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New Ebook! Bird Set #1

Bird Set ebook cover image

New Ebook is Now Available to Members!

This is going to be an exciting addition to the Ultimate Naturalist Library membership! This new ebook has nine new Outdoor Hour Challenges featuring some of North America’s most interesting birds!

These Challenges are not based on information in the Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock. You’ll be using internet links and field guides to glean information about each topic. Plus, there are alternate study ideas for most of the challenges presented in this series of bird nature study lessons.

  • This 30 page digital ebook has 9 challenges and supplemental activities.
  • There are multiple custom notebooking pages for each of the topics. You can choose from simple notebook pages or more advanced notebooking pages.
  • There are 9 coloring pages.
  • Sample: Print an ebook sample here: Ooutdoor Hour Challenge Bird Set 1 Sample

 

  • Here are the specific topics included in this ebook:
  • American White Pelican
  • Trumpeter Swan
  • Wilson’s Snipe
  • Great Egret
  • Sandhill Crane
  • Clark’s Nutcracker
  • American Dipper
  • Horned Lark
  • Black-billed Magpie

Bird Set ebook cover imageHow do you get the new Creepy Things ebook?

Members of the Ultimate Naturalist and Journey levels have access to the new ebook in their library. You need to click the “Members Area” button at the top of the website, sign into your account, and the ebook is there to download and save for your family to use when desired.

Join Us Ultimate Naturalist November 2019

If you don’t have a membership yet, I’m offering a $5 off discount code that will be good towards your Ultimate Naturalist membership.

Discount Code: OHC10

 

 

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Outdoor Hour Challenge -Winter Berries

This is going to be a fun Outdoor Hour Challenge! During the winter months, there are many shrubs and trees that have winter berries that provide a splash of color to an otherwise drab landscape. You can use the links in the original challenge to prepare for a winter berry hike and then use the notebook page in the Autumn Nature Study Continues ebook to record your results.

Winter Berries Nature Study @handbookofnaturestudy

Use this link to the challenges in the archives:

Outdoor Hour Challenge – Winter Berries (from the Autumn Nature Study Continues ebook)

If you’re a member here on the Handbook of Nature Study, you can look in your printables library for the berry and shrub set of notebooking pages. There are pages for nine different berries!

Snow and Winter Berries

OHC Autumn Nature Study Continues Cover Button

This challenge is found in the Autumn Nature Study Continues ebook found in the Ultimate and Journey level memberships here on the Handbook of Nature Study. You can print the notebooking pages and the coloring page included in the ebook to supplement your nature study this week.

Join Us Ultimate Naturalist November 2019

If you don’t have a membership yet, you can click the graphic above and join today for immediate access to the 23 ebooks and so much more!

 

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Outdoor Hour Challenge -Mica Rock Study

This week is a great indoor nature study opportunity if you’re experiencing some winter weather like we are in Central Oregon. After reading the lesson in the Handbook of Nature Study, use the links in the original challenge to learn even more about mica.

If you don’t have mica to observe, you can do an alternate rock study for any rock you may have on hand. Use a field guide or a book from the library to learn more about your rock. Look in your Member’s library for an abundance of rock study alternative ideas like printables, notebook pages, and newsletters.

Rock Study Mica @handbookofnaturestudy

Use this link to the challenges in the archives:

Outdoor Hour Challenge – Mica Rock Study (from the Autumn Nature Study Continues ebook)

OHC Autumn Nature Study Continues Cover Button

This challenge is found in the Autumn Nature Study Continues ebook found in the Ultimate and Journey level memberships here on the Handbook of Nature Study. You can print the notebooking pages and the coloring page included in the ebook to supplement your nature study this week.

Join Us Ultimate Naturalist November 2019

If you don’t have a membership yet, you can click the graphic above and join today for immediate access to the 23 ebooks and so much more!

 

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Winter Nature Study Ebooks – Discount Code!

Winter Nature Study with the Outdoor Hour Challenge

The first day of winter is coming upon us quickly! As I look out my window at the snowy landscape and the snow softly falling in my yard, it looks like winter here in Central Oregon.

