Well, we did it—our first themed homeschool week is in the books! Or really, two weeks, since that’s the rhythm that feels best for us right now. We called it Budding Botanists and focused on seeds, flowers, and all the little wonders in between. Camden’s only three, so this definitely isn’t a formal “homeschool” situation. I thought this would be a great way to ease him into learning new subjects (or revisiting some areas but diving deeper) while I decide whether to move forward with homeschooling or other school options. And honestly? It was so sweet. 🌸
Independent Play Moments
One of my favorite ways to see what Camden is learning from our lessons is by being a fly on the wall and watching him get really into independent play. When we first were learning about flowers, we talked about how some flowers can droop when they need water. For a few days after that, EVERY time he needed water, he would “droop” over until he got to his water and was refreshed.
A few days later, we were discussing nectar & pollen. While I was busy getting our breakfast area cleaned up, Camden told me he was a bee. He was flying throughout the house drinking nectar from flowers, then heading back to his hive (his play tent in our living room) to make honey. I couldn’t stop smiling—it’s moments like that that remind me why we’re doing this in the first place.
Hands-On Activities: Paper Making & Nature Walk
For a hands-on activity, we made paper together, and it was such a fun (and messy!) process. I was excited since we had lots of shredded paper to repurpose. Camden enjoyed mixing the best, which I’m sure is no surprise for those that are familiar with the process—messy hands made for a happy boy. The way we tied it into our Budding Botanist theme was by adding wildflower seeds, and we also used dried flower petals from a bouquet I got for my birthday. It felt so special to repurpose them that way.
We also went on a little nature walk near the Sturgeon Bay YMCA and found signs showing which flowers were there, which was cool—but honestly, I kind of wish we had done this theme a little later in spring. I’ve made a mental note to push this topic till later in the year.
Rose Petal Bath & Flower Pressing
One random but very Camden moment: he asked for a rose petal bath. It’s something we’ve done for him on Valentine’s Day the last couple of years, and it made me smile that he remembered. Since we didn’t have any rose petals on hand, we went for a walk to our local floral shop, Steele Street Floral. There, we picked up some roses, and once we got home, Camden was excited to pick the petals off and throw them into the tub. After he was done in the bath, he helped me collect the petals for future crafts—again, repurposing! I did get the chance to pick out some of the best petals and put them to use in our new flower press from Yardstick Books—definitely a good tool to have around. I can’t wait to see how they turn out! Follow me on instagram at Simply Rayanne for the day in the life content.
Mother’s Day Projects & Thrifted Fun
We did venture back to the floral shop later in the week to pick up a few new houseplants to give as Mother’s Day gifts. Camden painted some flower pots using his thumbprint to make little bees. Don’t be fooled though—while we did the thumbprints, my part of making them into bees is not yet started. But hey, Mother’s Day is still a few weeks away, and I’m honestly hoping I can keep the plants alive that long. 😅 Another fun project we did thanks to a thrifted find was painting sun catchers with flowers on them—they’re now brightening up our windows, and I love the way they catch the light.
Fresh Lemonade & Snack Time
Another favorite moment? We made fresh lemonade, and Camden wanted to save the seeds so we could grow more lemons. I know the chances are slim, but of course, I said yes. We planted them just to see what happens. I could tell he was disappointed that it looked the same on the second day. 🌱He also got to snack on some of his favorite edible seeds—sunflowers and a few different nuts we keep stocked. For another quick and activity I made some flower printables on Canva so he could build a flower and name the different parts. He really impressed me with how much he remembered!
Book Highlights
We read so many wonderful books this spring—honestly, they were my favorite part! But, I’m already getting a little long-winded here, so I’ll link to a separate post: 25+ Flower & Gardening Books We Loved This Spring. Whether you have younger kids or older ones, you’ll find something to enjoy. Some of the books were more suitable for older kids, but I included them because the illustrations were just too stunning to leave out. Most of these gems came from our local library, which we’re lucky to visit weekly.
Final Thoughts
Looking back, I’m just really glad we did this. It didn’t feel like school—it felt like a natural extension of the things my three year old is already curious about. It gave some structure to our days without being rigid. Just an easy rhythm we could follow together and even I learned some new things!
Up Next: Forest Friends
Up next: Forest Friends—we’ll be learning all about deer, owls, rabbits, and their homes. I know since my husband is a hunter, we will be playing lots of “hunting” (which is basically hide and seek). I’ll hide our Webkinz stuffed deer somewhere in the house for Camden to find with his binoculars. Looking for inspiration on picking a theme you could dive right into? I have a Pinterest board Nature Based Homeschool that has a list of themes and ideas!
If you’ve done anything like this or have theme ideas, I’d love to hear them! Also, if you have any book recommendations, please share! 😊