BACKYARD LEARNING
April 2024
April Showers Bring May Mushrooms?
Did you know that Mushroom season in New York starts in Late April and Early May? The changing temperatures and wet soil from the rain is perfect for mushrooms. It is really important to never touch or eat any mushrooms you find in the wild. Why? Because some mushrooms are poisonous! Mushrooms are very important to our ecosystem. They are known as decomposers. They break down organic material into rich nutrients. From small to large, colorful to pale, and patterned or plain, mushrooms come in all colors and shapes. This month, you can follow this tutorial to design your very own mushroom made from recycled materials.
Recycled Mushroom Craft:
Step One: Gather Your Supplies!
· 1 Paper Cup
· 1 Brad Fastener
· 1 Paper Plate
· 1 Wooden Skewer, Awl, or Toothpick (anything you can use to make a hole)
· Markers, Crayons or Paint!
Step Two: Poke A Hole!
Using your wooden skewer or other tool, help your child to poke a hole in the middle of the plate and the cup, to make room for your fastener.
Step Three: Connect Your Mushroom Top!
Place the Brad Fastener through the plate and the cup, and open the fastener from inside the cup.
Step Four: Decorate!
Decorate your mushrooms; some have spots on their tops or other patterns. Add whatever details you would like. You can even show what creatures and plants may be living under your mushroom, or even a Fairy Door!
If you make a mushroom, post it on Instagram and tag us at @oldwestburygardenskids! See you next month on Backyard Learning!
March 2024
Support authors from our backyard, Long Island!
An Interview with Bonnie Grubman, author of Trees are Not Just for Birds.
Laura, Education Manager at Old Westbury Gardens, recently sat down with author Bonnie Grubman to discuss her book, Trees Are Not Just for Birds.
Like most children, Bonnie began reading as a child through picture books. She recalls growing up in an apartment building and spending hot summer nights seated on her fire escape, reading her picture books. In our interview she states “I would take my picture books outside and get to travel, inside the books all over the world. And so I really, really grew a tremendous fondness for picture books”.
Bonnie taught nursery school for about seventeen years and credits her former students for teaching her everything she knows about the picture book world. Her teaching experience gave her insight into the topics students were most interested in reading and learning about.
While out in her backyard one day, Bonnie noticed a baby bird hopping around. She thought the baby had fallen out of the nest, and after hearing its chirping, wanted to help this baby bird. Bonnie “realized very shortly after that the little bird was actually communicating with its mom. And she seemed to be guiding him from a distance, as to where to go...I watched the baby bird just to make sure he was safe on the ground, and I found the nest, and it was then that I looked up at the tree and felt such an appreciation for the work that probably went into the nest... and I wondered: ‘how did that mom bird decide on which tree she was going to build her home?’ So, I think that was the day that this story came into my imagination.” And thus, came Trees Are Not Just for Birds.
Bonnie has written over a dozen picture books, and when asked which is her favorite, she states, “Walter and Willie Go Fishing...I think of the six Walter and Willie books, this might be my favorite title.” She says she loves her Walter and Willy series, “because it's extremely dear to me.” She found inspiration for the series from her two twin grandsons, who had been playing in a mud hole one day, “as happy as pigs in the mud.”
In our interview, Bonnie described being an author as “a dream come true,” and hopes to author more books for as long as she can.
We are excited to announce we will be doing an Author Night event with Bonnie Grubman, on May 17th at the Barn at Orchard Hill. You can listen to Bonnie read Trees Are Not Just for Birds and join in on the fun for an evening at the gardens. You can find out more on our events page HERE!
You can find more at www.bonniegrubmanbooks.com
February 2024
Support our resident birds by making a bird feeder!
Every month at Backyard Learning, we highlight an aspect of Old Westbury Gardens’ educational programming with articles and activities that help you connect with nature—even when you’re not at the Gardens. This month we’re highlighting our resident birds that stay with us through the winter months, and we’re making a simple, recycled bird feeder! If you want to learn more about the birds at Old Westbury Gardens you should come to our Spring Breakout: Birds and Bugs program on Wednesday, April 24th! [Learn more here.]
