Explore From Home Activities

Are you looking for educational activities to do with your family from home? Our naturalists and facility staff have come up with fun, educational activities and we have compiled a list of them below.

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Looking for more activities?

For more activities, visit our Nature Center and Facilities Facebook pages listed here:

Animals

What Are Animal Adaptions?

Naturalist Geri Drymalski teaches about animal adaptions and survival with the help of a box turtle, an educational animal from Brookside Nature Center, Montgomery Parks.

Puzzled About Squirrels

How much do you know about squirrels? Do you want to learn even more? Become a squirrel watcher. Observe squirrels just outside of your window or from your front door. Study what they do and how they are wonderfully adapted to your backyard.

Visit the Brookside Nature Center Facebook page to learn about the species of squirrels that live in Maryland.

Chesapeake Conservancy Nest Cams

Spring brings the sound of bird songs, which means that baby birds will soon be on the way! It is not easy to see what happens in a nest, but there are nest cams out there for us to watch.

The Chesapeake Conservancy has three nest cams for their Peregrine Falcon and the Great Blue Heron (both currently incubating eggs) and the Osprey, which are just about done building their nests for this season.

Outdoor Nature Challenge – Insects

Many of us may be stuck at home, but it is important to get outside for a while for our physical and mental health!

– In your backyard, find an insect in its natural habitat and identify it. Here is a great guide to help you identify the insects.

– Then re-create that bug using recyclable materials around your house. Empty packages and junk mail are great art materials!

Tag us (@LocustGroveNature) or post your pictures in the comments on the Locust Grove Nature Center Facebook page. Then follow Locust Grove Nature Center on Facebook for more nature challenges!

Noisy Spring: Open your Window and Listen to the Birds!

Spring time is the best time of the year to perk up your ears and focus on sounds – especially, bird sounds! Whether your favorite bird is a year-round resident like a northern cardinal or blue jay or a just-returned migrant Baltimore oriole, there are birds to watch everywhere, enjoy and to learn about. All you have to do is listen!

Visit the Brookside Nature Center Facebook page for a list of resources to help you identify birds and the sounds they make.

Bluebird Watch
Join us in keeping watch for some of our most popular birds- bluebirds! They are returning to check out nest boxes around the county. So, give the birds their spaces, but keep an eye out for those exciting splashes of color as they investigate nest boxes. Montgomery Parks has a volunteer team of bluebird monitors who check and report on all nests and nesting successes in our parks. Learn more about the Eastern Bluebird from the Maryland Bluebird Society.

Animal Social Distancing – Bullfrog Jump
The guidelines for social distancing can be a bit confusing, so we have asked an animal expert to help explain.
How Do You Measure Up? An American bullfrog can jump six feet.

Try this at home:
– Find an open space with room to move, grab two lengths of string and a ruler.
– Use one string to create a starting line. Line up both feet behind the starting line. Now, with both feet together, jump as far as you can.
– Use the other string and a ruler to measure your distance from the starting line.
Did you jump further than the bullfrog?

Outdoor Nature Challenge – Birds

Listen for birds! Try sitting outside quietly with the kids to watch or listen for birds.
– Use your phones to record the bird singing, or take a picture of it.

– See if you can identify the bird using the Audubon Bird app or The Cornell Lab All About Birds guide.

– Record yourselves imitating the bird’s call, or research the plants or trees the bird needs for food or a home.

Tag us (@LocustGroveNature) or post your pictures in the comments on the Locust Grove Nature Center Facebook page.  Then follow Locust Grove Nature Center on Facebook for more nature challenges!

An Uninvited Guest: The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

The brown marmorated stink bug is a frequent and unwelcome guest each spring in many Maryland homes. Known by many, but loved by few, the insect has spent the winter hiding in homes and other buildings in large adult groups.

But now, with warmer temperatures, the stink bug is becoming active, and you may start seeing it as the bug makes its way outdoors in search of food and mates.

Visit the Brookside Nature Center Facebook page to learn more about this insect and instructions for DIY origami project.

Noisy Spring: Open your Window and Listen to the Birds!

