Author: Barb

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Winter Tree Nature Study: Ponderosa Pines

“Of all pines, this one gives forth the finest music to the winds.” John Muir

Bundle up for a Winter Tree Study Ponderosa Pines! Enjoy learning, sketching, and reading about these pine trees.

Our local forest is populated with predominately two different pines: the lodge pole and the ponderosa. Of the two, the ponderosa is my favorite! When the forest is cleared, either by man or fire, the ponderosa pines are so beautifully placed just like in a park. They give each other enough room to grow and flourish. Their colorful bark is highlighted especially with snow on the ground. We decided it was about time we took a closer look at this special tree.

Where are Ponderosa Pines?

The native range of ponderosa pine extends from southern Canada into Mexico, and from the Plains States of Nebraska and Oklahoma to the Pacific Coast.

In the winter season, with a proper frosting of snow, the ponderosa pine is like the quintessential pine of your imagination. It grows with a beautifully colored straight trunk with limbs reaching out at just the right intervals. Plus the needles are long and bundled and the cones are just the right size for holding in the palm of your hand. Read more about pine cones from the Homeschool Nature Study Pine Cones.

Bundle up for a Winter Tree Study Ponderosa Pines! Enjoy learning, sketching, and reading about these pine trees.

I remember learning that little trick to identifying the cones….palm size = ponderosa.

So, using our field guide, we set out to learn some new facts about the ponderosa pine. What an incredibly important tree! Not just for lumber but also as a part of the habitat for many birds and animals.

Bundle up for a Winter Tree Study Ponderosa Pines! Enjoy learning, sketching, and reading about these pine trees.

Did you know?

Bats roost in the crevices behind the bark of ponderosa pine trees. Learn more about bats in the Bats Homeschool Nature Study.

Big game like deer and elk use the pines for food and shelter. Read some interesting elk facts from the Elk Nature Study.

Utah is home to the oldest Ponderosa Pine at a young age of 843 years!

Bundle up for a Winter Tree Study Ponderosa Pines! Enjoy learning, sketching, and reading about these pine trees.

Member’s Pine Cone Worksheet

I love the habitat of the ponderosa pine and the creatures that live there. Some of my favorite family times hiking have been under these amazing trees not just here in Oregon but in California, Utah, Colorado, and Nevada.

Ponderosa Pine nature journal

Homeschool Nature Study Members can find the Pine Cone Observation Worksheet in their dashboard.

pine cone observations

“At least one pine tree should be studied in the field. Any species will do …” Handbook of Nature Study, page 674

 

Join the Homeschool Nature Study Membership

There are so many benefits to joining. You will access our full range of curriculum, our interactive learning calendar as well as a brand new homeschool nature study challenge post each week!

Find Out More About Homeschool Nature Study Membership!

Original post written by Barb 2018, updated by Stef Layton 2024.

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Elk Nature Study

Learn about the majestic elk as part of the Outdoor Hour Challenge. I never had any real experience with elk until we moved to Central Oregon. Now, each spring, we have them right out our back door.

With this nature study lesson, you’ll have a chance to learn about this large mammal and do some comparing to other mammals you see more regularly.

Elk Nature Study and Facts will help you discover more interesting facts about the second largest animal of the deer family.

Elk Nature Study & Facts

Male elk are called Bulls and only bulls grow antlers.

Elk are the second largest animal of the deer family, weighing up to 700lbs+. (moose are the biggest)

Elk are the loudest species of deer, their mating call sounds like a bugle.

Elk can run up to 40 mph and jump 8 ft high.

Elk are very good swimmers.

The word “elk” comes from the German “elch,” the name for the European moose.

The elk was nearly killed off by early US settlers, but now thrive, especially in the Western United States. 

Elk Nature Study and Facts will help you discover more interesting facts about the second largest animal of the deer family.

Where can you find elk?

An estimated one million elk live in the western United States: Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina, and seven Canadian provinces.

Elk Nature Study

The full elk Outdoor Hour Challenge is included in Homeschool Nature Study membership in our High Desert course. This study includes:

  • suggestions for study and your Outdoor Hour Time
  • elk notebook and coloring pages
  • pages in the Burgess Book for Children
  • research to see if elk live near you
  • plus suggestions for advanced studies for high school students.
  • and more!

Here are a few ideas to get you started with an elk nature study:

Choose your resource for learning about the elk. This could be a field guide, a book from your local library or an online resource. Here’s a link to a webpage that has an abundance of information on elk in North America: Elk Network.  You will find facts, videos, and range maps on that page that will help you learn about this magnificent animal.

