"educational play"

I have to confess...I have the worst time making my kids "hit the books" when it's beautiful weather outside. They all want to be out playing and exploring, and they get along so well when they're out (or...at least, I don't hear them fighting!!). Today I left them go out and play for the first half of the day...and spent most of the time feeling guilty about it. That is, until Kate came in and asked me to come out and see the 'clock' she made on the driveway. It was basically a sundial, which actually told pretty accurately the approximate time. I was impressed! I asked how she knew which way was 'north' to make the top of the clock. She told me she had basically determined at an earlier time that this certain tree in our neighbor's yard across the street was north, so she worked from that assumption. My amazement was obvious... She then asked "So, Mom, does can this count as school?" Uh, yeah...