admin 3 June 2009 Activities, Get Outside! 145Commentshttp://www.progressivekid.com/kidsrock/index.php/2009/06/some-outside-fun-with-the-little-humbugs/Outside+Fun+with+the+Little+Humbugs2009-06-03+18%3A09%3A47admin Print This Post  Email This Post

by Marghanita Hughes, children’s author/illustrator and designer of the award-winning Little Humbugs

Meet the Little Humbugs: half human, half bug, Butterfly Girls and Dragonfly Boys. They are the protectors of Nature. Their mission is to motivate children to explore the outdoors and in doing so to develop a connection with the Natural World.

Nika the Butterfly Girl spends hours outside searching for something quite special—Gemstones. Once she’s collected enough in her pod bag, she hurries back excitedly to the Humbug forest to share her sparkling gems with her friends.

Now it’s your turn to look for stones—any kind of stones, rocks, or fossils.

• Always ask for permission to go looking for rocks and minerals.
• On a beach is a good place to look or even in your own backyard.
• Walk slowly and keep your eyes peeled.
• When you’ve collected a variety of rocks/stones you’ll want to clean them.
• Recycle an old toothbrush. Toothbrushes are ideal for scrubbing your rocks clean.
• Leave the rocks to dry and then inspect them with a magnifying glass.

If you’re not lucky enough to find a gemstone, why not try another fun thing the Little Humbugs love to do? Paint your stones and rocks.

• Try to find as smooth a stone as possible. This will make it easier to paint.
• Clean your stone/rock with your recycled toothbrush.
• Paint a design with your favourite colours or paint a bug on your stone. (Ladybugs and Bees are a Humbug favourite.)
• Allow the stone to dry. You could get an adult to varnish your stone if you wish to place it outside.

Chloe the Little Humbug Gardener spends hours outside too. Chloe makes sure everyone is eating a healthy diet by providing fruit and vegetables for all the Humbugs. Everything is freshly picked from her Organic gardens in the forest. One of Chloe’s favourite things to do once she’s finished watering her vegetables is to go on a bug hunt.

Now it’s your turn to get outside. If you don’t have a yard, take a walk to the local park or visit a forest. You’ll find bugs anywhere and everywhere.

• Always ask for permission to go looking for bugs. Some can sting.
• Here are some useful items (they’re not essential):
  1. kid sized binoculars
  2. a container for keeping the bugs for observation (recycle a jam jar)
  3. a bug catching net
  4. a magnifying glass
  5. a journal if you want to take notes and draw your bugs

Chloe keeps a record of all the bugs she finds—she draws the bugs and then writes a description next to the picture.

• Under stones, on leaves and petals, and under logs are all good places to look.
• Always remember to let your bugs go free once you’ve observed and taken notes.

Happy BUG and ROCK HUNTING from all the Little Humbugs!