 Join the Homeschool Nature Study Membership

There are so many benefits to joining. You will access our full range of curriculum, our interactive learning calendar as well as a homeschool nature study challenge for each week!

Find Out More About Homeschool Nature Study Membership!

Original post written by Barb 2020, updated by Stef Layton 2024.

 

 

 

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America’s Prairies and Grasslands Resource for Your Nature Study

America’s Prairies and Grasslands Resource is a great book for your Nature Study. Learn about the Great Plains, animals, and free worksheets.

America's Prairies and Grasslands Resource is a great book for your Nature Study. Learn about the Great Plains, animals, and free worksheets.

If you live in the prairies of North America or are interested in learning more about this rich and valuable habitat, you can read all about them in America’s Prairies and Grasslands-A Guide to Plants and Animals by Marianne D. Wallace. This book describes the unique habitat with words and beautiful pictures.

Where are America’s prairies and grasslands?

In the United States you will find prairies and grasslands in North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. And the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan make up the Great Plains. 

Using America’s Prairies and Grasslands in Your Nature Study Activities

I love the Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock but she wrote the book featuring plants and animals of her local habitat in upstate New York. Many of us live in very different habitats and to supplement our nature study we draw on other resources that discuss plants and animals we see in our neighborhoods.

America’s Prairies and Grasslands will appeal to many families because it helps us look deeper into things we see every day and maybe don’t appreciate.

Prairies and Grasslands study and printables page 1
Prairies and Grasslands study and printables page 2

America’s Prairies and Grasslands Overview

This book uses maps to show where different prairies and grasslands are located in the United States. Visual spatial learners will benefit by looking at the maps or even recreating them in their nature journals. When I was homeschooling my boys, I always appreciated the opportunities to draw connections between different academic subjects and using geography alongside your nature study will make it more meaningful.

A great way to use this book is to go through each of the six major grasslands one at a time: tallgrass prairie, mixed-grass prairie, shortgrass prairie, Palous prairie, California Valley grassland, and semi-desert grassland.

For each of the six grasslands, you can do the following steps.

  1. Read the narrative.
  2. Look at the map.
  3. Look at the two page colored illustration.
  4. Pick a plant or animal to learn more about using information in the back of the book, your own nature library, or online resources.
  5. Wrap up your study with a nature journal page.

Take a week for each grassland or if you live in a particular grassland, why not stretch it to an entire school year by taking a plant or animal each week? Use the index in the back of the book to see just how many topics you find of interest to your family. Check the Homeschool Nature Study website using the tabs at the top to find any Outdoor Hour Challenges for selected topics to use alongside the America’s Prairies and Grasslands book.

America's Prairies and Grasslands Resource is a great book for your Nature Study. Learn about the Great Plains, animals, and free worksheets.

Learning About The Animals of the Great Plains

The Great Plains is home to numerous interesting animals including: bison, black-footed ferrets, pronghorn, grouse, prairie dogs, elk, big horn sheep, bears, turkeys, and mountain lions – just to name a few!

Learn About Other Habitats and Biomes

Use these resources to learn about the various habitats and biomes!

Homeschool Nature Study Members have unlimited access to the printable library. You can download the Habitats and Comparing Habitats worksheets to learn about other habitats around the world.

 

comparing habitats

Seashore Activities and Worksheets – A trip to the beach can be a fun family time experience. When you add a few purposeful seashore observations, the trip can transform into beautiful long lasting memories.

How to Make Your Backyard a Natural Habitat for Wildlife – You will love having the opportunity to have nature come to you in your very own backyard. Involve your whole family in the project and spend some time outdoors!

Our High Desert course is included in membership and gives you a deep dive into the animals, plants and the vast variety of this habitat. It also includes advanced studies options for high school students. Here are some topics included:

  • Bitterbrush
  • Sagebrush
  • Greater sage
  • Grouse
  • Succulents
  • Mountain Lion
  • Coyote
  • Pocket Gopher
  • Bristlecone Pine
  • Elk
  • Turkey Vulture
  • Juniper
  • Snowberry
  • Golden Mantled ground squirrel
  • River Otter

Join the Homeschool Nature Study Membership

There are so many benefits to joining. You will access our full range of curriculum, our interactive learning calendar as well as a homeschool nature study challenge for each week!

Find Out More About Homeschool Nature Study Membership!

Original post written by Barb 2018, updated by Stef Layton 2024.

