Posted by Cindy on February 3, 2012
Brrrr – it’s cold outside!
Winter is in full swing. This might seem like a silly time to suggest taking a nature walk, but creation doesn’t stop singing just because the temperatures are cold! In fact, winter is an awesome time for viewing things that we might miss other times of the year.
Besides studying the obvious topics of snow, ice and frost, an entire world of nature excitement awaits this season. Bird’s nests, burrows, rocks, animal prints, and the intricacies of a tree or bush are all things that are much easier to observe during winter when leaves have fallen and plants have died. During a winter walk, challenge your children to find at least ten things that would be much harder to see or find during the summer months.
Notice how landscapes and views from the top of a hill are different this time of year. Discuss with your children how colors, shadows and animal activity have changed from only a few short months ago. Views from this vantage point are perfect for sketching in a nature journal, too.
Winter is also the perfect time to observe conifers (evergreens) and compare them to deciduous trees which have lost their leaves. Your child can create comparison charts and drawings, or complete mini-dissections on conifer needles and cones.
Believe it or not, the ideas above only scratch the surface of exciting nature study opportunities during the winter! If you’re hoping for loads of more ideas for both outdoor and indoor nature (aka science) studies for this season, you might consider one or more of the following NaturExplorers studies: Snow and Ice, Coping with the Cold, Constant Conifers, Animal Signs, Beautiful Birds or Hard as a Rock. NaturExplorers studies were written with the 1st-8th grader in m ind, but include extensions for high school students, as well as fun ideas for preschoolers. Since so many customers asked, I recently released a winter study called Nature by the Season written specifically for preschoolers and kindergarteners.
But, why study nature?
So many homeschoolers are interested in the idea of nature study, but never take the time to actually incorporate it into their homeschool. Many of them feel like nature study is one of the “extras” that’s all too difficult to fit into the schedule of “important” lessons. Or, worse, some feel like nature study isn’t even worthy of being an “extra”.
From my experiences, nature study has actually opened the doors to many of our “important ” lessons! Science takes on a fresh perspective as we learn outdoors and becomes invigorating in the naturally hands-on atmosphere. Nature study covers biology, botany, earth and space sciences in great detail – and more times than you might imagine physical science and chemistry.
Think of nature study as a wonderful science lab – free of charge! Instead of reading in a boring textbook about the life cycle of a flower, for instance, children actually observe life cycles time and time again. These real-life experiences are powerful, yet gentle lessons that help children internalize a great wealth of knowledge.
Besides the subject of science, it’s super-easy to integrate art, writing, geography, and even history and math into nature study lessons. As children paint a tree in a nature journal, write a spontaneous poem about blue jays, sketch a quick map of a trail, or calculate measurements, other subjects seamlessly “happen”. In fact, one joyful afternoon of nature study has often allowed me to check off several completed subjects in my lesson plan book! (The NaturExplorers studies give you many creative ideas for integrating several subjects into nature walks.)
As icing on the cake, nature study allows for time spent together as a family, fresh air and exercise. And, above all for my family, taking time to enjoy God’s creation is a super way to draw us closer to the One who made it!
So, what are you waiting for? Go take a hike today!
Posted by Cindy on January 19, 2010
We’re having so much fun studying snow, ice and frost this season! On a recent nature walk, we were looking specifically for animal tracks. We weren’t disappointed! Each of the pictures below shows prints or trails made by different animals. Unfortunately, I’m not an expert tracker yet, so I can’t identify all of them. I’ve given my educated guesses, though.
These were very small, almost cat-like, but only in one area right below a tree in the woods - I'm guessing a squirrel or chipmunk.
This was obviously a small animal that could easily walk under the wire fence. I hope you can see the trail leading through the field under the fence. My best guess is this is a rabbit trail.
This was a trail of very tiny and shallow prints. Shallow enough to be a bird, but not shaped like birds' feet. Plus, there's a definite drag mark. Can you see it? I'm pretty stumped on this one, but guessing a mouse possibly.