Spring time is the best time of the year to perk up your ears and focus on sounds – especially, bird sounds! Whether your favorite bird is a year-round resident like a northern cardinal or blue jay or a just-returned migrant Baltimore oriole, there are birds to watch everywhere, enjoy and to learn about. All you have to do is listen!

Visit the Brookside Nature Center Facebook page for a list of resources to help you identify birds and the sounds they make.

Box Turtle Vibrations

The box turtles at Meadowside Nature Center usually spend their day interpreting vibrations caused by visitors to the Curiosity Corner, but it has been a little quiet around there lately!

How do box turtles hear? Box turtles do not have external ears. Instead, they have skin on the sides of their head that forms a tympanic membrane and protects their inner ears. The hearing range of a box turtle is more limited than humans, picking up low vibrations.

Visit the Meadowside Nature Center Facebook page for pictures of Tulip the box turtle experiencing sound vibrations during her music in the tub enrichment.

Meadowside Mississippi Map Turtle

We want to give you a peek at our animals and how they are doing. Delta, our Mississippi map turtle, is deciding if shrimp and sweet potato are worth coming out from behind the rocks for. They are!

Meadowside Red-Tailed Hawk

Meet Scarlet, Meadowside’s red-tailed hawk animal ambassador, enjoying a nice bath on a warm spring day! Scarlet, like most raptors, gets the water she needs from the fluid in her diet of small rodents and birds. Raptors bathe to cool off and to keep their plumage in good condition. Scarlet is doing a great job of this. Look at her beautiful golden-red tail, which red-tailed hawks are named after. Wow!

Red-backed Salamander

Unlike some amphibians that lay their eggs and let nature take its course, red-backed salamander moms stay with their eggs to protect them. Mothers find a moist environment for a nest cavity, usually in a rotting log, to keep their eggs well-hydrated.

A red-backed salamander mom curls her body around her eggs and stays with them, only eating if something crosses her path. Once the little salamanders emerge from their eggs, they stay with mom in the nest cavity up to a few weeks after hatching. What a hard-working, amazing animal mother!

Arts and Crafts

Snake ID craft

It is spring and our reptiles are awake and on the move! Did you know Maryland is home to 27 species of snakes, all of which play a vital role in a healthy ecosystem?

How many of these amazing creatures can your family identify? Here is one great way to practice your snake ID: Draw a spiral snake outline and pick one to illustrate and cut out. Remember, venomous snakes have arrow-shaped heads while non-venomous snakes have more square-shaped heads.

For younger artists, identify the shapes and colors found on your chosen snake. For older artists, learn the patterns that make this snake unique and one species-specific adaptation!

Visit the Common Snakes of Maryland Photo Guide by our friends at Maryland Department of Natural Resources for inspiration.

Build your own Bird Feeder

Bring nature closer to home! Make your own bird feeder and see the different kinds of birds that flock to the feeder. Follow instructions for this at-home activity on the National Audubon Society website.

Nature Fairy Craft

Let’s make Fairy Fashion today!
1. Collect natural materials from your backyard. Look for things with different textures, shapes and colors.
2. Draw a simple outline of your fairy. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Add a sense of movement. This helps the fairy come alive!
3. Cut out sketch and assemble her outfit. Do not glue. Allow your child to try out different combinations and looks.
4. Glue. This part may require an adult. I used hot glue because I have very little patience but Elmer’s glue works fine too. It will just take longer to dry.
5. Play with Fairy in her natural habitat!

Shapes in Nature

Indoor nature fun and learning for preschoolers and their favorite adults:
Find shapes in nature:
1.Use round jar lids of different sizes to trace a circle or a ruler to draw a square, rectangle or triangle.
2.Kids use safety scissors to cut your shapes (Adults supervise and assist with scissors).
3.Crayons or colorful markers to decorate your shapes.
4.Explore your home or yard together in search of matching shapes.

