371: Turning Summer Walks Into Learning Experiences
In this episode, Meryl shares how educational summer walks can become meaningful learning experiences for homeschoolers using simple apps and technology tools.
1. Identify Birds with Merlin Bird ID
Meryl discusses using Merlin Bird ID from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to identify birds while walking. The app can identify birds both by appearance and by sound.
Topics discussed:
- Identifying birds from photos
- Recording and identifying bird calls in real time
- How AI improves bird sound recognition
- Contributing recordings to help improve identification accuracy
2. Identify Nature and Participate in Citizen Science
Quick Identification
- Google Lens for identifying plants, insects, bushes, and objects directly from a phone camera
Citizen Science for Younger Children
- Seek by iNaturalist
- Kid-friendly quests and badges
- Easy identification of plants, fungi, insects, and animals
Citizen Science for Older Students
- iNaturalist
- Community-focused biodiversity tracking
- Recording observations in different environments
- Learning ecology, habitats, and biomes through real-world exploration
3. Stargazing with Stellarium Mobile
Stellarium Mobile is a tool for identifying objects in the night sky during evening walks.
Features include:
- Identifying stars and planets
- Viewing constellations
- Tracking satellites and the International Space Station
- Point-and-identify functionality using your phone
4. Create a Digital Nature Journal
Collect observations, photos, and notes from walks into a digital journal or family project.
Tools mentioned:
Ideas for journals:
- Upload photos
- Record locations
- Note how items were identified
- Write reflections and observations
5. Add Fun and Find Trails
Add a layer of fun by turning walks into Scavenger Hunts. ShowsponsorFundaFunda Academy offers a free printable nature scavenger hunt bingo activity for younger children.
AllTrails helps families:
- Find nearby hiking trails
- Check difficulty levels
- Read reviews from other hikers
- Plan routes appropriate for the whole family
If you use any of these ideas, come join the conversation in the Homeschooling with Technology Community on Facebook and let us know which ones your family enjoyed most!
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