Tag Archive for nature study
Outdoor Challenge #1
- 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!
Started working on our Animal Notebooks
Me and the kids began working on their individual animal notebooks that they will be using when we begin our study of animal classifications and will work as a personal notebook/storage of information that we will gather as we begin learning about mammals, insects and birds.
This is separate from their nature journals, which will be smaller and easier to carry when we go on our nature walks/field trips.
For our goals for creating the Animal Notebooks, they are
- Develop an understanding of the basic classification system that is used
- Learn to use the classification system when we begin our nature studies this Spring
- Create a working notebook to be used for the storing and studying of different animals and insects and birds and how they inter-relate with each other (or not)
- Be able to understand the basic differences between the different classes and what makes them unique from the other
In addition, we are taking an online “Creating an Animal Notebook” class that is being offered here:
Here is what the kids made for their “Animal Notebook” covers:
and then here is the other:
Homeschool Nature Study
I love this quote that I came across,
“Let them once get in touch with nature and a habit is formed which will be a source of delight and habit through life.”-Charlotte Mason, Original Homeschooling Series
She is a strong believer that through the parent and outdoors is the best way to introduce children to science and help nurture and develop in them a love and an appreciation of God’s creation.
“We are all meant to be naturalists, each in his own degree, and it is inexcusable to live in a world so full of the marvels of plant and animal life and to care for none of these things.”
“There is no part of a child’s education more important than that he should lay – by his own observation – a wide basis of facts towards scientific knowledge in the future.” -Charlotte Mason
It’s because of this that one of my favorite parts about Ambleside/Charlotte Mason is the emphasis on Nature Study.
To read Charlotte Mason’s thoughts about children and nature study you can read them here:
Go here to read 8 Reasons for Nature Study
With the Ambleside Curriculum, nature study doesn’t officially begin till Year 1, however it doesn’t mean that earlier on, you can’t take small steps. I
t’s as simple as taking notice of the world around you while at the park or on walks.
“Let them once get in touch with nature and a habit is formed which will be a source of delight and habit through life.”-Charlotte Mason
Basically, on Mondays and Wednesday’s,me and the kids work on our Science and then every Friday and even Saturday, we will devote that to our Nature Studies.
“We must assist the child to educate himself on Nature’s lines, and we must take care not to supplant and crowd out Nature and her methods with that which we call education. Object-lessons should be incidental; and this is where the family enjoys a great advantage over the school. The child who finds that wonderful and beautiful object, a “paper” wasp’s nest…has his lesson on the spot from father or mother.” (Charlotte Mason; Parents and Children, pg. 182)
Until Spring officially starts and we get some bird feeders up to attract some more birds, we are going to actually begin with working on creating a nature journal and from there start with Insects and reading the “History of Insects”.
A free copy of the “History of Insects” can either be downloaded or read online here.
Followed with that, we will begin reading “Burgess Book of Birds” by Thorton Burgess that can either be bought online, or if you prefer, you can download a free public domain copy here or even read it online.
In addition, we are using our copy of the, “Handbook of Nature Study” by Anna Comstock and a ield guide to birds and insects.
Also, beginning in the spring, we are using the blog, “Handbook of Nature Study” to help guide us through Anna Comstock’s book using their,Outdoor Challenge each week, starting with this Saturday.
Those of you who need a little more structured, I highly recommend visiting Ambleside Online guide for incorporating Nature Study in your homeschooling, join their group or if you want, I’ve formatted a copy of Anna Comstock’s 16 page book,”Syllabus of Lectures-Nature Study” that is a great guide for what to teach and for some selected subjects, there is a “graded lesson plan” by grades.
We’re pretty excited about introducing and beginning this new subject in our curriculum.
What happens on Sunflower Faith?