Can you see the prints all the way across the fallen tree? Maybe a raccoon, although the placement of the feet makes me think rabbit. Hmmm...
I loved these delicate little prints side by side. Besides a very small rabbit, I believe a rat or small squirrel could've made the prints.
Deer! I know this one!
I have no idea what made these, but it was neat to think an animal had walked our trail before us. It looks similar like a dog's gait, but our dog had not walked this direction yet. Coyote or fox maybe?
Dog! Our dogs love to walk on the frozen pond.
What great nature finds have you made this month?
Posted by Cindy on January 28, 2009
We have been surrounded by utter beauty this week. In the midst of taking pictures, sledding, skating on the ice covered snow, making snow cream and more, I prompted the children to squeeze in just a little learning.
They had a long walk to their favorite sledding hill. I asked them to just listen for a little while on their walk. What did they hear? Upon returning home, we talked about how quiet the walk had been and how everything seemed to be muffled. Why? Snow absorbs sound. Very much like a room with carpet and curtains is much quieter than a room with hardwood floors and no curtains.
I also had them fill two exact cups with snow. The first cup was to be packed as tight as possible only to the rim, while the second cup was to be heaping, but never packed down. I asked them to predict which cup would be more full of water once the snow melted. They both predicted correctly that the packed cup would have more water in it. Why? Snow has air in it. Packing the snow releases some of the air allowing more snow to fit in the cup. I think they were both surprised at how little water was in either cup in the end. Even the more full cup was only about half full.
We also had some great discussions of snow vs. sleet vs. freezing rain vs. rain that freezes. We had the opportunity to observe each of these weather situations within 24 hours!
God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways;
He does great things beyond our understanding.
He says to the snow, “Fall on the earth,”
And to the rainshower, “Be a mighty downpour.”
So that all men He has made may know His work,
He stops every man from his labor.
Job 37:5-7
Enjoy wintery nature study using the activities found in:
Posted by Cindy on January 6, 2009
Snow Toward Evening
Suddenly the sky turned gray,
The day,
Which had been bitter and chill,
Grew soft and still.
Quietly
From some invisible blossoming tree
Millions of petals cool and white
Drifted and blew,
Lifted and flew,
Fell with the falling might.
~Melville Cane
Welcome to the first edition of the Charlotte Mason Carnival in 2009! You sure are in for a treat as there are over 30 posts to savor and enjoy. I know there are gems to be found in every CM Carnival, but this one is full of really great posts! I hope you’ll take the time to encourage each one of the writers with a kind comment. Enjoy!
Thinking About a New Start to the Year
Jimmie of One Child Policy Homeschool shares her new scheduling plans in Rotation Scheduling for Our Homeschool. She also shares an eye opening post about living math in Living Math is Not Quick or Neat.
Dana from School For Us gets us thinking about being passionate homeschoolers in Great Teachers.
Penny from Our Crazy Adventures in Autismland! reviews her learning goals for the new year in Task #64 Make 1 yr and 5 yr Homeschool Plans. She continues the planning as she shares Our New School Schedule! WooHoo! I am on a roll!!
Sandy from Falling Like Rain has been rethinking some things for the upcoming school year, too, and shared them in A Peek Inside My Planner.
Makita of Twinkling Stars Family School reviews last semester’s plans and makes goals to improve on a few things in Change of Direction – Mid Year Review.
Christin of Journey to a Gracious Woman has written a post about all the CM goals she has for the upcoming months in As We Resume School.
Jennefer of Smooth Stone Academy is just beginning her journey into CM style learning. She shares some of her thoughts in Learnings From Miss Mason.
Our CM Carnival organizer deserves a big thank you in her comment section! Jamie from Rose CottageIntentional Homeschooling shares some of her thoughts about school and life in .