Here at Old Westbury Gardens, we love our birds. Seeing Mallard ducks, Canadian geese, chimney swifts, starlings, and cardinals is always a treat when walking through the gardens. Sometimes we even get lucky and see the great blue heron fly over our lakes. Even in February, there are many birds making their home here. One bird we love is the White-Throated sparrow. They are easily identifiable with their white throat and yellow “lores” above their eyes. They are frequent visitors to bird feeders in winter and are the most common sparrow species. To attract these adorable sparrows to your bird feeder, leave millet and sunflower seeds.
Our activity this month is all about recycling household items to make a hanging bird feeder. You can watch our video this month and see how we take a paper plate, and string or yarn and make a bird feeder that can attract birds like the White-Throated sparrow. If you make and decorate your own bird feeder, post it on Instagram and tag us at Oldwestburygardenskids!
JANUARY 2024
Storybook Stroll: The Magical Snow Garden by Tracey Corderoy
Every month on this Backyard Learning page, we’ll highlight an aspect of Old Westbury Gardens’ educational programming, with articles and activities that can help you connect with nature even when you are not at the Gardens. This month, we’re highlighting our popular Storybook Strolls with a book recommendation and activity.
Our activity this month is inspired by The Magical Snow Garden by Tracey Corderoy, and it’s all about reusing the wrapping paper and tissue paper we used during the holidays. At Old Westbury Gardens we are committed to helping our environment. By reducing and reusing paper, we will reduce the impact involved in creating paper, including wood extraction, processing, production, transportation, use, and disposal. Most wrapping paper cannot be recycled if it has foil elements, so when that is the case, it is best to find a use for it beyond its life wrapping gifts. In this activity we will be just like Wellington the penguin and make our own paper flowers to decorate our spaces!
You can watch our video to learn how to make wrapping paper flowers, just like Wellington the penguin!
ARCHIVES
Let the summer fun begin where long days and warm nights are filled with continued learning and discovery. Reference our backyard learning resources to keep the curiosity growing all season long.
New ideas for summer science!
Let’s go fly a kite. One of the biggest benefits to island life is beach time. Sea breezes occur during hot, summer days because of the unequal heating rates of land and water and are a great resource for beach-goers to cool down amidst towering temps. Grab a kite from a local shop and test nature’s wind power. How long can you keep that glider flying strong?
Human sundial. Losing track of time? Use the power of the sun and the height of your little one to decipher the day’s timing. Pick five notable times per day, right around meals and snacks for convenience. Have your child stand in a full sun zone while you trace their shadow, paying particular attention to their footprint. Note and record the time on the shape. Return to that same spot (same footprint) and re-trace your child’s shadow four additional times through the day and evening. Observe together how the shapes have morphed and changed over the course of the day. What can you learn about the sun’s cycle from this activity?
Night light. Fireflies are nature’s night light. Their bioluminescent flashes play an important annual role in finding a mate. Play a friendly game of catch and release to highlight these beneficial insects, some species of which prey on common garden pests. Watch as they synchronize in your backyard. Why do you think that’s helpful for their survival?
Let your feet take you to the sidewalk, a local park or one of our famous Long Island beaches and always remember to respect one another’s discovery space and keep safe.
Visit our youtube channel with video exploration experiments and How To’s to learn fun facts and get your creative juices flowing.
Exploring our 2022 Seward Johnson Exhibition?
Click our family observation sheet below to get started.
Hunt the Gardens for history!
Click our photo hunt below to get started.
Download support materials for your At-Home Duck Feather Experiment
Here are a few links to other amazing at home activities with free access or free trials:
When you don’t know why woodpeckers peck wood- Science
https://mysteryscience.com/school-closure-planning
When they’ve read every book in the house- Reading/ Literacy
https://www.getepic.com
When they’re hungry for more- Culinary
https://www.americastestkitchen.com/articles/2253-kitchen-classroom-week-1
When they crave peer connection- For Kids By Kids ages 8-11
https://www.touchableearth.org/
When they’re feeling wiggly- Movement
https://www.gonoodle.com/
When it’s raining outside- Weather
https://weloveweather.tv/for-kids/
When they need a virtual hug from Sesame Street- Emotional Health
https://www.sesamestreet.org/caring
When they’ve played every game- Art & Design
https://scratch.mit.edu/
When they think they know it all- Middle School to College Level students
https://hippocampus.org/