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Grizzly Bears Nature Study

Go wild with a Grizzly Bears Nature Study! Fun facts and Barb’s grizzly encounter at the Grand Tetons National Park.

Go wild with a Grizzly Bears Nature Study! Fun facts and Barb's grizzly encounter at the Grand Tetons National Park.

Grizzly bears were once abundant across the United States. They are currently listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in the lower 48 states. There are eight different species of bears. Learn more about this north western creature with your own Grizzle Bear Nature Study.

Grizzly Bears: Nature Study and Fun Facts

Grizzly Bears have a distinctive hump on their shoulders that’s actually a powerful muscle used for digging and running.

Grizzly Bears can weigh over 800 pounds and measure 5 to 8 feet long. Adult males can stand nearly 10 feet tall when upright. This is still considered smaller compared to a polar bear!

Grizzly Bears have short round ears while other bears tend to have pointy ears.

Grizzly Bears have long claws while other bears have shorter claws.

Grizzly Bears can be many colors, including: light tan, blonde, reddish, dark brown, and almost black.

Grizzly Bears live in a variety of habitats, including prairies, mountains, meadows, forests, and tundra.

Grizzly Bears live about 20-25 years.

Female Grizzly Bears can give birth to 2-4 cubs in late January or February. Cubs stay with their mother for 2-5 years.

Grizzly bears enter a state similar to hibernation, called torpor, during the winter.

Where do grizzly bears live?

Grizzly bears are found today in Alaska, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington as well as British Columbia, Alberta, the Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and northern part of Manitoba in Canada.

Barb’s Grizzly Encounter in Grand Teton National Park

Outdoor Hour Challenge founder, Barb McCoy, encountered a grizzly bear while traveling with her family. She shares, here: “In July 2011 we were driving through the Teton National Park at sunset and we thought at first that we saw a bison. At second glance we realized it was a bear!

Grizzly Bear Grand Teton July 2011

Grizzly Bear Mama and Two Cubs Grand Teton 7 11

You can see in this photo that other people were not using good judgement and they were way too close to the bears. These are really big bears and I know that there is nothing like a mama bear protecting her cubs….

It was a wonderful experience to see these creatures in their natural environment. The cubs were sort of playing with each other as they romped through the meadow. The mama was walking with that bear sort of swagger that is so distinctive. Amazing to see just how big they are in real life.

Just another Wyoming experience.”

Go wild with a Grizzly Bears Nature Study! Fun facts and Barb's grizzly encounter at the Grand Tetons National Park.

Grizzly Bear Notes Printable for Members

Grizzly Bear Nature Study

Homeschool Nature Study Members can head over to their dashboard to print the new Grizzly Bears Notes worksheet. This is a fun worksheet to fill in after visiting the zoo, a bear sanctuary, reading a book about bears, and/or watching a documentary on grizzly bears. Or spend a few minutes watching the Katmai National Park Bear Cam (this is a highlight reel from the year).

We’re starting with a favorite topic, black bears! Enjoy a bear nature study in your homeschool with this Outdoor Hour Challenge and bring the Handbook of Nature Study to Life in your homeschool.

More Bear and Mammal Nature Studies for Your Homeschool

You might have a different type of bear in your part of the world, or you might like to learn about other mammals. Here are more resources to explore:

Black Bear Study for Your Homeschool – You can enjoy some forest fun nature studies in your homeschool and do a bear nature study Outdoor Hour Challenge. Includes hands on art and links for further bear studies.

You can enjoy a Homeschool Nature Study with Winnie the Pooh’s Hundred Acre Wood as well. Paint a map of the Hundred Acre Wood, have a Teddy Bear Picnic and more.

In our Animal Tracks Nature Hunt, you can use these nature study lesson plans, suggestions, ideas and resources for identifying animal tracks!

Join the Homeschool Nature Study Membership

You’ll find a detailed bear nature study challenge in the Forest Fun course that’s available with Homeschool Nature Study Membership. This study also includes advanced studies for high school students with notebooking pages and suggestions for learning about bear communication.

There are so many benefits to joining. You will access our full range of curriculum, our interactive learning calendar as well as homeschool nature study challenges for each week!

Find Out More About Homeschool Nature Study Membership!

Original post written by Barb 2020, updated by Stef Layton 2024.

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Autumn Willow Tree Nature Study and Printable

Autumn is a wonderful time of year for discovery, picnics, and tree studies! We created an Autumn Willow Tree Printable for you to enjoy before winter settles.

