Nature study has been one of the most rewarding subjects in our homeschool through the years. It reaches deeply into every single realm of science. It gets us outdoors for fresh air, sunshine and exercise. It creatively includes other subjects like language arts, math, geography, and even history. But most importantly, God has revealed so much about Himself to us through the study of nature.
Nature study works easily with all homeschooling styles. It makes a huge difference with children who need to be active. It can meet all kinds of learning styles, and offers those with learning disabilities a fresh perspective on learning to give them success. Best of all, nature study works really, really well when teaching multiple ages. I know you’ll enjoy some amazing learning using the lessons you’ll find below. Have fun!
We’re venturing into a slightly spine-tingling topic on the podcast this week. Are you ready for myriapod nature study? The creepy appearance of centipedes and millipedes makes this topic perfect for a mid-October science lesson! As your family listens to the podcast episode, you’ll be encouraged to picture a serene autumn forest. Amidst the rustling…
I am so excited to share this unique nature study freebie with you! I think you’ll love using autumn play dough mats in your elementary homeschool for all sorts of meaningful fun and learning. Play dough mats provide a variety of benefits. At the most basic level, molding and sculpting dough helps to exercise fine…
Can you imagine using pumpkins to teach math, science, geography, history, AND language arts? You can do just that while enjoying a super-fun day of pumpkin school! Skip the textbooks for a few days and enjoy fall-themed fun with your elementary and middle school students. They will love the playful activities, and you’ll be thankful…
Get ready to take a little journey through the treetops as we learn about gliding mammals. Some people think they’re cute, while others think they look creepy, but either way gliding mammal nature study is interesting! What does it mean to glide? That’s an important word to understand when you discover that gliding mammals don’t…
Do you love bears? I know lots of kids who are huge fans of bears of all types. In this black bear nature study, children will learn scientific facts about American black bears and their forest habitats. While we often think of bears as cute and cuddly, they can be quite dangerous. If you’ve ever…
This fun chromatography with leaves experiment will teach both the amazing chemistry of chromatography and the botany of why deciduous leaves change colors in autumn. This post contains affiliate links. What is chromatography? It’s simply a big name that means separating mixtures. Or, in this case, separating pigments. As complicated as the word sounds, experimenting…
In this George Washington Carver nature study, learn about a botanist whose love for plants led to many important scientific inventions that we still use today. It might seem strange, but George Washington Carver used things in nature to make the world a better place. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, he was busy…
Please welcome Jen Vail, a regular feature writer here at Our Journey Westward! She’s here to encourage you that the homeschool extras matter – for your children AND YOU. If you enjoy the blog post, let her know in the comments! I have a confession to make: I do not homeschool all of my children….
Have you heard of macroinvertebrates? That’s a mighty big scientific word to describe small animals without backbones that are visible to the naked eye. While the group of macroinvertebrates is huge, the word is often associated with animals in freshwater ecosystems. This macroinvertebrate nature study will help you learn more about them. Some common types…
Over the years, the selection of homeschool nature study curriculum offered by Our Journey Westward has grown and expanded. There are so many options, you might be wondering how to decide which is the best fit for your family. Thankfully, this resource will help you sort it out! Seven Homeschool Nature Study Curriculum Options Nature…
Night-blooming plants flower during the nighttime, usually just after sunset. They are also called nocturnal flowers. Does it sound strange that night-blooming flowers exist? They do and that’s the topic of this intriguing nature study! Have you seen a night-bloomer before? A few common examples include jasmine, moonflowers, evening primrose, and angel’s trumpet. Surprisingly, they…
Charlotte Mason was a very wise teacher. I’ve been pondering her thoughts on nature study lately and have to say…she was right! My children are living proof – as are so many children of families who make nature study a priority. Just what exactly was she right? Oh, so many things. I’ve taken some time to pull together several…
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