Natural Egg Dyes Craft

Looking for something to do with the kids today? Here’s a fun idea to do indoors with them. Use nature’s dyes for dyeing eggs!
*For red or pink: Use two cups boiling water plus one cup grated beets plus two tablespoons vinegar.
*For yellow: Use two cups boiling water plus one tablespoon turmeric spice plus two tablespoons vinegar.
*For green: Use two cups boiling water plus three bags Matcha Green Tea plus two tablespoons vinegar.
*For blue: Use two cups boiling water plus one cup grated or chopped red cabbage plus two tablespoons vinegar.
Then:
1. After mixing the ingredients for a specific color, let it sit for about an hour.
2. Next, strain the vegetable/ or each bag out. The longer the egg sits in the natural dye, the more vibrant the color!

Snake ID craft

It is spring and our reptiles are awake and on the move! Did you know Maryland is home to 27 species of snakes, all of which play a vital role in a healthy ecosystem?

How many of these amazing creatures can your family identify? Here is one great way to practice your snake ID: Draw a spiral snake outline and pick one to illustrate and cut out. Remember, venomous snakes have arrow-shaped heads while non-venomous snakes have more square-shaped heads.

For younger artists, identify the shapes and colors found on your chosen snake. For older artists, learn the patterns that make this snake unique and one species-specific adaptation!

Visit the Common Snakes of Maryland Photo Guide by our friends at Maryland Department of Natural Resources for inspiration.

Build your own Bird Feeder

Bring nature closer to home! Make your own bird feeder and see the different kinds of birds that flock to the feeder. Follow instructions for this at-home activity on the National Audubon Society website.

DIY Mosaics Painting

Are you inspired by paint mosaics, but are not sure where to start? This nature-inspired collaborative project is fun for the whole family with only a few steps.  Visit the Meadowside Nature Center Facebook page for step-by-step instructions to make your own mosaics painting.

Magnetic Skater

Looking for a new, fun way to entertain the kids? Missing the rink and the fun times that ice skating brings? Check out this craft idea that will bring the rink to your fingertips…magnetically, of course!

Mini Ice Rink

We recently learned how to make a magnetic skater. Now we will make a mini ice rink that you can use for your lego players to play on. This video explains how to make an at-home mini ice rink, complete with goal posts!  Post a picture or video of your completed ice rink in the comments on the Wheaton Ice Arena Facebook page.

DIY Nature – Botanical Art

Botanical art is the depiction of plant life through art. While oftentimes beautiful and aesthetically pleasing, it depicts accurate information and scientific details about the plant.

This form of art is important to sharing and understanding information about the natural world and the role plants play in it. And now you can take part in the fun as well! Visit the Black Hill Nature Programs Facebook page for step-by-step instructions to create your own

DIY Disco Ball

Friday night skates at Cabin John Ice Rink are the best! There is fun music, wild lighting, lots of friends together and a disco ball!

Bring the rink party to your home by following these instructions from The Spruce to make your own disco ball.

Then, put some paper plates under your feet, turn up the tunes, flash some light on your new disco ball, dim the lights and you are ready for your own skating shindig! And remember to bring that disco ball back out into the spotlight for New Year’s!

Painting Ice

Did you know that ice rinks are painted? In fact, in order to repaint an ice rink, you have to melt the ice to do it!

Why not paint some ice of your own at home? With a baking tray, some watercolors and a towel (to soak up any mess), you can create a wonderful masterpiece! Check out the naturesource.com website for step-by-step instructions.

Ice Castle Excavation

Looking for a fun, easy, at-home activity to keep your children occupied and learning? How about an ice excavation? This is a neat, easy-to-do activity that only requires a sand castle bucket, some toys (that can get wet), and water! Check out these step-by-step instructions.

Let’s Make a Suncatcher

Is your recycling building up around the house? Let’s turn it into some cheerful art today. You can turn those plastic bottles into beautiful suncatchers!

Visit the Black Hill Nature Programs Facebook page for step-by-step instructions to build your own suncatcher.

Health and Exercise

Tree Yoga Exercise

Learn the parts of a tree and do some tree yoga exercises with Black Hill Nature Facility and Programs Manager Jen Scully.

