In the Light of the Silvery Moon

Take a look at the calendar below—have you noticed that there is a full moon is tonight? If it weren’t for the wind, I’d certainly be out in the woods, quietly creeping around and soaking in the beauty of the snowscape. The glow of a full moon on fresh snow is truly otherworldly.

If you’re able to bundle up your cuties and take a short walk tomorrow evening, I promise it’s the kind of experience they won’t forget—quiet, luminous, and full of wonder.

For those who’d rather ponder the moon indoors, take a look at the chart below. It’s a helpful tool for tracking the moon’s phases over time. I’ve also included a handy little ditty to help you decide whether the moon is waxing (growing brighter) or waning (growing more shadow):

“If it’s white on the right, it gets bigger every night.”

Monthly Moon Journal- Elementary Students

Consider starting a Moon Journal with your student. Each night, take a quick peek at the sky, or better yet, step outside and take a look together.   Invite your student to add a page to their journal, drawing what they observe.

For younger students, black construction paper with a white crayon works especially well for capturing the moon’s glow—but truly, any paper and drawing tool will do. The goal isn’t perfection, but noticing change over time and building the habit of looking up.  Lower elementary students might like to add a sentence or two describing their observations with grade level vocabulary.  I see, I observe, In the sky, At night are all great sentence starters for our youngest writers.

Older students and adults might also enjoy giving a Moon Journal a try. Nature-based restoration doesn’t only happen during the day or deep in the forest. Taking time to notice the natural world—using all of your senses—is a powerful way to slow down and reset your nervous system, especially in the quiet of a cold winter evening.

For teens and adults, this practice can also become a moment for introspection: a chance to reflect, decompress, and simply be under the night sky. Establishing a simple, month-long routine helps build regulation and reinforces the benefits of consistent time spent noticing the natural world. 

In upcoming posts, we’ll explore how the ancient nature based season of Imbolc offers relevant lessons for us even today—about transition, renewal, and paying attention to small but meaningful changes.

Monthly Moon Journal-:  Upper Elementary - Middle School

Older students and adults might also enjoy giving a Moon Journal a try. Nature-based restoration doesn’t only happen during the day or deep in the forest. Taking time to notice the natural world—using all of your senses—is a powerful way to slow down and reset your nervous system, especially in the quiet of a cold winter evening.

For teens and adults, this practice can also become a moment for introspection: a chance to reflect, decompress, and simply be under the night sky. Establishing a simple, month-long routine helps build regulation and reinforces the benefits of consistent time spent noticing the natural world. 

In upcoming posts, we’ll explore how the ancient nature based season of Imbolc offers relevant lessons for us even today—about transition, renewal, and paying attention to small but meaningful changes.The Celts are an ancient European, pre-Roman people who lived closely with the land and natural cycles.   Their traditions refer to this lunar cycle as one of particular importance.  Falling halfway between the winter and spring equinox, it marks Imbolc—a time associated with a time of introspection.

To see more of what we're doing click on this link to Ms. Kathy's website: https://sites.google.com/view/natureconnectionbcs-february26/nature-connection-news