The Sun's Gift: Light, prisms, rainbows, and shadow

Tense little bodies relax and brighten as the thunder and lightning make way for a bright spring rainbow, the sun's gift to our eyes! Experimenting with the refraction of light is a joy that delights all, and is easy and very accessible. Using a crystal prism or a diamond wedding ring, children can break the white light into it's pretty colored pieces.

Flashlights also can cause light to dance through prisms of all types, and demonstrate how shadows are created. So can passing clouds and dancing, leaping bodies on sunny days!

Discussing favorite colors while creating them with water and food coloring (or in the bath with colored tablets!) is a great way to show how the colors blend together. What happens when they all mix together?!


Be creative with color: http://www.nga.gov/kids/kids.htm

What is your favorite gift from the sun?

A Rainbow of Song: Birding by ear for little ones!

They come in all the colors of the spectrum- our chirpy neighbors are now filling the air with a rainbow of song! Birding by ear is quite popular with serious birders...and quite daunting for those new to the task. But, little ears are so quick to pick up the new sounds of human words and music- why not in the language of our feathered neighbors, as well?

Feathers come in every hue, and the songs do, too! Here are some common birds of southwest Ohio and some of their more memorable calls:

Northern Cardinal: "Cheer, cheer, cheer...birdy, birdy, birdy!"

American Robin: "Cheerio, cheerio, cheerio, cheerio!"

American Goldfinch: "Potato chip-chip-chip-chip!"

Mallard Duck: "QUACK!"

Blue Jay: "Jay, Jay, Jay!"

Common Grackle: "Readle-eeettt...swat..."

Birds do have many calls, accents, and songs...but these will get little (and big) ears started on the adventure of getting acquainted with our easily spotted (and heard!) local feathered friends.

For more lovely birdsong, visit: www.allaboutbirds.org

Chirpy reading: Birdsongs (Franco) and Birds (Henkes)

What songs are the birds in your backyard singing?