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…
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…
After our early autumn trip to the beach, Eli was immensely interested in beach life. When I found him pouring over one of our souvenir attraction maps, I knew it was wise to capitalize on his enthusiasm. =So…a quick, delight-directed ocean study started immediately. This post contains affiliate links. Interest-Based Ocean Study Rabbit Trails Sometimes interest-based…
Seashore plants grow in or around areas where the land meets the ocean or other bodies of saltwater. These plants are adapted to living in harsh, salty, and often windy environments. You can find them in a variety of habitats, including sandy beaches, rocky shores, tidal pools, and salt marshes. Learn about them with me!…
When my youngest was in second grade, we did a Creation-based dinosaur unit study that led to some amazing rabbit trail learning! What started out as a great “boy topic” to end the year with a bang, turned into so much more. Without my pre-planning, it even gave him a great foundational understanding of events leading up…
Seashore animals live in or near the ocean and are adapted to living in the intertidal zone, which is the area between the high tide and low tide marks. They can be found on rocky shores, sandy beaches, and tidal pools, and play an important role in the ecology of coastal ecosystems. They’re fascinating to…
In our home, summer break has always been an opportunity for more reading rather than less. With the obligations of regular school lessons on hold for a while, we often get lost in a stack of picture books or chapter after chapter from a current read-aloud (or two). There are lots of components to summer…
If you have a cooperative extension service in your community, you’ve hit the homeschooling jackpot. A homeschool 4-H club through our cooperative extension service is one of the best groups we’ve ever joined. What’s a cooperative extension service? It’s a cooperation between communities and universities that provides training and services to the community on the…
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