Enjoy the Autumn Willow Nature Study and printables for sketching, sharing, and learning about trees this fall.

What is a Willow Tree?

Did you know there are more than 200 different species of willow trees? But all willows have a few things in common: abundant watery bark sap, which is heavily charged with salicylic acid, soft, usually pliant tough wood, slender branches, and large fibrous often stoloniferous roots – which means they grow along the ground.

Willow wood is used to make baskets, furniture, toys, and fishing nets. The wood is too soft for lumber, but it is popular for wickerwork. In ancient times, people chewed willow bark to treat fevers and rheumatic pains. The bark contains salicylic acid, which is the basis for modern aspirin.

Enjoy the Autumn Willow Nature Study and free printables for sketching, sharing, and learning about trees this fall.

Autumn Willow Nature Study and Printable for Members

If you do not live near Willow Trees, print the Under the Fallen Leaves worksheet.

Autumn Willow Tree notebooking page: Use this page to record your autumn willow observations. This can be the start of a year long/four seasons study of willows for your family. I will be reminding you each season to make some notes about your willow tree.

Under the Fallen Leaves notebooking page: Take a few minutes to look under the leaves in your yard or a near-by park. What do you see there? Create a sketch and describe what you saw, felt, and smelled during your outdoor time.

Pine Trees and Pine Cones Nature Study

More pine trees in your neck of the woods? Enjoy this Pine Trees & Pine Cones Nature Study.

More Fall Homeschool Nature Study Fun!

Keep the apple and pumpkin nature study fun going with these resources for all ages:

Join the Homeschool Nature Study Membership

There are so many benefits to joining. You will access our full range of curriculum, our interactive learning calendar as well as a brand new homeschool nature study challenge post each week!

Find Out More About Homeschool Nature Study Membership!

Original post written by Barb 2018, updated by Stef Layton 2024.

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Autumn Cattails Nature Study and Printable

Kids and cattails are a great combination for a fun autumn nature study and your autumn search for cattails can begin this week! When the original autumn cattail Outdoor Hour Challenge was posted years ago, I asked my boys if they knew where any cattails were growing. Amazingly, they knew a couple places around town where they were growing so we were off on a cattail adventure.

Kids and cattails are a great combination for a fun autumn nature study. This could be the start of a year-long study of cattails.

Cattails Year-Long Nature Study

This could be the start of a year-long study of cattails in which you observe a designated patch of cattails once each season to watch the changes. As the year progresses, the complete life cycle story of not only the cattails but the rest of the critters that live around them begins to emerge. Such a valuable nature study lesson!

Autumn Cattails Nature Study – Handbook of Nature Study Lesson 131

Archive Outdoor Hour Challenge – Click the link above to take you to the original challenge and a free printable notebook page for your family to use each season for your cattail study.

“The cattail is adapted for living in swamps where the soil is wet but not under water all the time….They usually occur in marshy zones along lakes or streams; and such a zone is always sharply defined by dry land on one side and water on the other.”

Handbook of Nature Study, Page 502

Make sure to click the link below to read the entire Outdoor Hour Challenge with helpful links, nature study ideas, printable notebooking pages, and suggested follow-up activities.

Autumn Cattails Nature Study – Handbook of Nature Study Lesson 131

Cattails Nature Study

Homeschool Nature Study Membership

It’s a great time to join Homeschool Nature Study! We offer a multitude of science activities, hands-on learning ideas, seasonal nature studies, crafts, free resources for all ages – join the #outdoorhourchallenge community and enhance your homeschool science lessons!

 

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Mushroom Nature Study: Autumn Homeschooling Resources

Our family loves going on a good mushroom hunt! You can read in the Handbook of Nature Study about this fascinating nature study topic and then set off on your own fungi hunt. Remember to create a sense of adventure as you set out to look for mushrooms, building anticipation for finding even just one mushroom to observe.

Did you know, mushrooms are grown in all 50 states? The majority of commercial mushroom growers are located in Pennsylvania. 63% of all white mushrooms are grown in Pennsylvania. Mushrooms require less water than other crops which makes them “energy efficient”.

Tip for Finding Mushrooms

My original mushroom challenge suggested that you let your friends and family know that you are looking for mushrooms and they can let you know if they come across any in their travels. Some of our best mushroom studies came from tips I got from my dad who found several interesting species of mushrooms on his property.

Autumn Mushroom Nature Study – Handbook of Nature Study Lesson 198, pages 714-719

Archive Outdoor Hour Challenge – Click the link above to see the mushroom study suggestions in the original challenge.