Virtual Mindful Mondays

Explore simple ways to connect and reconnect with nature during our Mindful Mondays series. Led by trained meditation experts from Minds Incorporated, learn how to bring awareness to your thoughts, sensations and emotions in these videos.

Name Drop Workout Challenge

Try out this fun workout challenge from Learn to Skate USA!  This fun at-home workout leverages the power of the alphabet to create endless fitness combinations.

Each letter of the alphabet is associated with a cardio, strength, balance or stretching exercise. Combine letters together to build a custom workout.

The longer the name, the longer the workout!

Sweat and Stretch Challenge

Flexibility is essential for success in skating, and regularly engaging in an off-ice stretching routine will improve your flexibility over time.

Challenge yourself to focus on flexibility with this fun two-part workout from Learn to Skate USA!

Skating Workouts

Keep in shape off the ice with daily workouts, like these from Learn to Skate USA.

Pass the Puck Exercises

Want to keep up with your hockey skills off the ice? Passing exercises can be done at home or outside with your gloves, stick, and a puck or ball. Check out this great video of pass the puck exercises from USA Hockey.

Off-Ice Stretching

As we are at home for the safety of ourselves and others, Wheaton Ice Arena would like to remind you of the importance of daily stretching and exercise. Not sure what exercises to do? It is easy!

Try some squats, lunges and leg lifts to keep your legs nice and strong for when the rink re-opens. Do not forget to stretch at the end!

Off-Ice Training

Interested in continuing your ice training and looking into options to keep your activity level heightened? Check out this awesome blog post by Learn To Skate! We found the interactive app they mention worth downloading and an interesting way to keep track of how you (or your little skater) progress in your lessons.

Off-Ice Conditioning

Check out the Cabin John Ice Rink website for exercise videos and other resources from their skating coaches and instructors to help you stay in shape while at home.

Paper Plate Ice Skating

Do you have any paper plates lying around? Want to practice some gross motor skills with your child? Ice skate with paper plates! View instructions for this fun, easy-to-do activity from Hands On As We Grow: Activities for Toddlers & Preschoolers.

Off Ice Madness
Let’s do our own March Madness off the ice with this bracket challenge from Learn to Skate USA.

Step It Up Skating Challenge

Do you think you could climb the stairs of the Washington Monument to reach the top? If you can climb 897 steps, then you sure can! U.S. Figure Skating and Learn to Skate USA are joining forces and challenging their members to put their cardio and strength to the test with a virtual journey to the top of famous monuments across the United States. All you need is a flight of stairs! Visit the Cabin John Ice Rink Facebook page to learn how you can take part in this challenge!

Cleaning Your Hockey Gear

Visit the Cabin John Ice Rink Facebook page for some tips on cleaning your hockey gear while being away from the rink.

Types of Skates

So what is the difference in the skates used by athletes in each of the skating disciplines…figure skating, hockey and speed skating?  Four-time Olympic speedskater Dan Cruikshank explains the difference in these skates and how they are built to help athletes master their ice sport in this interview.

Nature Mindfulness

Nature lives in our minds no matter where we are. Find a quiet place and sit or lie in a comfortable position.
– Set a timer for five minutes.
– Take a deep breath and close your eyes.
– Exhale out through your mouth. Take another deep breath and picture your favorite memory of being outside.
– Do you remember climbing a tree or a favorite camping trip? Stay with this memory until your timer goes off.
– Try to increase the meditation time daily.

Garden Mindfulness

Time in nature is essential for physical and mental well-being. Use these short garden mindfulness guides each day in your backyard.  Make sure to visit the Brookside Gardens Facebook page every Monday to see a new way to practice mindfulness in nature.

History

Newlin’s Mill Archaeological Site

Enjoy this 3D reconstruction video of the Newlin’s Mill archaeological site as it it may have looked when in operation during the Nineteenth century. Located in Brookeville, this site, along with Thomas Mill, helped propel the town to economic success.

