Why would you want to identify rocks and minerals during nature study? Heck, why would you even care to observe rocks when there are so many other things to see in nature. Rocks are boring. They're dull and colorless. Once you've seen one, you've pretty much seen them all. Be honest. You've thought some of those thoughts before, haven't you? When we first began nature study in our homeschool, I held off learning about rocks for quite some time because - well, I didn't know what in the world were we going to do with them. But I soon realized that we just hadn't quite learned how to look at them with eyes of wonder and excitement yet. I received free products and compensation ... Read More
How To Teach an Interest-Based Nature Study with NaturExplorers
Friends, it's time for another peek into the real life study of nature! In this post, you'll see how easily Amber Oliver and her children were able to explore and discover wildflowers through an interest-based nature study. I'm a big believer in letting our children have a say in their schooling once in a while. It's highly motivating for kiddos to make decisions and helps them take real ownership in the learning. Besides allowing her children to take part in the planning of which wildflower activities their family would complete, Amber was also great at incorporating lessons that support their passions and learning styles. Again, this promotes excitement in the learning ... Read More
This is What a Conifer Nature Walk Looks Like
Have you ever wanted to be a fly on the wall to see how other families "do" nature walks? Today is your lucky day! Heather Hall is taking us right along with her family as they go on a conifer nature walk. I love her gentle teaching style. She does an amazing job guiding the study and conversations, while also allowing her children to play and make their own discoveries. I think you're going to love tagging along with Heather and her children. I also think you'll be inspired by the end of the walk! We've been needing to get out more often. Certainly we've had homeschool co-ops and homeschool classes to attend, but those are all indoors. We've been longing to get outside. So, ... Read More
Simple Field Guide Hint
Here's a simple field guide hint that will work for all ages from preschool through adult. We started using this little trick before our children were even readers and we still use it to this very day. Simple Field Guide Hint Get out the stickers! Before they could write, or even draw very well, I wanted a way for my children to note the plants or animals we had identified. I pulled out a sheet of mini-stickers and we placed a sticker on each picture as we came across something during our nature walks. As the children have grown, we haven’t stopped marking our field guides with stickers. It’s proven to be a great tool for all of us in remembering what we’ve already identified - and ... Read More
Free Nature in Your Notebook Winter Printables
One of the best ways to perk up the school year during the winter is to get outside. Yes, you heard right - get outside! I know it's cold, but I also know what "going stir crazy" feels like and how {even cold weather} nature walks can rejuvenate the spirit. Not to mention, there's a world of nature waiting to be studied during the winter! Nature in Your Notebook To get you started in your nature explorations, I've created THREE fun notebooking pages that will guide you on walks from Valentine's Day through those first sweet signs of spring. To download them, simply click on the graphics. Lovely Winter Walk: Valentine's Day is just around the corner, so how about ... Read More
Chromatography with Leaves: A Nature Study Experiment
(This post contains links to my books.) 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 with chromatography is very easy. Chromatography with Markers I always like to teach the concept of chromatography with markers before using other materials because markers provide such consistently fantastic results. Materials: black water-soluble markers (a variety of brands would be nice for comparison experiments) glasses filled with about 1" of water white paper towels cut into 1" strips pencils tape The black ink you find in water-soluble markers ... Read More
Nature Study: Fossil Walk and Follow Up Fun
(This post contains links to my products.) Boy, I hope your neck of the woods contains as many fossils as mine. In Central KY, we can find fossils hidden just about everywhere - and that makes our rock walks so much fun! We get to be scientists (petrologists, paleontologists, archaeologists or rockhounds - you decide) and detectives, which are pretty motivating titles for my children! Since we've been studying rocks for many years now, we're getting better at identifying rock types without the help of a field guide. Fossils, however, are not as easy for us to identify. That means a fossil hunt is followed by a research-based identification session on the internet when we get home. ... Read More
A Nature Study Photography Project For Any Age
(This post contains links to my products.) Wildflowers make me happy. Of all the treasures of nature, nothing brings quite the smile to my face and peace to my heart as wildflowers. All flowers are beautiful, but there's just something about the flowers that weren't planted by the hands of a human that make God seem just a little bit closer. This spring (after an incredibly long winter) it seemed as if all the flowers that ever grow in our yard burst forth in bloom at once. We have filled our farm yard with plenty of fruit trees and other brightly flowering trees and a few perennials that don't count as wildflowers. But, before the first lawn cutting, the yard also happens to be ... Read More
Hands-On Rock Cycle: Crayons & Cookies
(This post contains affiliate links and links to my business website.) Rocks: Nature Study Indoors or Out One of the cool things about studying rocks is that you don't necessarily have to be outside to do it. Of course, you'll want to take a rock collecting nature walk at some point, but once you have a nice sampling of rocks, much of the study can be completed indoors. It's a great option for nature study when the weather is stinky! The Rock Cycle: Activities Living things have life cycles, but did you know rocks have rock cycles? That's interesting considering they will never die, huh? The rock cycle is simply a name for the process in which rocks can be formed. In VERY simple ... Read More
The Tale of Three Trees: Nature Walk (Free Printable)
(This post contains affiliate links and links to my products.) The Book Tale of Three Trees is one of my very favorite picture books ever. I know, I know - I have a lot of favorites. In my defense, there are some REALLY great picture books out there! This book tells the story of three trees who each had a dream for their future. The first two trees believe their dreams are about to be fulfilled when the woodcutters come to harvest them. The third tree, on the other hand, believes its dreams are dashed when the woodcutters come because it only wanted to stand straight and tall and point to its Creator forever. In the end, none of the three trees get exactly what they wished ... Read More