Nature Studies

The final component (I think) I am adding to our homeschool are nature studies! There are a few reasons as to why I decided to include this and let me tell you, it was NOT because I enjoy being outside! In fact, quite the opposite is true. We are studying nature because my boys like to be outside, it is a wonderful way to study and witness science, we are modeling a more Charlotte Mason-esque homeschool this year, and finally (but certainly not least) I want my sons to see the creativity and likeness of God through nature.

I gathered many of my ideas from these two sites:

·       Handbook of Nature Study

·       Life on a Canadian Island

Without further ado, here are our goals for year concerning this area (and we already have one crossed off!)

Goals:

•        Introduce my sons to live nature
•         Expose my sons to nature to view the creativity/likeness of God
•        Start my own nature journal (modeling by example)
•          Make an on-the-go nature kit (sketchbook, pencils, watercolors and binoculars)
•      Observe birds, shrubs, and trees (@ least 5 each)
•       Observe the night sky and moon phases (8/21 is the next full moon)
•         Observe seasonal insects
•        Observe nature in bodies of water (ponds, lakes, rivers, waterfalls)
•        Follow nature trails/take nature walks
•       Take nature scavenger hunts
•         Visit nature reserves
•         Read The Study of Nature Handbook
•         Make caterpillar habitat (harvesting butterflies)
•       Make tadpole habitat (harvesting frogs/toads)

See the chart below to follow our plan for the year. Please feel free to grab it! I am always on the hunt for plans/charts where the organization and fluidity is already done for me! (Enjoy!)

2013-2014 Nature Study Plan

Month	Aspect of Nature	Note/Sites/Ideas
August	Summer Scavenger Hunt	Painted Egg Carton Butterfly Habitat
“	Night Sky	Moon Phases Full Moon, 8/21
September	Pond Study	Outdoor Hour Tadpole Habitat
October	Signs of Autumn/Scavenger Hunt	Nature trail (notebook page) First two weeks Press leaves/tile
“	Backyard	Notebook pages Acorn Collection
November	Rocks: Granite	1st two weeks
	Rocks: Quarts	Last two weeks
December	Trees	(different 1 each week) Tree Collection, Living World
“	December World	(last week of December/notebook page)
January	Birds/Owls	Notebook page Visit reserves with owls Birds Running List
“	Winter Scavenger Hunt	Pinecone collection Notebook Page
February	Rodents	(squirrels, chipmunks,
March	First Day of Spring	Nature Trail (notebook page)
	Signs of Spring	Nature Trail (notebook page) Spring Maple Tree
April	Living Things	Explore nature as living or non-living Living World
“	Spring Scavenger Hunt	Notebook Page
May	Amphibians & Reptiles	Canadian Island Outdoor Hour
June	Fish	Choose two native fish to our state/area
July	Insects	(different 1 each week)

Pictures coming soon!

Blessings,
Joyice, The Writing Enhancer