We are having a hard time with Nature Study right now, especially for my high school student. It seems as if this should be the easiest subject to enjoy, but somehow it either doesn’t get done or very inconsistent. I mention my high school student because he is the least interested in Nature Study and with my poor health these days, I’m just not able to motivate him. (My younger two love it and are always motivated!)
I have considered a lesson a week from Handbook of Nature Study (it’s book marked for lesson 1) and I have the Outdoor Hour Challenge, Getting Started from Barbara McCoy’s website. We have parks nearby, a lake, my kids ride their bikes daily, and are outdoors often throughout the day. I just need something more direct, laid out, or something that my dc can do on their own, if necessary. I may have to pass the handbooks (and any websites/books) to my oldest and have him lead the way…..hmm.
Any ideas?? I know I’m complicating something that should not be complicatedbut I need the help right now .
Our older children and I worked through some, not all of Comstock’s Handbook years ago. Our younger children have had more of an unplanned nature study over the years, but I did take cues from Barbara’s suggestions.
Earlier today, our DS (14) asked if he can study the entire book in one year, adding in other resources, and count it as either a science credit (1 or 1/2,) or an elective. So, I’m brainstorming as to what it will look like over a year’s time and how to pump it up to credit worthy status. I will TRY to come back to this conversation to post what we pull together.
One question: How did you work through it when it seems to be that the students are observing the “nature” as you go through the lesson? I was going to have my oldest read the first lesson to my youngers (he is on board!) and then noticed it was as if they were right there with it. Hope that made sense. I do love that book and we used it a bit today with our 106 Days lesson but it wasn’t with my oldest.
I would deeply appreciate anything else you can suggest. I just don’t know how this gets to be so hard..it is one of the most pleasant subjects for a CM education.
When I used it with our older children, we pulled the information from the sections that applied to what we were observing, or wanted to know. Sorry. I don’t have a better explanation than that at this point. It was several years ago.
If you aren’t going to have nature study counted for credit, and just want to enjoy it as the “most pleasant subject” that it is, I’d suggest routinely enjoying the outdoors and begin/continue keeping nature journals/notebooks. Maybe build in some detailed art instruction from some sort of entomology, ornithology, etc. resources. Study a few journals that have been kept by a botanist, or two for ideas.
Not sure what else to suggest. Brain fog this evening.