The Ultimate Naturalist Library has four winter themed ebooks with forty Outdoor Hour Challenges for your family to use for winter nature study inspiration. Most of the challenges can be adapted to fit your circumstances and many of the topics are covered in the Handbook of Nature Study. The ebooks have simple follow up activities and nature journal ideas to complement the winter nature study ideas.

Winter Nature Study ebooks graphic and promo

If you’re new to the Outdoor Hour Challenge, you can find all four of the ebooks in the Ultimate Naturalist Library membership. (See below for a discount code to use with your purchase!)

I’ll list the winter themed ebooks below and if you want to click over to see the specific topics covered, you can easily do that by clicking the book title.

Winter Nature Study Ebooks Available

Outdoor Hour Challenge Winter Nature Study Ideas Index @handbookofnaturestudy

For a complete list of winter season nature study topics, you can click the winter tab at the top of the website.

 

OHC Winter Promotion Code Discount

Use the discount code WINTERFUN for $5 off your Ultimate Naturalist Library membership.

 

Benefits by Level graphic 2019 to 2020 updated 11 2019

If you’d like to have access to all of the winter ebooks, you’ll find them in the Ultimate Naturalist Library membership.

In addition to the winter books, there are 19 additional nature study ebooks in this membership.

 2019 to 2020 plan graphic with ebook covers 2

 

 

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Outdoor Hour Challenge -Autumn Constellation Study

For this challenge, pick a clear evening to go out and look at the night sky. Bundle up and realize that it will probably be a quick look at the stars unless you have a very motivated student. Do the preparation work beforehand so you’ll have a particular constellation in mind. Keep it fun and aim to introduce the idea of nighttime nature study to your family.

Run back inside and have some hot cocoa and talk about what you saw during your Outdoor Hour time.

Winter+Sky+Nature+Study+@handbookofnaturestudy.blogspot.com.jpg

Use this link to the challenges in the archives:

Outdoor Hour Challenge – Fall Constellation Study (from the Autumn Nature Study Continues ebook)

OHC Autumn Nature Study Continues Cover Button

This challenge is part of the Autumn Nature Study Continues ebook, found in the Ultimate and Journey level memberships here on the Handbook of Nature Study. You can print the notebooking pages and the coloring page included in the ebook to supplement your nature study this week.

Join Us Ultimate Naturalist November 2019

If you don’t have a membership yet, you can click the graphic above and join today for immediate access to the 23 ebooks and so much more!

 

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Outdoor Hour Challenge: January through August 2020 Plans

If you haven’t joined us for our weekly nature study yet this year, it’s not too late to jump in with the rest of the year’s plan!

We’ll be starting a new series of nature study lessons from the Forest Fun ebook on January 17, 2020.

Forest Fun ebook cover graphic

Topics will include: bear, porcupine, raven, skunk cabbage, California quail, moose, rabbitbrush, azalea, and Western tanager.

I’m super excited to be offering these topics that are not covered in the Handbook of Nature Study, but are subjects that many of us observe during our nature study outings and during our vacations.

After we finish up the Forest Fun ebook, we’ll move on to another completely new (soon to be published) ebook that features topics from the High Desert.

High Desert cover for plan explanation

 

Topics include: mountain lion, coyote, elk, pocket gopher, golden mantled ground squirrel, river otter, sagebrush, bitterbrush, snowberry, succulents, greater sage grouse, turkey vulture, juniper tree, and the bristlecone pine.

Creepy Thing Ebook Cover image

Our year will finish off with the Creepy Things series of nature study topics. This newly released ebook includes fascinating studies of the banana slug, tarantula, black widow, scorpion, leech, muskrat, sphinx moth, cicada, millipede, and poison oak.

2019 to 2020 plan graphic with ebook covers 2

I’m inviting you to join us as members here on the Handbook of Nature Study which will give you access to all of these brand new nature study topics in addition to the archives of past ebooks, newsletters, nature planner pages, and growing list of printables available.

Benefits by Level graphic 2019 to 2020 updated 11 2019

Use the discount code NATURE5 when you purchase your Ultimate Naturalist membership and you’ll receive $5 off your purchase.

Your membership will start the date of purchase and will be valid for one complete year from that time. This will include all of the upcoming ebooks and monthly printables released during that 12 month period.

I hope you are going to join us for nature study!

