This summer start a bug collection, or a collection of something your kids are interested in. My son loves animals and creatures of all kinds. He spends most of his summer days collecting little critters in old peanut butter jars. His rule is that if he catches something, it will stay in the jar until that evening then he will release it back into the wild. Sort of like the fishing Catch and Release program.
So, I thought it would be fun to make a photo album of the kids “critter collection”. When the kids catch a new bug, especially one we have no picture of, I will take a photo of it.
We have even taken the camera and gone on a bug hunting expedition. Sometimes we just search the backyard, and sometimes we head out to a trail or a park. Instead of catching and putting the bug in a jar, we capture the bug in a picture and put it in our critter collection photo album.
After we get the pictures printed, the kids get on this website or this one and identify what type of bug we have captured. We type up a label that includes the scientific name of the bug and the classification class the bug belongs to.
Now, I know some of you are thinking that this might be a little nerdy, but if you knew my background, it wouldn’t surprise you. See, before most of my little kiddies came along, I was a high school science teacher. This stuff is right up my alley. I LOVE it. And my son seems to be following in my footsteps. We have learned that lady bugs are really called lady birds and that our “roly poly’s” (or potato bugs) are really wood lice. Interesting huh?! We have also learned some really interesting facts about some of our favorite bugs.
We have recently started a leaf collection, which we started when my son had a school assignment. We have plans for starting our animal picture collection this summer. We are planning a trip to the zoo soon and look forward to getting some great animal photos.
You could do this sort of collection photo album for anything your little one has an obsession with: construction vehicles, airplanes, flowers, etc. What are some things your little ones are obsessed with?
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Kristin says
Wow – I love this idea and my boys will be THRILLED about it, so excellent, thanks for sharing.
I love this idea!! Do you mind sharing what camera you use though? It would be a lot more fun if our pictures turned out as nice as yours:0)
Great ideas AND great pictures!!
Christina–My camera is a Nikon D40. For these pictures I used 55-200mm lens and zoomed in really close.
What a great idea. We have plenty of bugs in the yard for this:) –Beth
Great idea. My little girl loves looking and petting all the flowers we see on our walks. I don't know their names so it would a great idea to photograph them and then look up what they are.
Great idea! My almost-2-year-old is obsessed with cars, trucks, construction equipment, motorcycles….basically anything with wheels. It would be fun to make a little book for him of the different types of vehicles.
My oldest son would love this! Great idea as usual. Oh and we made your paints today! I posted pictures and I'm sending people your way for the recipe. I don't know where you come up with such great stuff!
You have got to be kidding me! You use a Nikon D40? I have the same and my photos never look nearly as good as your gorgeous photography. I always assumed you had a super high-end camera — you've inspired me to go back and try to use my 55-200mm lens and improve on my skills. :) Do u also use a tripod? What settings?
Great photos! New blog on the Hx. of the Ladybug: http://historyoftheladybug.blogspot.com/
That is a great idea! My kids are always finding bugs and using my good jars to put them in. I can't wait to start this project with them. Thank you for sharing all your fun ideas.
Liz P–My photography improved when I began shooting in manual (the M on the dial). I don't usually use a tripod for the pictures on my blog because I try to always shoot when there is enough light. For me, lighting is the key! Natural lighting. I can always tell when my pictures have bad lighting. For example, the pictures I used for the pet carrier post above this post, were taken in light that was not as good as I prefer. You can tell the color is slightly off and my subject is a little blurry. Should have used a tripod! Practice!
My kids were always asking for jars for their critters and I am a paranoid parent so I am always leary of sending them out with a glass jar. I was really excited to find a "Bug Catcher" at the dollor store(Dollar Tree) this spring. They have a clear plastic "jar" and a plastic vented lid. It came with a little net and even little plastic tweezers. My kids even caught a little lizard in one. We of course let it go, but they have fun hunting/catching and I am not worried someone is going to get hurt.
Good idea. I wonder if I should start taking pictures of all the rocks my son is collecting and carrying home. Even the garden variety ones mean something to him.