“Fungi, as a whole, are a great boon to the world. Without them our forests would be choked out with dead wood. Decay is simply the process by which fungi and other organisms break down dead material, so that the major part of it returns to the air in gaseous form, and the remainder, now mostly humus, mingles with the soil.” Handbook of Nature Study, page 715

More Facts About Mushrooms

Mushrooms are a good source of Vitamin E as well as protein.

Most children recognize the red cap mushroom with white spots in Super Mario, the Fly agaric. However this mushroom is not safe to eat. It is highly toxic.

Cook with Mushrooms

Bring the Autumn Mushroom Nature Study into your kitchen for a fun night of cooking! Try out different mushrooms from your farmer’s market or local grocery store. Mushrooms are great in spaghetti sauce, soups, scrambled eggs, and stir fry. Try adding them on hamburgers and pizza! This Whole Foods graphic is helpful if you’re not familiar with cooking mushrooms.

Watercolor Mushrooms

“Since mushrooms are especially good subjects for watercolor and pencil studies, it would add much to the interest of the work if each pupil, or the school as a whole, should make a portfolio of sketches of all the species found. With each drawing there should be made on a supplementary sheet a spore print of the species.”
Handbook of Nature Study, page 718

mushroom nature study

Homeschool Nature Study Members can print the Mushroom Coloring Page from their dashboard.

mushroom nature craft at Homeschool Nature Study

Mushroom Nature Craft

Victoria shares, “It is time to brighten up our spirits as well as our gardens with these brightly coloured plant pot mushrooms. With only a handful of supplies you can create something to beautify either your outside or inside plant pots. So get outside, hunt down the perfect twigs and lets get crafting.”

Join the Homeschool Nature Study Membership Today!

-First published by Barb September 2020. Updated September 2024 by Stef.

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Autumn Bird and Woodpecker Nature Study

This season plan some outdoor time to enjoy studying feathered creatures in your neighborhood. We have provided a Bird Feet Observation Worksheet to go along with your Autumn Bird Nature Study. Also you will learn more about woodpeckers. Take some time to follow the links in the archived challenge to view a variety of woodpeckers and determine which ones live in your neighborhood.

Use these resources to enjoy an autumn bird nature study. Learn more about Woodpeckers and bird feet observation worksheet.

After your outdoor time, no matter which feathered friend you found to study, follow up with the Bird Nature Study notebook page found in the  Autumn Notebook Bundle.

Autumn Bird Nature Study – Handbook of Nature Study Lesson 15 (pages 70-74)

Use these resources to enjoy an autumn bird nature study. Learn more about Woodpeckers and bird feet observation worksheet.

Make sure to click the link below to read the entire Outdoor Hour Challenge with helpful links, nature study ideas, printable notebooking pages, and suggested follow-up activities.

Homeschool Natures Study Members can download the Bird Feet Observations Worksheet and the Autumn Bundle which includes many pages to incorporate fall learning all season!

Use these resources to enjoy an autumn bird nature study. Learn more about Woodpeckers and bird feet observation worksheet.
autumn bird nature study

 

Watch Live Bird Cams

If you live in a city or find it hard to observe birds, try watching live cams. Cornell Lab offers a great variety of Live Bird Cams! From ospreys, owls, condors, hawks, to regular videos at bird feeders, you can watch many different types of birds. The National Audubon Society also offers free live cams, however you do watch them on YouTube.

Paint Autumn Birds

We love when Nana paints birds! You can paint these wonderful creatures to continue your Autumn Bird Study! Be sure to read: Fall Bird Study for Your Homeschool.

Even More Bird Nature Study Opportunities!

Finding more time to admire the avians? We have a variety of helpful resources to add to your bird study. Click on one of the images below.

Join the Homeschool Nature Study Membership Today!

-First published by Barb September 2018. Updated August 2024 by Stef.

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Squirrel Nature Study: Activities And Lessons For Kids

squirrel Nature study

Tree squirrels are some of the most entertaining critters to inhabit our neighborhoods. This Outdoor Hour Challenge will help you and your little squirrel hunters observe local squirrels more closely as you note their behavior and features. Squirrels are not shy so you should be able to spot them and make some observations with ease. Enjoy this Squirrel Nature Study by taking along a pair of binoculars to get a closer look!

Observe squirrels in your neighborhood and enjoy the Squirrel Nature Study. Be sure to bring a long a pair of binoculars.

