Nature Study

Nature Study -- Charlotte Mason Style
Enjoy the Wonder of Nature with your Children
Charlotte Mason's educational philosohpy is a great fit for homeschool families who love great books, simple methods, and academic excellence. One component of a Charlotte Mason education is the regular study of nature. Nature Study has just two parts -- the Doing and the Documenting. Doing -- the nature walk Documenting -- the nature journal or notebook   (This page has a sister page at Nature Tales -- CM inspired living books to supplement your nature study.)

Bat Appreciation Activities
Appreciating the Bat on April 17... and All Year!
In my childhood, bats had a bad reputation. Halloween and vampire stories, myths of blood-sucking... plus a strong association, in many people's minds, between flying mammals and death by rabies. Add to that the more general problems faced by animals in modern society: loss of habitat due to human activity. That furry little flyer needed some appreciation! Bats have been building their reputation for two or three decades now. Many of us know them as pollinators, friends of desert plants... p...

Nature Study at the Beach
Science Exploration Among Sand and Shells
Charlotte Mason considered it ridiculous that a child would study about the rainforest but not recognize the plants and animals in his own back yard. But she certainly didn't limit nature study only to a family's immediate surroundings. Nature study can extend to whatever place you visit whether that be a city, a zoo, a botanical garden, a desert, or the beach. If the beach is nearby, take a day trip for your weekly nature study. Or if the beach is a far away treat, try to sneak in a little ...

Nature Study at the River
Rocks, Erosion, Wildlife, and More
Rivers are a freshwater biome full of life and motion. And they make fantastic places for nature walks. Grab a bucket and a net, and let's go to the river to explore. After a few visits to your local river, lake, or stream, you may want to learn more about what you're seeing.Use any questions you and your children have as a starting point for your study. Learn the vocabulary associated with a river or stream and use those words on your next nature walk. Here are some great resources to star...

Handbook of Nature Study
Homeschool Nature Study - Best Resource Available
Written in 1911 by Anna Botsford Comstock, the Handbook of Nature Study is a gem for families who wish to help their children gain a love of nature. Not only does it explain how to organize short nature study sessions in your family's week, it gives you step by step suggestions to help you learn more about what you have right outside your own backdoor. Categories of study include: Animals, Plants, and Earth and Sky. You may be familiar with this book because it is suggested as part of a Charl...

Nature Study in Your Own Backyard
Fun Science and Nature Study Ideas in Your Backyard
This simple nature activity will focus your attention to a square foot of ground in your own backyard. You will measure off a square foot using yarn or string and then take a deep look into what you can observe. This simple nature study activity is appropriate for all ages of children. You can simplify this activity by making your square smaller if you need to for younger children. You can also make this a seasonal activity by keeping your square up for a long period of time and then keeping...

Winter Nature Study for Families
Winter Nature Study Ideas
Winter can be a difficult time to get outdoors for nature study but not impossible. The Outdoor Hour Challenges will help you get started with nature study during the winter months or they will give you some good ideas to keep you motivated. Look past all the snow and rain, bundle up warmly, and enjoy the change of the season! Whether you are looking for nature journal ideas, nature study activities to do in the snow and ice, or some additional resources to build on your child's winter natur...

The Power of Observation: Life in a Tiny Ecosystem
Observation Activity 3: No Place Like Home
[NOTE: This activity is part of a series on the science process skill of observation. Activities 1 and 2 ("A Little Patch of Land," and "Adopt-a-Plant," can be found here] The next time you are on a nature walk, prepare to explore life under an old, rotting log. Bring along a couple of containers or bug houses, some magnifying glasses, and your notebook and pencil. Any large log will do (it should be large enough to create a really tight space underneath), but the more decomposed the log, t...

Nature Study- Following the Coast
Following the Coast is a wonderful book written by author and illustrator Jim Arnosky. Following the Coast is written about a trip that he took up the coast of the United States and the wildlife that he saw in the saltwater mashes along the way. The book is written for children and is a great way for them to learn about these beautiful habitats. Here are resources to go along with this book.