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Advice for starting late with nature study
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Do any of you ladies have practical tips for starting nature study with older kids? I have 13 yo dd that I’d like to start this year along with my younger ones (6 and 4). I’m just starting to think about how to engage her interest and co-operation and help her to want to participate. This is my child who finds a corner with her book (especially one of her own choosing which is usually a series of some sort – the current one is about horses) every chance she gets and her “goal” is to stay there uninterrupted as long as possible. She does love to swim and swing, but otherwise isn’t very active…which I’m beginning to work on as well.
I just purchased the Fall bundle from handbook of nature study ($13.95). It seems really good for any age, and one of the nature studies was on horses. I believe if you sign up, she sends you a newsletter that has ideas as well. I just looked at the first few pages and it might be worth you trying. here is the link http://handbookofnaturestudy.blogspot.com A lot of blogs I have looked at use her nature studies.
Hope that helps
Paula
At that age kids are usually pretty introspective…and there is no better place than out in nature to sit quietly and think. If you have a nice spot in the yard for a bench swing, I would recommend putting one up and having her sit there for some reading time. Getting a bird feeder or bird bath nearby would give her something to observe. If she is artistic at all, you can set her up with a sketch book and some good colored pencils and send her out to find something new to sketch.
Charlotte wasn’t interested in getting the children’s ‘report’ on nature – she wanted them to experience it and form a relationship with it. Nature study isn’t really a study…its, well, natural!
Just getting her out there on a regular basis will quickly motivate her to want more. There is an innate longing for the peace of natural surroundings – we just have to sometimes force ourselves (and our kids) to go out and find it! A weekly walk in a pretty and new setting and few well timed observations work wonders.
In the beginning, the children and I went in nature walks, read stories from living books and nature readers, referred to field guides, and enjoyed reading sections of Comstock’s handbook. They brought treasures home and proudly placed them on a nature shelf.
Adding a nice magnifying glass perked up interest as our children grew older. Being able to see the intricacies of God’s handiwork became an inspiration.
I found this nature notebook organization blog this afternoon. I don’t know how I missed it. I love to read the outdoor challenge blog infrequently, so I thought I’d see if there were suggestions I’d like to add to our study this year. That’s when I ran across the notebook idea. http://handbookofnaturestudy.blogspot.com/2012/04/how-to-organize-your-nature-notebook.html?m=1
We’ve normally kept treasures until they wither away, drawn in sketchbooks, or just enjoyed observation. However, I’m going to show this to my son (13) as we decide how we will capture each child’s nature study observations this year. Our study will tie artists, composers, nature study, living books, and science together this year.
I hope I remember to take detailed notes along the way for mine own keepsake.
Maybe some of these ideas will trigger thoughts that will help. I think Servingwithjoy is exactly right about this age though. So, it may be a year without a paper trail, but it surely can be an internal experience of a lifetime. 🙂
Blessings,
Becca<><
Another helpful option:
http://simplycharlottemason.com/store/jacks-insects-narration-nature-study-notebook/
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