Impressions

Impressions

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School

Sylvia and her friend Sofia make a powerful connection between important figures such as Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Eleanor Roosevelt, Gandhi and Malala — and the fallen leaves that make an physical impression in the ice.

19 min
4+
Topics: NatureHomeschoolingLeadership

Characters in this Story

Sofia

Sofia and Sylvia enjoy a home-based Nature School at Sylvia's house. Together they explore the yard, go on hikes, work in the kitchen, and make artwork together - all the while learning the ups and downs of an enduring friendship.

Find her in the Martin & Sylvia: Nature School Series!

Sylvia

Sylvia is the younger sister in the well-loved Martin & Sylvia stories. Five years old, she is known for her cleverness, her delight, and her wonderful sense of humor. She and her brother Martin create adventures and discover marvels -- whether they are at home or out exploring their town.

More Stories from this Collection
Martin & Sylvia's Nature School

The Bud's Story

The Bud's Story

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
Martin's disappointment about being late for Nature School turns into excitement about the year ahead after learning about a tree bud's life cycle.
23 min
4+

Gentle Tracking

Gentle Tracking

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
Martin is disappointed that Sylvia has to join him on a hike with his friends, but ends up appreciating that she's there in the end.
24 min
4+

Snow Candles

Snow Candles

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
Martin, Sylvia, and friends discuss different types of families while enjoying the day making snow candles.
22 min
4+

Bittersweet

Bittersweet

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
Sylvia helps Martin decide on the perfect gift for his friend for the last day of Wilderness School before the holiday break.
15 min
4+

Wrappings

Wrappings

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
With the help of the apprentice at Nature School, Martin realizes what he is feeling — he is missing his sister, Sylvia.
24 min
4+

Touch of Nature

Touch of Nature

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
Martin learns to appreciate his senses besides "sight" as he explores the natural world using sound, smell and touch.
28 min
4+

Birds and Squirrels

Birds and Squirrels

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
Sylvia thinks she is doing more work than her friend, Sofia, but discovers that there are different ways of helping out.
20 min
4+

Out in the Sticks

Out in the Sticks

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
Martin and Sylvia each cope with frustration and disappointment in Nature School this week...
27 min
4+

The Color is Always There

The Color is Always There

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
Martin, Sylvia and Nature School friends explore different ways to find color, even when the weather seems dreary and brown.
25 min
4+

Painting the In Between

Painting the In Between

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
Daddy's excitement about the season changing inspires Sylvia and her friend to paint the "in-between" colors of nature.
18 min
4+

They Were Here

They Were Here

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
Martin considers whether people, as well as animals, make an impact on the forest, just by visiting it.
23 min
4+

The Sword Inside

The Sword Inside

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
Martin and Daddy explore whether knights are still knights without horses, armor and swords...
17 min
4+

Change Fairies

Change Fairies

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
Martin explores different ways to think about fire and other things that go through changes.
22 min
4+

I Feel Orange

I Feel Orange

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
Sylvia and friends explore what it means to "feel" different colors.
22 min
4+

Song of the Hermit Thrush: Part One

Song of the Hermit Thrush: Part One

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
Martin wonders which Wilderness School group he will be part of as he listens to the descriptions of each and feels like he could belong to them all.
35 min
4+

Song of the Hermit Thrush: Part Two

Song of the Hermit Thrush: Part Two

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
As Wilderness School comes to a close for the year, Martin realizes he learned a lot about the natural world, but even more about himself.
31 min
4+

Guardians of the Garden

Guardians of the Garden

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
Momma and Sylvia enlist Mrs. Brown's help to keep rabbits and other animals from eating their garden veggies.
20 min
4+

Trusting the Forest

Trusting the Forest

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
Martin tries to understand why his friend Alexander doesn't want his father to attend the Goose-eye evening program.
29 min
4+

Mother Earth Art

Mother Earth Art

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
Martin ponders messages for Momma's Mother's Day card while focusing on Mother Earth at Nature School.
25 min
4+

Brave Salad

Brave Salad

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
Sylvia has been having bad dreams and is worried about going to bed. Her friend Sofia has an excellent idea to help: brave salad!
20 min
4+

Nature School Apprentice

Nature School Apprentice

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
Martin is reluctant to participate in Sylvia's Nature School until Momma asks him if he'll be the apprentice and share his knowledge with the younger kids.
20 min
4+

Camouflage

Camouflage

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
Sylvia learns a trick at Nature School that helps her improve her camouflage skills.
16 min
4+

What is Underneath

What is Underneath

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
Martin gets to know his nature schoolmate, Alexander, by doing a project that reveals "what is underneath".
21 min
4+

Measuring the World

Measuring the World

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
Sylvia learns about the "scientific method" while exploring what she does and does not know about her best friend, Sofia.
30 min
4+

Setting the Table

Setting the Table

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
Sylvia and Sofia try to escape the black flies by bringing their nature art project in the house, but they are surprised by what comes with them.
19 min
4+

Bugged by Bugs

Bugged by Bugs

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
Martin tries not using bug spray at Wilderness School and finds that it's hard not to be bugged by the bugs!
23 min
4+

Tender Seedlings

Tender Seedlings

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
Sylvia wonders why they always have the same thing for breakfast, and begins to relate to the garden seedlings who also don't want lots of change.
24 min
4+

The Perfect Mix

The Perfect Mix

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
Mr. Brown explains the importance of dirt, and the miraculous way that it is made, from things both alive and dead.
22 min
4+

Talking Stick

Talking Stick

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
Martin and his friend, Alexander, use a "talking stick" to work out a plan for their day of activities at camp.
20 min
4+

Pretend Poetry

Pretend Poetry

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
Sylvia thinks Spring has arrived but comes to understand that it's likely Winter will return with the help of some poetry.
27 min
4+

A Geometry of Hearts

A Geometry of Hearts

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
Martin uses geometry to explore shapes at the Goose-eye Camp, and realizes math can be useful and fun.
21 min
4+

Nature Notes

Nature Notes

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
Martin worries he won't be able to keep up with his schoolmates on a reading and writing assignment at Nature School.
24 min
4+

Kings and Queens of the Forest

Kings and Queens of the Forest

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
Martin feels he's missing out on helping Daddy and Sylvia with their May Day preparations but comes to have his own May Day fun at Wilderness School.
23 min
4+

All the Pretty Voices

All the Pretty Voices

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
Martin wakes up thinking about how different voices make him feel. This exploration continues at Wilderness School when they listen to the different "voices" of the birds.
20 min
4+

Sugaring Together

Sugaring Together

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
Martin is upset to miss the first day of sugaring at home, but is surprised to learn he'll be teaching the sugaring lesson at wilderness school!
21 min
4+

Winter Wonder

Winter Wonder

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
Martin helps a friend who is missing her warm Arizona home to appreciate the gifts of Winter.
25 min
4+

Evergreen Brushes

Evergreen Brushes

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
With help from Sylvia and Sofia, Daddy gets creative with nature to make paint brushes for his art lesson at Nature School.
20 min
4+

Nature Medicine

Nature Medicine

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
Martin tries to make it through the day at Nature School even though he's feeling under the weather and gains some wisdom from the natural world.
19 min
4+

Get our Newsletter

Sign up to receive weekly email updates with new stories, Sparkle news, and seasonal activities!

Stay Connected

Download on the Apple App Store
AboutContactFAQPrivacy PolicyTerms of ServiceBlogStore
©2019 Sparkle Stories. All rights reserved.