Over the last couple weeks, we had so much fun exploring the letter B through birds, blueberries, and bears! From birdwatching adventures to blueberry snacks and cozy bear-themed read-alouds, it’s been a week filled with learning and hands-on activities. We also started using the Get Ready for the Code workbooks to build letter recognition and sounds, which is a big milestone in our homeschool journey!
B is for Birds
Our first day was all about birds! We read How to Find a Bird and Bird Watch, along with The AB Book from the Bob Books series. After these wonderful books, we grabbed our binoculars and headed to our local Audubon Nature Center for some birdwatching.
I’m not a master birder by any means, but I love learning alongside my kids. Together, we looked up birds we couldn’t identify and had a great time exploring. This outing showed me how much kids naturally observe and ask questions when immersed in nature.
When we got home, my daughter was worried the birds in our yard might be hungry since it’s winter. Inspired by her kindness, we made simple bird feeders by stringing Cheerios on string and hanging them on our deck railing. It was such a sweet way to watch the birds enjoy their snack up close!
B is for Blueberries
The next day, we shifted gears to blueberries, starting with a surprise breakfast of homemade sourdough blueberry muffins! While enjoying our snack, we dove into some delightful blueberry-themed books: Jamberry, Blueberries for Sal, and Blueberries for the Queen.To bring the theme to life, we did a simple blueberry counting activity. The kids counted blueberries for each pail and used cotton swabs and blue paint to dot them in. They had so much fun! Want to try it? Grab the free blueberry counting activity here.
Starting Get Ready for the Code
After our blueberry activities, we began using the Get Ready for the Code Book A. I’ve had these workbooks since August but waited until my kids were ready. At four and a half, they’ve recently been rhyming words, asking what letters words start with, and showing a lot of interest in learning to read. It felt like the perfect time!
While they don’t love workbook time as much as our hands-on activities, I’m balancing the two to keep learning fun and engaging. Because Get Ready for the Code introduces letters in a specific sequence, we’ll now follow its order for exploring the alphabet in our homeschool.
B is for Bears
Our final theme for the week was bears—such a fun topic with so many wonderful books! We started the day with banana bear pancakes: two small pancakes for ears, a large one for the head, and a medium one for the nose. Chocolate chips made the eyes and mouth, and the kids loved it!
After breakfast, we built a “bear cave” (a cozy blanket fort) and filled it with stuffed bear buddies for our read-aloud time. Some of our favorite bear books included:
- Eat Like a Bear
- Bear Snores On
- The Bear Ate Your Sandwich
- Bear Has a Story to Tell
- Goldilocks and the Three Bears
- We’re Going on a Bear Hunt
If you’re looking for more bear-themed activities to complement your homeschool, check out these resources in our shop:
✨ Bear-Themed Learning Printables: A 20-page pack of preschool and kindergarten activities focused on letters, counting, and fine motor skills.
✨ Relating Stories to Real Life (with Bear Snores On) Unit Plan: A 7-page lesson plan with activities that integrate reading, writing, and science.
Looking Ahead: F is for Fun!
Next week, we’ll explore the letter F with activities focused on fishing, farm animals, fly swatting, and one of our favorite book series, Frog and Toad! Stay tuned for more hands-on learning and fun.
Explore More on Our Website
Looking for more activities and resources to support your homeschool journey? Browse our shop for printable worksheets, unit plans, and themed learning packs that make learning fun and engaging for your little ones.
Don’t forget to grab your free blueberry counting activity here!
