60-day returns • free shipping on USA orders $129+
Nature Study Focus Question
- This topic has 11 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 2 months ago by
.
Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)
- Posts
I am wondering how all of you plan your nature study focus areas. From what I’ve read online I see that AO has 3 focus areas a year. Some like to pick a focus area for 6-8 weeks. There is also the Handbook of Nature Study blog where I could pick a focus for several weeks or work through a season. Journaling a Year in Nature Notebook (SCM resource) has a new focus each week that you repeat through each season for the year. I am wanting to make more intentional plans for our nature study and would like to know what has worked best for you and your family and why. Thanks 🙂
I too am hoping to get more intentional with our nature study this year. I’ve laid out two topics to focus on each term (one plant or earth science and one animal) I used Sabbath Mood Homeschool Special Studies pages to really lay out everything and get my ideas http://sabbathmoodhomeschool.com/charlotte-mason-living-science/special-studies-rotation/
I just made a booklist of books to have on hand and read through during our school time in order to open their eyes during our nature study time. Hoping to be more successful this year than in years past!
We have done two different things:
1. Just get outside in various nature places to explore. For example we have an arboretum we visit at least once each season, but usually more often. They have trees, swamp, Japanese garden, honeybees, a birdwatching area, a nature center, bonsai trees, make maple syrup and demonstrate in winter, etc. This would be the relaxed, non-planned version of nature study. It works.
2. Semi-planned. I have catalogued nature study topics we can do and I browse the list regularly and pick something or a few somethings we are likely to be able to see based on season. For example cloud study is great right now in Ohio, as is wildflowers, but studying the night sky will work better in less cloudy/rainy parts of the year. We do indoor nature study like rocks, shells, etc in midwinter, as well as things outside like conifers and cones. When I look at my list and see dragonfly and pond study written down I glance at my calendar and pick a likely day to visit a pond.
Thanks for your ideas. I am still debating what exactly I want to do. I did like the site on special studies rotation that was posted above. I think having a specific area to focus on a while gets us more familiar with it. However, we are using Outdoor Secrets right now with the Companion which has several different topics that we cover. So I am not sure if I should try to plan my weekly nature study to go along with what we are reading (which sometimes isn’t seasonal) or if I should pick a nature study focus to do weekly that is independent of Outdoor Secrets since there are nature study ideas included in the Companion but not every week for our nature walk. I am probably over thinking this, but I just love organized plans.
Oh this is one of my quests for this year too! My motivation is great when it’s gorgeous and summery outside, but once the rain and coolness hit, game over for me. I purchased Exploring Nature with Children and printed it off yesterday. I think this might be helpful to me because it’s more scheduled. The coupon code EXPLORE also worked the other night still, so you can get it for $12. The file is 240 pages, so it’s very in-depth.
I purchased Exploring Nature with Children and printed it off yesterday. I think this might be helpful to me because it’s more scheduled.
I also purchased this for this school year. We just started with it, but I’ve looked ahead a month and I love it. It incorporates poetry, picture study, and nature study. It also gives a list of books that will supplement what you are studying each week. (I’ve already been to the library to cover everthing for this month). Very thankful for a thorough, but inexpensive, resource.
It incorporates poetry, picture study, and nature study. It also gives a list of books that will supplement what you are studying each week. (I’ve already been to the library to cover everthing for this month). Very thankful for a thorough, but inexpensive, resource.
That is exactly why I’m back on the computer, putting books on hold. My kids are older (12-16), but I still find so much value in picture books for all of us. I’m so thankful for this resource too. I do hope it helps me to continue to do nature study through the year and I too love how she’s woven other elements into it for a well rounded study. I even used my Proclick machine to even bind it and it looks so pretty! 🙂
I had my eye on Exploring Nature with Children. I’m happy to hear you are enjoying it. Thanks for the coupon too!
Tina, we are using Outdoor Secrets this year as our “planned” nature study. I figure we’ll add in a bit of unstructured outdoor time in addition to the lessons. My goal with OS is that it will “break the ice” of getting them to use their nature notebooks more often. As much as my DC love to draw, they aren’t big on drawing in their notebooks.
In the past, we’ve done lots of “object lessons” where we look closely at an object and discuss features of it. I ask a few questions from the Handbook of Nature Study. These questions are designed to get them looking closely at the structure of the plant or critter you are studying and why God designed them the way He did.
I prefer to start our nature time with a short lesson, then let them go explore some more. Sometimes I’ll pull out a quote or poem about the topic too. Natural Science Through the Seasons is a great book for planning more formal studies, without being overly structured.
By adding in some outdoor hobbies like gardening or fishing, you can see so much more nature than just walking through the neighborhood, so we like to spend some time on these activities too.
Again HollyS, thank you so much for your time right now in posting your thoughts to all my nature study posts. Another question, what does your outside time look like? Do they have free play outside every day and then once a week a nature study time? I have really enjoyed using Outdoor Secrets, but since there is not a planned nature study for each week, I wanted to come up with more of a plan to be consistent in our nature study outside of Outdoor Secrets. Also, I don’t know much about gardening and fishing, but these activities have been a desire to start learning. Any resources for these type of outdoor hobbies for a newbie?
We try for outdoor time everyday, but it doesn’t always happen. They often play outside while I make lunch or dinner, as well as in the late afternoon. Currently, they spend most of that time on the trampoline or playing volleyball. My plan for Outdoor Secrets is to have an unstructured nature walk on the “catch-up” days. We’ll see how often that actually happens, since I’m terrible about getting to nature study.
For fishing & gardening (or anything else), we find Youtube videos to be very helpful. We haven’t caught too many fish, but we’ve had some fun times trying! Gardening has been more successful, but lots of trial & error there too. Gracia’s Herbs is a great book on herb gardening, which is a pretty easy place to start.
Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)
- The topic ‘Nature Study Focus Question’ is closed to new replies.