Bunchland

5 cool documentaries for kids about the planet

Great documentaries educate us and sometimes even inspire us to take action. Here are five docs for your little eco-warriors:

1. Arctic Tale (2007)

This National Geographic film follows a polar bear cub and a walrus pup as they grow into powerful adults, all the while showing the audience how tough things are in the Arctic now that the ice is melting. You had us at polar bear cub. But seriously, the idea that the Arctic home of all these amazing animals is in trouble is very scary. Think of the polar bears and walruses that could be saved if kids today grow up to be better caretakers of the planet than we are?

2. Earth (2009)

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Gavin McInnes likes to catch bugs

When I was a kid, we’d catch grasshoppers and put them in a grass-filled shoebox with holes poked in the top. You couldn’t see what was going on in there and the only way to check on your prisoners without letting them escape was to wait until they died. When we graduated to frogs and snakes, letting them die in a box is the stuff baby sister’s tears are made of. Even at that early age we knew being an amphibian was not a capital offence so, we’d catch some frogs, stare at their petrified faces for a while, and let them go. BOOOOORIIIIING.

The kids today get something about 360 times cooler. It’s a natural habitat that perfectly mimics the forest and provides a feeding hole you can stick bugs in. We got ours for $25 at WalMart but Amazon always has these things $5 cheaper.  Read more...

Catherine Romano blogs about crafty projects for kids and parents

Since we’ve enjoyed a few days of beautiful sunshine, my son has been spending alot of time outside. One of his new favourite things to do is search for bumble bees and spiders. (Which I happen to think are two of the creepiest critters around.) In my attempt to stay away from the real life buzzing and creepy-crawling, I made my son these less threatening friends (and I threw in a butterfly to pretty things up). The only problem was that once I complete the craft, my son suggested we bring his new friends outside to play with the real critters. Nice.

Anyhow, here are the materials and instructions:

• Toilet paper rolls
• Construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue

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Rounding up some cool ideas for exploring in your own backyard.

Summer is (finally) here, and at Bunch we are ready to get outside and explore! This outdoor toy and gear roundup has everything your kids will need to become expert explorers, scientists and botanists in your own backyard.

1. Backyard Safari Birdwatching Kit

This bird watching kit has everything for the budding ornithologist in each of us.  Binoculars, tripod, field guide and three types of bird call whistles will help to attract and identify our feathered friends.

Image via Toys R Us.

2. National Geographic Explorer Kit

A must have for the general explorer in every family. Binoculars, a compass, magnifying glass and an LED flashlight keep kids oriented and engaged.

Image via National Geographic.

3. Do and Discover Insect Collecting Kit

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