. That doesn't mean, you have to go inside and close all of your blinds. A simple quiet moment with your eyes closed can invigorate even young minds. A guided summer meditation can be accessed here.
Day 7: Coal - Make a fire or have a BBQ
Did you know coal stores millions of years of solar energy inside it, which is released when it burns? Witness this process during your next summer bonfire or barbecue. There's much more to learn about this dark fossil energy on the July page of our calendar book.
Day 8: Diamonds - Unearth a diamond from the dark
In August, we explore how diamonds come to be, noting that these precious, shiny, and bright objects originate from places devoid of light, immersed in darkness. To appreciate this fascinating fact, unearth your own diamond using excavation toys and activities.
Day 9: Nocturnal Life - Discover the sound of the night
Nocturnal life is one of Nature's Dark Treasures. Summer provides the perfect opportunity to encounter these creatures of the dark. With warm and inviting nights, you can venture outside and identify the sounds of these fascinating animals. Who can spot chirping crickets, croaking bullfrogs, and hooting owls?
Day 10: Black Hole -
The first dark treasure we learn about is the dark rich soil of our planet. It is the foundation to grow anything.
Day 11: The color black - Soak up the sun experiment
In November, Nature's Dark Treasures opens your eyes to the color black, which we perceive when our eyes receive no light. Objects appear black to us because they absorb all light. Place a black can and a white can filled with water in the sun. The water in the black can will be hotter because the black color absorbs sunlight and converts its energy into heat.
Day 12 Winter: Celebrate summer solstice
The final month of our scientific journey through Nature's Dark Treasures teaches us about the dark days of winter. The winter solstice marks the shortest day of the year, when the sun feels its weakest. In that darkness, a new sun cycle is born, and the sun regains strength to reach full power in summer. Celebrate this amazing path of the sun with a handmade sundial.