Everyone Counts: Let’s Learn About the Census

Hoyles Mill Historic Map

Maps are a great resource for archaeologists and historians to compare historic records to the cultural landscapes of their day. The earliest record of the Hoyles Saw and Grist Mill can be traced to an 1816 Maryland Second District Tax Assessment. This section of the 1865 Martenet and Bond’s map of Montgomery County, Maryland, shows some familiar features along the Hoyles Mill Trail, including Little Seneca Creek, John Hoyle’s Saw and Grist Mill, and an unnamed rural road—now known as Hoyles Mill Road. While

the mill is no longer standing, Hoyles Mill Road has been modified for public use since the nineteenth century.

Almanacs Tell the Story

“How will we share the stories of today’s events in the future? Dr. William Palmer, owner of Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park, often used his almanac as a journal to detail the events that took place on his nineteeth-century farm.

Starting a journal or almanac to record today’s events will make sure that your history is saved for future generations.

The Story of Photos

Most families have a box of photos. Some date back before digital photography and some go back generations. Do you know all the people in the photos?

Historians are sometimes challenged by photographs because the people, places and activities are unknown.

Visit the Agricultural Farm History Park Facebook page for a photo project using your family pictures to tell a story of your family.

Every Family Has a Story

Have you ever asked your grandma what her favorite meal, game, or toy was growing up? Have you ever asked your parents how they first met, or where they went on their first date?

Our families all have their own histories, each as unique and interesting as the person sharing it!

One job of historians is to capture what are called “Oral Histories”. Oral histories are considered “primary sources,” or history captured from the perspective of an actual person who lived it (letters and diaries also fall into this category!).

Collect your own family stories with this Oral Histories project from our staff at the Agricultural Farm History Park.

Virtual Tour of Muncaster Mill

The ruins of Muncaster Mill are still visible at the intersection of Muncaster Mill and Emory Lane near Meadowside Nature Center. Visit the Needwood Mansion Facebook page to see a photo album of these ruins and learn about the operation that existed for nearly two hundred years.

Josiah Henson Artifact – Saucers

These ceramic fragments (pictured to the left) found at the Josiah Henson site were once part of a saucer. They came from a kitchen trash deposit discovered during construction for the museum. Based on the handpainted design and colors, this saucer was made sometime between 1795 and 1815. For more information on similar ceramics, and how archeologists determine and artifact’s age, take a look at the “Diagnostic Artifacts” on the Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum website.

History of Sandy Spring and the Northwest Branch

More than 300 years ago, Quaker settlers built a thriving community around the northwest branch of the Anacostia River. The village of Sandy Spring was named for the gentle headwaters that flow through the fields, woods and farms of the community. The “Sandy Spring” is located at the end of the Underground Railroad Experience Trail at Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park.  Learn more about the history of this area on this story map.

Discovering African American History at Needwood Mansion

Discover Needwood Mansion’s African American history! As you come down the tree-lined drive from Needwood Road, look past the bronze marker prominently displayed in the front yard, walk around the late-federal, three-story brick mansion, and focus your attention on the two-story stone structure and the surrounding area in the back. It is here where enslaved men and women were able to rest from their long days laboring on the plantation known as Sunnyside. Enslaved people lived in the upper story of the stone dairy as well as in housing that existed to the east of the dairy building. Learn more on the Needwood Mansion Facebook page.

What is Material Culture?

Archaeologists look to the material culture of past societies to interpret the human experience over time. In the archaeological record, material culture is defined by the objects and spaces that past people have modified to reflect their behaviors, beliefs or traditions.

Visit the Needwood Mansion Facebook page to learn more about material culture in the COVID-19 era.

Zeigler Log House

One of the best preserved archeological sites within Little Bennett Regional Park is the Zeigler Log House located off the Western Piedmont Trail. Visit the Needwood Mansion Facebook page to learn more about this historic property.

Excavations at Zeigler Log House

The Montgomery Parks Archaeology Program has excavated the Zeigler Log House for over a decade. With the help of our volunteers and Montgomery Parks Archaeology Camp participants, we are learning more about what life was like for those who lived and worked on a farm in the nineteenth century.  See highlights from our excavations, artifact finds and history on the Montgomery Parks Archaeology Program website.

What was Concealed Behind this Wall at the Zeigler Log House?

