Author: Tricia Hodges

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February Homeschool Nature Studies Great for Bird Watching

These February homeschool nature studies are great for bird watching and study. Includes The Backyard Bird Count and more!

These February homeschool nature studies are great for bird watching and study. Includes The Backyard Bird Count and more!

February Homeschool Nature Studies Great for Bird Watching

There are so many ways to enjoy bird watching this month (or any month). Here are some ideas to get you started.

Great Backyard Bird Count Resources: Everything You Need

Are you ready? Enjoy these Great Backyard Bird Count Homeschool Resources as you watch birds in your backyard this February!

What Is The Great Backyard Bird Count?

Each February, for four days, the world comes together for the love of birds. Over these four days we invite people to spend time in their favorite places watching and counting as many birds as they can find and reporting them to us. These observations help scientists better understand global bird populations before one of their annual migrations.

Birdcount.org
Are you ready? Enjoy these Great Backyard Bird Count Homeschool Resources as you watch birds in your backyard this February!

Bird Watching 101: Attracting Birds to Your Yard

Here you will find all sorts of ideas for attracting birds to your yard for homeschool nature study and birdwatching. We love to watch birds and do so on a regular basis without ever leaving our backyard. We can watch from our window or our deck and see usually around 4-5 different kinds of birds each day. At sometimes of the year, we have a lot more than that and it is exciting to see a new kind in the feeders.

Fun Bird Nests and Eggs Activities for Nature Study – Enjoy these fun activities for learning about bird nests and eggs. Includes ideas for getting outside, bird resources and suggestions for follow up activities as well.

Ultimate List of Bird Nature Studies Using the Outdoor Hour Challenges

You can enjoy a simple birds homeschool nature study with these resources we have gathered for you to use in your own backyard. It is such a delight to study and learn about these beautiful creatures! Find the list HERE.

These February homeschool nature studies are great for bird watching and study. Includes The Backyard Bird Count and more!
Photo by Amy Law

Make Bird Feeders and Bird Crafts for Your Backyard Birds

We created these amazing bird feeders in a special winter event with our sister site, You ARE an ARTiST! There are even more bird feeders/crafts you can enjoy in the replay. Find out more in this Winter Tree Homeschool Nature Study!

You might also like:

These are such fun with sayings such as: "Bee Mine", "I'm Nuts for You", "Owl Love You Forever" and "I Love You Deerly". Perfect for exchanging Valentines with friends or for mailing to grandparents!

Send Nature Valentines – Free Printable

These are such fun with sayings such as: “Bee Mine”, “I’m Nuts for You”, “Owl Love You Forever” and “I Love You Deerly”. Perfect for exchanging Valentines with friends or for mailing to grandparents! (Homeschool Nature Study members have these in your Resources course and on your February Nature Study Calendar!)

Get Your Printable Nature Valentines!

Subscribe to get FREE Nature Valentines to print and share.

    We won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.
    homeschool nature journaling
    Photo by Amy Law

    Start the Nature Journal Habit

    Keeping a nature journal and building the homeschool nature journal habit can be a wonderful extension of your outdoor learning time. You will find nature journal ideas for everyone from young children to the homeschool mom!

    You can even start a Calendar of Firsts – such a wonderful habit that will hep your children notice seasonal changes and more.

    Spring Homeschool Nature Study with Music and Art

    Because by the end of February we are all ready for spring! You may even have some early spring bulbs poking through the soil! Take a peek at this Spring Homeschool Nature Study.

    Join The Homeschool Nature Study Membership for Year Round Support

    Can you believe all of these bird resources you will find in membership? You will also find a continuing series on bird nature study, bird watching and attracting birds plus all the Outdoor Hour Challenges for nature study in our Homeschool Nature Study membership. There are 25+ continuing courses with matching Outdoor Hour curriculum that will bring the Handbook of Nature Study to life in your homeschool! In addition, there is an interactive monthly calendar with daily nature study prompt – all at your fingertips!

    Find Out More About Homeschool Nature Study Membership HERE!

    Our family is going to be counting in the Great Backyard Bird Count! Join us! and be sure to share on social media and tag @outdoorhourchallenge on Instagram or Homeschool Nature Study on Facebook with your results too!

    Looking For More Activities For February Homeschooling?

    Groundhog Day Homeschool Nature Study Activities

    Whether it is Groundhog Day or you are just wanting to learn more about these mammals, enjoy these homeschool nature study activities about woodchucks, groundhogs, prairie dogs and marmots!

    These February homeschool nature studies are great for bird watching and study. Includes The Backyard Bird Count and more!

