- Outdoor Challenge by “Handbook of Nature Study” Blog
Due to last week being Valentine’s Day, I ended up postponing our first week doing Nature Studies to this week instead.
The funny thing is that the weather had been pretty bad and not much to see outside when we were able to go out and about, so I guess our Heavenly Father, provided us with a means indoors, and we and the kids ending up talking about “Mosquito Hawks” and they were wanting to raise butterflies.
Right now the weather isn’t conducive to raising butterflies but “Mosquito Hawks” didn’t mind and we had quite a few so we spent a lot of time, indoors and with hot chocolate, observing the fearsome “Mosquito Hawk”.
This was perfect timing, because hubby and I had to keep reassuring the kids that “Mosquito Hawks” were not interested in them only to have one of them come running up to us a few days later, crying, because a “Mosquito Hawk” was caught in a spiderweb and they wanted to save him or was it a her?
Right now, we are currently doing an “Animal Nature Book” class that is being offered by “Learning Things” so this has been a great way, since the weather is anything but friendly, to use the time to put together our notebooks (it’s been hard to find a cheap 8.5 x 5.5 binder).
I plan on doing a short introductory study on insects after we learn about the 5 kingdoms mostly due to weather related reasons and the only “nature” we see right now are our dogs and maybe a spider and, oh yes, mosquito hawks; lots of mosquito hawks, but no mosquitos or insects (I’m sure their out there,just probrably huddling in their homes with a mug of hot whatever it is that insects will drink in their mugs,lol).
For their “Animal Notebooks”; I’m using that to keep worksheet related works, printed information and more for the kids to use more as a “reference book” and looking to create an 8.5 x 5.5 working nature journal,mostly because it would be easier to pack and bring with us when we have nature field trips and are out and about.
Hopefully as the weather clears up and it gets warmer and the critters start coming out…we can do more.
Meantime, I was blessed to be able to get a copy of “Pocketfull of Pinecones” and looking forward to reading it!
What happens on Sunflower Faith?