Many historic structures hold deliberately hidden objects within their walls. These ritually concealed artifacts could be dropped into the hollow spaces between walls during repairs or periods of new construction to ward off evil spirits.

Can you guess what artifacts were purposefully hidden at the Ziegler Log House?

To find out the answer and the story behind this artifact, visit the Needwood Mansion Facebook page.

History of Ice Skating

How long have people been ice skating? The answer may surprise you. Check out this informative article from Encyclopedia Britannica on the history of ice skating and the invention of the modern ice rink.

Zamboni History

Zamboni (R) is a brand name. But, do you know who the Zamboni (R) is named after? Well, learn some Zam-history with this timeline from the Zamboni (R) Corporation.

Nature

Brookside Garden’s Children’s Program Horticulturist, Lynn Richards teaches the basics of flower reproduction and how pollinators help nature continue to survive.

Flowers & Pollination

Even though our facilities are currently closed, Montgomery Parks and Brookside Gardens are adapting our education programming to offer you online learning opportunities. Check out this free video to learn helpful design tips as you plan your summer garden and register for our upcoming programs below.

Perfect Plant Marriages

Grow a Garden from Kitchen Scraps

Planting a vegetable garden from vegetable scraps is an easy, cheap and fun way to make a garden in your own home. Use your powers of observations and watch your garden grow day by day from the comfort of your own kitchen. Visit the Black Hill Nature Programs Facebook page to learn about one plant each day and how to plant and grow it in this five-part series.

Nature Journaling

Nature journaling is a great way to stay connected to the natural world. There is always something to be discovered through journaling. You can identify a new flower in your own backyard or observe the behavior of a newly- fledged bird.

Visit the Locust Grove Nature Center Facebook page each week for a new journaling prompt that you can do at home.

Tree Inventory Map/Star Magnolia

Star magnolias are blooming around the parks. What about other trees? Get to know the trees in our parks with Montgomery Parks’ Tree Inventory Map! Each tree is surveyed, given a number, and its data entered into the map. So, discover more about our trees and learn about their benefits.

Maryland Native Plants/Trout Lily Foliage

You can take care of wildlife in your backyard by choosing native plants! Native plants provide habitat for native pollinators and other wildlife. Stroll through your yard and make a native plant wish list! Check out this list of native Maryland plants from our friends at the University of Maryland Home and Garden Information Center.

Look Under A Rock

Tiny worlds live in your backyard. Look for rocks in your backyard and gently flip them over. Take a look! What did you find? Gently put the rock back and take care to not squish any inhabitants!

Blue Flowers

Blue is a rare color in flowers, but there are a number of spring flowering plants that are easy to grow. Here are a few of our favorites.

Share what is growing in your garden in the comments section on the Brookside Gardens Facebook page!

It’s Nesting Time

Spring brings the sound of bird songs, which means that baby birds will soon be on the way! It is not really easy to see what happens in a nest, but thank goodness there are nest cams out there for us to watch.

To get you started, try watching one of the three nest cams run by the Chesapeake Conservancy. There is the Peregrine Falcon and the Great Blue Heron (both currently incubating eggs) and the Osprey, which are just about done building their nests for this season.

What is Outside Your Window?

It is springtime and nature is moving fast! In our typical, harried lives, we do not usually take time to look out our windows every day. So let’s use this opportunity to make some window observations. Choose your favorite window view, and around the same time each day, document what you see.

Make sure to visit the Black Hill Nature Programs Facebook page to see what their staff members are observing outside their window as they work from home.

Tulip Time

Examining tulips up-close, we can enjoy the subtle colors and symmetry of this beautiful flower.  The Brookside Gardens staff has posted pictures of some of the tulips blooming in their gardens on their Facebook page.  What do you notice about these tulips?  Post your observations in the comments section of the post on the Brookside Gardens Facebook page.

Parts of Plant

Learn about the parts of a plant with Black Hill Nature Facility and Programs Manager Jen Scully.

Brookside Gardens Spring Emphemerals

Join Brookside Gardens’ horticulturalist Phil Normandy as he explores the spring ephemerals in the Fortieth Grove.