 

 

 

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Important Note to Members

We have had a server crash and we have only been able to restore the website to July 2019. This means the newer ebooks are not posted up in the library.

I will be adding those back in by the end of the week and hopefully get back on track.

I apologize for any inconvenience!

Edit to add: If you are a member and no longer have access to your account, you can email me and we will set your membership back up. So sorry for the extra work!!!

Barb McCoy

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New Ebook – Creepy Things with New Challenges!

Creepy Thing Ebook Cover image
Ultimate and Journey Level members can click this graphic to go directly to the library to download a copy of this new ebook. Make sure you are logged in and if you’re having trouble with your password, please leave me a comment or send me a direct email to receive my assistance. Email: harmonyfinearts@yahoo.com

 

New Ebook is Now Available to Members!

The Creepy Things ebook is now ready for you to download and use with your family. This is one of the ebooks we’ll be working through later in the 2019-2020 plans.  I learned a lot about so many things as I wrote this set of challenges and I know you will too!

2019 to 2020 plan graphic with ebook covers 2

There are 10 brand new Outdoor Hour Challenges for you to complete as part of your nature study lessons with your children. These Challenges are not based on information in the Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock. You’ll be using internet links and field guides to glean information about each topic.

  • This 46 page digital ebook has 10 challenges and supplemental activities that will help you learn about things that you may have wondered about in the past but considered too “creepy” or scary to learn about in person.
  • There are multiple custom notebooking pages for each of the topics. You can choose from simple notebook pages or more advanced notebooking pages.
  • There are 7 coloring pages.
  • Sample: Print an ebook sample here: Creepy Things Ebook Sample

 

Here are the specific topics included in this ebook:

  • Banana slug
  • Tarantula/Tarantula hawk
  • Black Widow
  • Scorpion
  • Leech
  • Muskrat
  • Sphinx moth
  • Cicada
  • Millipede
  • Poison oak

Creepy Thing Ebook Cover image

How do you get the new Creepy Things ebook?

Members of the Ultimate Naturalist and Journey levels have access to the new ebook in their library. You need to click the “Members Area” button at the top of the website, sign into your account, and the ebook is there to download and save for your family to use when desired.

Join Us Ultimate Naturalist November 2019

If you don’t have a membership yet, I’m offering a $5 off discount code that will be good towards your Ultimate Naturalist membership.

Discount Code: OHC10

 

 

 

 

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New Ebook- Forest Fun with New Challenges!

Forest Fun ebook cover graphic
Ultimate and Journey Level members can click this graphic to go directly to the library to download a copy of this new ebook. Make sure you are logged in and if you are having trouble with your password, please leave me a comment or send me a direct email to receive my assistance. Email: harmonyfinearts@yahoo.com

New Ebook is Now Available to Members!

The Forest Fun ebook is now ready for you to download and use with your family. It will be a part of the 2019-2020 plans here on the Handbook of Nature Study. I’m excited to have a new set of challenges to complete along with you!

2019 to 2020 plan graphic with ebook covers 2

There are nine brand new Outdoor Hour Challenges for you to complete as part of your nature study lessons with your children. These Challenges are not based on information in the Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock but you will be using internet links and field guides to glean information about each topic.

  • This 47 page digital ebook has 9 challenges and supplemental activities that will help you learn about some common things you’ll find in a forest, especially the forests of the western United States.
  • There are multiple custom notebooking pages for each of the topics. You can choose from simple notebook pages or more advanced notebooking pages.
  • Coloring pages for each topic.
  • Sample: Print an ebook sample here: Forest Fun ebook sample challenge.

Here are the specific topics included in this ebook:

  • Rabbitbrush
  • Skunk Cabbage
  • Azalea
  • Common Raven
  • California Quail
  • Western Tanager
  • Black Bear
  • Moose
  • Porcupine

Forest Fun ebook cover graphic

How do you get the new Forest Fun ebook?

Members of the Ultimate Naturalist and Journey levels have access to the new ebook in their library. You need to click the “Members Area” button at the top of the website, sign into your account, and the ebook is there to download and save for your family to use when desired.

Benefits by Level graphic 2019 to 2020 updated 11 2019

If you don’t have a membership yet, I’m offering a $5 off discount code that will be good towards your Ultimate Naturalist membership.

