Here we are at the beginning of June…so glad that summer is almost here in our part of the world. This month’s carnival is a great mix of challenges and old as well as new faces. I hope you enjoy reading the entries and hopefully they will encourage you to get outdoors this month and do some nature study with your children.
This week on Friday, June 4th, I will be posting the very last Spring Series Challenge. I will be taking a break for a couple of weeks but look for the first Summer Challenge on June 18th.
Don’t forget the new Summer Nature Study: Using Your Senses ebook will give you lots of ideas for outdoor learning during this season. I will post about it here on the blog when I get it ready, hopefully today or tomorrow. It is jam packed with great stuff for you summer nature study!
I want to thank everyone who took the time to share your links both in the challenges and for the blog carnival. You all are so encouraging to me as I read every entry. I wish you a great June outdoors with your families.
Spring Series of Outdoor Hour Challenges: May Topics
Apple Tree
Cats
Snakes
Earthworms
Samantha shares some insights about nature study in this lovely entry: It Begins With Me. Although this entry is not part of any challenge, it is a wonderful reflection on how we need to remember that passion and interest in nature starts with us as the role models.
Spring Series #1 Spring Tree Study
Phyllis at All Things Beautiful discovered a new tree in their yard and their family was on a quest to identify it as part of their spring nature study. What a great way to learn about a new tree.
Quinn from Inside the Picket Fence shares their spring tree study with some heavenly photos! This post will make you feel like spring.
Spring Series #4 Dandelions
Amy at Together for a Reason shares their dandelion study this time and I love the way her photos tell a story. She has a brand new baby in the house and she still made the time to complete this study with all the rest of her children. I find that very inspiring.
Michelle from Delightful Learning also completed a dandelion study with her family. This is one dandelion study you don’t want to miss…they made a delicious dandelion dish that most of the family loved to taste. Thanks for the extra effort and information.
Loni from Hearts in Training shares a really thorough study of dandelions. So much great information here and two lovely notebook pages she has graciously shared for us all to use in our own dandelion study.
Amber from Refined Metals Academy got their nature study started with this dandelion study. If you have little ones, check out how she made this study fit her crew. I hope to see more entries from Amber in the future.
Spring Series #5 Year-Long Cattail Study
Angie/Pebblekeeper shares their cattail study on their blog Petra School. They did an awesome job studying their patch of cattails and you must make sure to click the link in her entry for their photo gallery. It will inspire you to look for your own cattails to study.
Alex from Serendipity Home School completed another cattail study with her children. This is their third season and this time their cattail were really puffy.
Spring Series #6 Apple Trees
Alex over at Serendipity Home School submits their entry for apple trees. I love the leaf rubbing on the nature journal page and the extra books she suggests. Thanks Alex.
Apple trees and more were studied as part of this challenge for Tricia at Homeschool Highlights. Lots of inspiring photos will encourage you to get outdoors and do your own tree study soon.
Spring Series #7 Mammal Study-Cats
Tricia and her children completed a study of their family cats as part of the Spring Series Challenges. Maybe it is because I am a cat lover but I really enjoyed their entry.
Clara the cat was the subject of Alex from Serendipity Home School‘s cat study. They made lots of great observations and their photos are adorable.
Spring Series #8 Reptile Study-Snakes
Angie/Pebblekeeper at Petra School has submitted their snake study for carnival readers. She is one awesome snake mama!
Another great snake entry. (Yes, I said that.) Check out Tricia at Homeschool Highlights for their family’s study of snakes.
Spring Series #9 Earthworms
Tricia at Homeschool Highlights worked on this earthworm challenge with her children and much to their disappointment, they didn’t find any earthworms to study in real life. They will be ready when they do find some in the garden.
Jolanthe from Homeschool Creations shares their earthworm study. Check out the worm jar in action.
OHC #1: Let’s Get Started
Mosey has entered their very first Outdoor Hour Challenge entry as part of the carnival. She writes about the enthusiasm that her children had as part of this challenge. Please pop over and welcome her to the challenges.
OHC #4 Focus Area Challenge
Loni from Hearts in Training shares an entry titled, Only a Male Jumping Spider.
OHC #15 Garden Flowers – Drawing
Pauline from Giggly HQ has completed a lovely entry as part of this challenge. Thanks for inspiring us to draw in our nature journal.
OHC #21 Notebook Challenge
Loni at Hearts in Training shares their cicada study and a great notebook page. Thanks Loni!
Crop Plants: Strawberries
This entry from Phyllis will make you want to run out and study your very own strawberries. Check out their family entry on All Things Beautiful.
Please consider submitting your Outdoor Hour Challenge entries and your Spring Series and Summer Series entries to the next carnival. Deadline for submissions will be June 30th, 2010 and all entries from June are eligible. Here is the link for submissions: LINK.
Thanks again,
Barb-Harmony Art Mom
Thanks Barb compiling us all together! I look forward to spending the fog filled day with coffee and encouragement from these moms!
OK, so REALLY, truly, honestly, I am GOING to get back into doing these studies. I hope to do a few over the summer, then make them a weekly thing again next school year. {sigh}