Preschool
The Queen of Carrots from Introducing the World talks about Charlotte Mason’s ideas on reading books versus storytelling with preschoolers in Tell, Don’t Show.
I have a busy toddler in the house who can make school challenging (to say the least!) I’ve written a post called Taming the Toddler to remind myself of things to keep him meaningfully busy while the big kids are involved in school work.
Habit Training
Anne of French Kids Don’t Get Fat takes an interesting look at Charlotte Mason’s thoughts on reward systems as they relate to getting our children to eat well in How You Might Be Teaching Your Child to Hate the Very Foods You Most Want Him to Eat.
Teaching Ideas
Lapbooking has become a popular method of recording lessons learned. Lynn from Eclectic EducationChristmas Lapbook shares one of her son’s latest creations and links in .
Artist and Composer Study
Kris from Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers presents Simple Artist and Composer Studies at Homeschool Bliss.
Barb from Harmony Art Mom gets us thinking about a topic we may or may not have ever considered in Art Books-How to Deal with Nudity.
Patti from Charlotte Mason in America gives tips about artist study, including some nice links, in Art.
Melissa of Living Life Between the Trees had me chuckling as I read her post about artist study in Do Art (Not Crafts).
Amanda from Hearts and Trees continues her watercolor tutorial series in Watercolor Techniques #8 Watercolor Splatters.
Handicrafts
5intow from Delighting in His Richness gives a wonderful paper quilling tutorial in Giving and Quilling.
Living Learning
Kris of At Home Science has started a new blog called Education is the Science of Relations. She shares an interesting post about twaddle free viewing and listening in Living Media.
Molly of Counter-Culture School shares a post from her series about living literature in Whatever is Noble: Hero Stories.
Nature Study
Jonnia of Giggles, Wiggles and Wonder takes us on an impromptu nature study in Unofficial Outdoor Hour.
Julie of Homeschooling Ideas gets us thinking about displaying nature finds in Homeschool Nature Table.
Melissa from In the Sparrow’s Nest gives us some great winter activity ideas in Snowflake Craft and Project – Paper Snowflakes and Borax Snowflakes. She also encourages us to get outside and enjoy winter in Winter Nature Study.
Barb shares a post encouraging a winter nature study of birds in Watching Sparrows and Learning Their Habits on her nature blog Handbook of Nature Study.
Candace from His Mercy is New shares all sorts of snowy ideas in A Winter Nature Study. She also shows a wonderful idea for keeping nature study memories in A Nature Scrapbook.
Shannon from Song of My Heart gives several practical and fun ideas for studying nature this season in Winter Nature Fun!
Theresa of Grace Like Rain also gives several practical and fun ideas for nature study this season in Winter Nature Study.
Jacci (if you’ll remember as the founder of the Charlotte Mason Carnival) is back with a new blog called Understanding Charlotte. She shares a post about getting outside in winter in Winter Nature Walks (a.k.a. a mother self-talks through the PNEU motto to combat her SAD and get her grumpy self outside).
And believe it or not, there’s one more exciting thing to tell before this carnival wraps up…. Barb from Handbook of Nature Study has come up with a plan to help us all get ourselves moving with winter nature study. It’s called Winter Wednesday. Click on the button to see what it’s all about. I hope to be able to join Barb and many of you some weeks!
Ladies, thanks for starting off 2009 with such a great carnival full of practical Charlotte Mason ideas! I pray 2009 is a year full of wonderful memories with your children. Take time to snuggle with them during these peaceful winter days.
Nest of Pleasant Thoughts will be hosting the next CM Carnival in two weeks. Be sure to submit a post here.
Posted by Cindy on December 17, 2008
My children seem to think all the snow is wonderful! After a busy day of snowmen and sledding, they spent hours cutting out and hanging snowflakes all over their bedrooms. It’s festive for sure! (I’m keeping my fingers crossed that all that tape doesn’t pull the paint from the ceiling! Oh well, they’re only kids once.)
Merry Christmas!