Discount Code: OHC10

 

 

 

 

 

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Outdoor Hour Challenge 2019 – 2020 Plans

Outdoor Hour Challenge

September 2019 through August 2020

Plans and Instructions

I know how much the Outdoor Hour Challenge year plan is anticipated by the families that follow the series of topics each week! I’m happy to announce that I have it all organized and ready to go for you a little bit earlier than usual. You’ll be excited to hear that there are 5 new ebooks publishing over the next year, three of which will be included in this year’s Outdoor Hour Challenge plan!

2019 to 2020 plan graphic with ebook covers 2

Here are the four ebooks that will be planned out from September 2019 to August 2020.

OHC Autumn Nature Study Continues Cover Button

Autumn Nature Study Continues ebook from the archives: belted kingfisher, hawks, salvia, teasel, burdock, lizards, ash tree, hemlock tree, witch hazel tree, staghorn sumac tree, stinkhorn, bracket fungi, pig, constellations (Cassiopeia’s Chair, Cepheus, and the Dragon), mica, and winter berries.

Forest Ebook Cover for Plan Explanation

Forest Ebook: Contains 9 challenges: rabbitbrush, skunk cabbage, azalea, raven, California quail, tanager, bear, moose, and the porcupine. This ebook will be added to the Ultimate and Journey level memberships in August 2019.

High Desert cover for plan explanation

High Desert Ebook: Contains 14 challenges: bitterbrush, sage, sage grouse, succulents, mountain lion, coyote, pocket gopher, bristlecone pine, elk, turkey vulture, juniper tree, snowberry, golden mantled ground squirrel, and river otter. This ebook will be added to the Ultimate and Journey level memberships in February 2020.

Creepy Things ebook cover for plan explanation

Creepy Things Ebook: Contains 10 challenges: banana slug, tarantula, black widow, scorpion, leech, muskrat, sphinx moth, cicada, millipede, and poison oak. This ebook will be added to the Ultimate and Journey level memberships in November 2019.

Outdoor Hour Challenge September 2019 – August 2020 for Members

Get the Year Plan in a PDF: Subscribe to the Ultimate Naturalist Library or Journey level membership.  Your membership will give you access to a detailed schedule for the entire year. You’ll have a printable plan that shows dates and specific topics that will be considered every Friday. This makes your planning super easy!

Nature Study Planning Page Sample

New this year are monthly planning pages with lots of additional nature study ideas that you can use to enrich your nature study. These are similar to the planning pages I created for the newsletters in the past. If you’re a member at any level, you will receive all 12 months of planning pages in one pdf to download and print! View a sample planning page below.

These pages will be added to the Ultimate and Journey level memberships by the end of July 2019.

Nature Study Planning Page Sample

Benefits by Level graphic 2019 to 2020

Do You Want to Join Us? Here’s what you need to do!

  1. Purchase a membership here on the Handbook of Nature Study. Remember that if you want access to all the ebooks, you’ll need an Ultimate Naturalist or Journey Level Membership. If you purchase a membership now, you’ll have access to all of the new ebooks as they become available. A membership here on the Handbook of Nature Study starts the date of purchase and is valid for one year.
  2. Download the ebooks as they become available (see the publishing dates above).
  3. Download the September 2019 through August 2020 plan from your membership account.
  4. Download and print the monthly planning pages from your membership account when it becomes available at the end of July 2019.
  5. Subscribe to the Handbook of Nature Study blog for reminders each Friday.

 

Click Below to Get Started!

Join Us Ultimate Naturalist LIbrary graphic button

Note: There will be two more ebooks in addition to those mentioned above that will be published this year:

Bird Set cover for plan explanation

Herb nature study cover for plan explanation

Once again, the Handbook of Nature Study memberships were given a Practical Homeschool Reader Award as an outstanding elementary science plan for homeschooling families. What a privilege! The nature study plans offered as part of the Outdoor Hour Challenge continue to be a favorite resource for families around the globe. Thank you!!!

Practical Homeschooling Reader Award 2019

 

If you can’t purchase a membership at this time, you can still follow along by subscribing to the blog and each week’s Outdoor Hour Challenge will come right to your email inbox.

Handbook of Nature Study Subscribe Now 2