Fragrance Garden Tulips at Brookside Gardens

Join Horticulturist Jim Deramus in the Fragrance Garden for a look at the tulip display.

Virtual Walk of Trial Garden

Take a virtual walk in the Trial Garden with Horticulturist Kelley Heim to learn about this year’s tulip plantings.

Brookside Gardens Greenhouse Virtual Tour

Join Brookside Gardens’ Greenhouse Manager Nate Roehrich for a virtual tour of the newly constructed greenhouse and the 30,000 summer annuals being grown inside.

Spring Azaelas

Join Brookside Gardens’ horticulturalist Jim Deramus as he highlights the rainbow of colors created by the more than 300 blooming azaleas in our gardens.

Other Activities

Learn to Say “I Love to Skate” in Ten Languages
Learn how to say “”I Love to Skate!”” in the ten most spoken languages in Montgomery County.

Instructions:
-Match the “”I love to skate!”” phrase on the right with the correct language listed on the left.
-Whether you write them down or try pronouncing them aloud, you will learn a new way to tell your neighbors and friends about an activity that you love to do!

Tip: Use Google Translate to learn how to pronounce the phrase in each language.
-Visit translate.google.com
-Click the speaker button in the translation box to hear the correct pronunciation.”

Post a photo of your completed work or a video of you saying “I love to skate” in another language!

Virtual Visit of Black Hill Regional Park

Missing the park? Take a virtual visit with Chronolog and see the back of the Visitor Center looking over the lake, the meadow, the forest fire area and Little Seneca Creek. All the photos were taken by our visitors on their cell phones (and added to the site.)

To see nature change every day, visit the Black Hill Regional Park Chronolog website.

Word Searches

Our ice skating rinks and historical sites staffs have created word searches to keep your family busy and learning while at home.  Click below for a collection of word search puzzles.

Ice Skating Spelling Activity

How good is your spelling?  Put your spelling skills to the test with this ice skating spelling activity sheet from our friends at Cabin John Ice Rink.

19th Century Fun – Cup and Ball Activity
What toys did children in the nineteenth century play with for fun? One toy was the cup and ball, which is a lot harder to master than it may seem. Check out this PBS Kids video that will show you how to make your own cup and ball toy.

19th Century Fun – Marbles

Many of us have seen a marble, the spherical toy often made of glass. But, how many of us know how to play a game of marbles?

Marbles, both the toy and the game, was very popular with children during the nineteenth century. It so popular that the term “Lose your marbles” was used to express the feeling of being upset or frustrated. Playing marbles is a great way to spend time indoors with the family.

The children in the photo are enjoying a game of marbles, which is not recommended for children three years and younger, due to potential choking hazard.

Check out this video on how to play your own game of marbles at home.

Figure Skating Bingo

BINGO! Play a round of figure skating bingo with our unique bingo card. Mark off each one that you have experienced or that directly applies to you in your figure skating career and post your completed bingo card in the comments on the Wheaton Ice Arena Facebook page!

Hockey Trivia

Visit the Cabin John Ice Rink Facebook page and test your hockey knowledge with this hockey trivia activity.

Bird Bingo

Want to find a fun way to get to know your local birds? Then play Bird Bingo! See which bird species like to hang out in our own backyard.

If you see a bird you do not recognize, mark it in the “Mystery Bird” space. You can later try to identify your “Mystery Bird” using one of these resources: The Cornell Lab Online Bird Guide or download the free Merlin Bird Identification app by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Vignettes: Let’s Play a Victorian Parlor Game

The Victorian era, spanning from the 1830s to 1901, embraced a love of art, music, literature, and clothing that captured a grandeur and beauty inspired by the interests of England’s Queen Victoria, for whom the era was named.

Art, in particular, became more accessible to the masses during this period, and no less than six major artistic movements arose from this time: Romanticism, Realism, Impressionism, Symbolism, Post-Impressionism, and Art Nouveau. Because of this rise in interest in the arts, a common pastime at parties was a game called Vignettes.

Visit the Agricultural Farm History Park Facebook page for instructions on how to play their Vignettes game.