Green Hour Challenge #5 - A walk down the street

Our focus on insects got off to a slow start last week. I think the weather was so cold all the insects were wisely staying in their nests and holes!

Today was much more successful. We saw lots of ants; it seems there were three different varieties: 2 smaller ones, only about 1/4 inch long and quite slender, but of differing colouration; the third was much larger and thicker. In fact, the contrast was similar to that of a sketch done in fine tip felt pen and a broad tipped marker!

All three children loved trying to pick up the ants to get a closer look. They encircled the ant with their fingers flat on the sidewalk and stayed like that until the tiny fellow decided to climb onto their hand. Then cries of pleasure: "I've got him! Come see!" and we would all circle round to admire the fine catch. After the novelty of catching them was worn off a bit, we tried watching them to see where they would go once they had crossed the sidewalk. Through the grass, over and under little broken bits of bark and twig, until the interest in that, too, grew thin. But attention was there! They were looking, they were watching, and they were intent!

Along with the insects (okay, it was 'only' ants, but at least we saw insects this time!) we saw two male cardinals, a male and a female robin (but not together), and a small dog out for a walk with his owner. A variety of animal forms, wouldn't you say? :)

At the end of our road is a very tiny clump of small trees and shrubs with a little path through it. I'm talking only about 10' by 20'. Tiny. But the children spent some time wandering the path, checking for hidey-holes they could squirrel themselves away in, and looking for anything else of interest. Maybe on our next walk we'll head straight there and see if we find some great insect specimens hidden in the greenery and ground cover.

I've enjoyed reading the insect sections in the Handbook of Nature Study, by Comstock. What lively pictures she paints of the lives of these little creatures, giving them personality and character! There are several tidbits I intend to share with the family over dinner time tonight.