Squirrel Nature Study

Squirrel Nature Study – Handbook of Nature Study Lesson #57

Archive Outdoor Hour Challenge – Click the link above to take you to the original challenge.

“The squirrel’s legs are short because he is essentially a climber rather than a runner; the hips are very strong, which insures his power as a jumper, and his leaps are truly remarkable.”

“The squirrel has two pairs of gnawing teeth which are very long and strong, as in all rodents, and he needs to keep busy gnawing hard things with them, or they will grow so long that he cannot use them at all and will starve to death.”

squirrel Nature study

“During the winter, the red squirrel does not remain at home except in the coldest weather, when he lies cozily with his tail wrapped around him like a fur neck-piece to keep him warm.”

Handbook of Nature Study, pages 234 and 235

Make sure to click the link below to read the entire Outdoor Hour Challenge with helpful links, nature study ideas, printable notebooking pages, and suggested follow-up activities.

Squirrel Nature Study – Handbook of Nature Study Lesson #57

Observe squirrels in your neighborhood and enjoy the Squirrel Nature Study. Be sure to bring a long a pair of binoculars.

Homeschool Nature Study Membership

It’s a great time to join Homeschool Nature Study! We offer a multitude of science activities, hands-on learning ideas, seasonal nature studies, crafts, free resources for all ages – join the #outdoorhourchallenge community and enhance your homeschool science lessons!

By Barb McCoy, founder of the Outdoor Hour Challenges with The Handbook of Nature Study. Updated and new resources added by Stef Layton.

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Creating Leaf Prints: A Nature Activity For Kids

Creating leaf prints is simple and a lot of fun! Combine a nature walk, collecting a variety of leaves, and producing a beautiful leaf print.

Years ago, I created leaf prints using ink as suggested in the Handbook of Nature Study, although using stamp pad ink not kerosene as suggested in the book.  I am creating leaf prints using leaves from my Oregon yard.

Creating leaf prints is simple and a lot of fun! Combine a nature walk, collecting a variety of leaves, and producing a beautiful leaf print.

My children always wanted to collect leaves during your outdoor time and once we got home I wasn’t always sure how to use the leaves or display them. Creating leaf prints is a great way to extend your leaf collecting activity or any tree nature study.

Creating leaf prints is simple and a lot of fun! Combine a nature walk, collecting a variety of leaves, and producing a beautiful leaf print.

Creating Leaf Prints

Tips and Suggestions for Getting Great Leaf Prints:

Put your ink on the backside of the leaf instead of the front for a more detailed print.

Making prints with ink will give you more detail than printing with paints.

Try both placing the paper over the inked leaf and pressing the leaf onto the paper. Experiment with a few leaves to see which method works best for you.

Use washable ink pads for easier clean up.

If your leaf is very dry or crumbly, you might try using paint instead of ink. Make sure not to press too hard when making the print.

Creating leaf prints is simple and a lot of fun! Combine a nature walk, collecting a variety of leaves, and producing a beautiful leaf print.

Try making your prints on separate paper and then insert the paper into your nature journal. This will help resolve anxiety that you are going to mess up your nature journal if you don’t get a good print.

Creating Leaf Prints Nature Craft Tutorial In Homeschool Nature Study Membership

Victoria shares, “As autumn gets into full swing, what better way to mark the change of seasons than by creating leaf prints. We are heading into that period of Autumn where the leaves are on the cusp of igniting into rich shades of red and orange. Here in the UK we usually have about a week of vibrancy before one strong wind comes along and blows all the colour to the ground. So it is best to capture its beauty while we can.”

If your students are not excited about getting their hands dirty by creating leaf prints, print this Leaves Coloring Page. There are many different types of leaves on this page your student can color and then cut out to decorate their nature journal. You can read our Ultimate Guide to Nature Journaling for tips and ideas to fill up your nature journal this year.

More Leaf Activities For Kids

These will have you enjoying leaves in other ways too!

How to make a leaf mask

The Outdoor Hour Challenges Bring The Handbook of Nature Study to Life in Your Homeschool!

For even more homeschool nature study ideas for all seasons, join us in Homeschool Nature Study membership! You’ll receive new ideas each and every week that require little or no prep – all bringing the Handbook of Nature Study to life in your homeschool!

Find Out More About Homeschool Nature Study Membership!

Be inspired. Be encouraged. Get outdoors!

By Barb McCoy, founder of the Outdoor Hour Challenges with The Handbook of Nature Study. Updated and new resources added by Stef Layton.