OregonNative Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Let me preface this by saying, I am not a nature girl:tongue_smilie: However, I think it is an important aspect for my childrens education. What would recommend? I would like it to involve the outdoors, but not strictly. I prefer not to have to identify trees, plants etc. because that is way beyond my scope of intelligence:lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifra Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Let me preface this by saying, I am not a nature girl:tongue_smilie: However, I think it is an important aspect for my childrens education. What would recommend? I would like it to involve the outdoors, but not strictly. I prefer not to have to identify trees, plants etc. because that is way beyond my scope of intelligence:lol: I just started using Nature All Year Long by Clare Walker Leslie. It is organized by the months, and since this is the first month of the year, it is a perfect time to start. I am also using the book Squirrels by Brian Goldsmith [and a very old (1946) Grey Squirrel which is part of the Encyclopedia Britannica Picture Stories Series] now because we have a lot of squirrels in our apartment complex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanceXToo Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Go somewhere like to a wooded walking trail, a lake, a pond, a state park, public gardens, somewhere kind of quiet and peaceful with a lot of nature. Have the kids bring magnifying glasses and binoculars, sketchpads and colored pencils. Ask them to listen for different sounds and note what they hear. Ask them to look for several different kinds of plants or trees and sketch them. Ask them to find different types of rocks. Ask them to see if they can find any animals, birds, insects, and observe what they are doing. While they're at it, note the temperature, the precipitation, the wind, etc. See if they can find any different 'habitats'- nests, hollowed out trees, under a rock, somewhere they can find things living. You can take photographs of some of these things for sketching from later if you/they don't want to sketch while you're there- you can also use those photographs for trying to identify online or from a library book what some of those plants/animals/trees were. If you find certain animals or trees or are in a certain type of environment, you can get library books about those animals/trees/environments to learn more about them. You can do various hands on activities like having the kids form some of the birds and animals they saw out of clay (letting it harden and painting it), letting them make a diorama of the place you visited, or like my daughter and I recently made and try tea by using White Pine needles... just different, fun things like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone43 Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 I looked up Nature All Year Long and it looks great, but its focused on the New England area. Perhaps someone could recommend one that is more focused on the south...specifically Oklahoma, Kansas area? Sorry, not trying to hijack thread. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CandaceC Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 I'm not sure if this would be what you are looking for...but I LOVE these nature studies!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MangoMama Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 I haven't looked at the others that were already mentioned, but my favorite is The Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Comstock. And we follow this blog to go along with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifra Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 I looked up Nature All Year Long and it looks great, but its focused on the New England area. Perhaps someone could recommend one that is more focused on the south...specifically Oklahoma, Kansas area? Sorry, not trying to hijack thread. :D Rachel-- Guess what? I live in Texas :lol:! Yes, Nature All Year Long does focus on New England, and it's not quite like that here in Texas, but the basic information is the same. For instance, this month she introduces the concept of hibernation, animals that migrate, the frost line, and animal tracks. While the animals may not be the same here in Texas, the basic ideas are the same. I also supplement with Texas focused books by Ilo Hiller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparrow Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 I haven't looked at the others that were already mentioned, but my favorite is The Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Comstock. And we follow this blog to go along with it. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toawh Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 I couldn't find Nature All Year Long at my library, but I remember a few years ago my friend had a book that had an outdoor/science thing to do for each day. It was geared at K-3. Does anyone know what that book might be? It had seasonal stuff like find some animal tracks in the snow, plant a flower etc..3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athomemom Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 I'm not sure if this would be what you are looking for...but I LOVE these nature studies!! :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blakereese Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 I just started using Nature All Year Long by Clare Walker Leslie. It is organized by the months, and since this is the first month of the year, it is a perfect time to start. Thanks for mentioning this. I just got it from my library. My son has been taking an earth school class and has a newfound interest in nature study, and I would like to encourage him. I'm another "indoor girl" :lol: so I need all the help I can get. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birchbark Posted January 8, 2011 Share Posted January 8, 2011 I'm not sure if this would be what you are looking for...but I LOVE these nature studies!! These look really good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delaney Posted January 8, 2011 Share Posted January 8, 2011 I haven't looked at the others that were already mentioned, but my favorite is The Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Comstock. And we follow this blog to go along with it. This looks amazing! I love the 3 month winter ebook that incorporates music and art!Just what I have been looking for! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidsnbooks8 Posted January 8, 2011 Share Posted January 8, 2011 http://www.squidoo.com/drawingwithchildrennature http://www.amothersjournal.com/category/education/charlotte-mason/page/2/ http://www.squidoo.com/cmnaturestudy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freeindeed Posted January 8, 2011 Share Posted January 8, 2011 I haven't looked at the others that were already mentioned, but my favorite is The Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Comstock. And we follow this blog to go along with it. :iagree: We have this book & follow this blog as well. It's wonderful & my children enjoy it & have learned a great deal, as have I.:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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