    Tricia and her family fell in love with the Handbook of Nature Study and the accompanying Outdoor Hour Challenges early in their homeschooling. The simplicity and ease of the weekly outdoor hour challenges brought joy to their homeschool and opened their eyes to the world right out their own back door! She shares the art and heart of homeschooling at You ARE an ARTiST and Your Best Homeschool plus her favorite curricula at The Curriculum Choice.

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    January Nature Studies Perfect for Winter Homeschooling

    Enjoy January nature studies perfect for winter homeschooling! Make plans to get outside for a brisk nature walk and then to follow up with a nature journal page recording all of the interesting things you found while outside.

    Enjoy January nature studies perfect for winter homeschooling! Make plans to get outside for a brisk nature walk and then to follow up with a nature journal page recording all of the interesting things you found while outside.
    Photo by Amy Law

    January Nature Studies Perfect for Winter Homeschooling

    The best times I can remember with my children are the times we just took it slow and easy, looking for the little things that most people pass by. Turn over a rock and see what’s underneath. Look up in the branches of the trees and see if you can find any birds or other critters. Take a walk and listen to the crunch of the snow. Breathe the air and enjoy the day.

    Go On a Winter Nature Walk

    Getting outside for a walk in winter may be one of the most refreshing activities you could do with your children. Simple and fun!

    snow experiments for your January homeschool
    Melting snow nature study activity

    Learn About Snow in January

    In this homeschool snow study there is so much to discover! Included is a field guide to snow, experiments like filtering, guidance from the Handbook of Nature Study and more!

    Enjoy January nature studies perfect for winter homeschooling! Make plans to get outside for a brisk nature walk and then to follow up with a nature journal page recording all of the interesting things you found while outside.

    Study Insects In Your January Homeschool

    We are focusing on winter insects in our homeschool nature study outdoor hour challenges. We are using the Winter Wednesday course and Handbook of Nature Study curriculum with our members. You can join our membership at any time. You will find a button at the end of this post that will take you to the signup page.

    When Winter Weather Drives Your Homeschool Nature Studies Indoors

    Taking your winter nature studies indoors when the weather outdoors is proving to be a challenge may be just the thing you need every once in a while. We have a lovely post from the archives to inspire your homeschool nature studies indoors for those days that you can’t face getting outdoors.

    Are you ready? Enjoy these Great Backyard Bird Count Homeschool Resources as you watch birds in your backyard this February!

    January Homeschool Bird Study

    Winter Bird Study for Your Homeschool – Even when the landscape is covered in snow or ice or mud, there are always birds that will come to visit if you create a little bird-friendly habitat with some seeds, suet, and freshwater. You can observe birds right from your window if the weather isn’t friendly. Or, if you have the right conditions, take a bird walk in a nearby wood. Winter is an amazing time to stroll your neighborhood looking for resident or visiting birds.

    January Stopping By the Woods Study and More

    January always brings with it new hope and promises of a fresh start. We are going to kick off our January homeschool nature studies by using Robert Frost’s beautiful poem, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” as a springboard. Explore them here.

    As we move through the month we will be on the hunt for gall dwellers, looking at quartz and learning all about mullein.

    Winter Nature Study Crafts for Kids

    Winter is in full swing so with the plummeting temperatures looming on the horizon let’s take advantage and make these beautiful ice sun catchers! Victoria shares how in the Nature Crafts in our Homeschool Nature Study membership. Find out more about our nature study crafts for kids!

    Winter Homeschool Nature Study with Art and Music Appreciation

    This winter homeschool nature study curriculum contains all the nature study Outdoor Hour Challenges, custom notebook pages for nature study as well as art and music appreciation, and three months’ worth of art and music appreciation.

    Writing this winter homeschool nature study curriculum has helped us appreciate the winter season more than we ever have before. Part of our enthusiasm has come from spending more time outdoors bundled up with our families exploring the winter landscape.

    Enjoy all kinds of January nature studies perfect for winter homeschooling! Get outside for a brisk nature walk and follow up with a nature journal page.
    Outdoor Hour Challenge Winter Tree Silhouettes
    Enjoy all kinds of January nature studies perfect for winter homeschooling! Get outside for a brisk nature walk and follow up with a nature journal page.
    Enjoy all kinds of January nature studies perfect for winter homeschooling! Get outside for a brisk nature walk and follow up with a nature journal page.

    More Winter Homeschool Nature Study Resources

    Here are even more winter nature studies for you to enjoy together:

    Join Homeschool Nature Study Membership For a NEW Outdoor Hour Challenge Each Week!

    Be inspired. Be encouraged. Get outdoors!

    Enjoy all kinds of January nature studies perfect for winter homeschooling! Get outside for a brisk nature walk and follow up with a nature journal page.

    Tricia and her family fell in love with the Handbook of Nature Study and the accompanying Outdoor Hour Challenges early in their homeschooling. The simplicity and ease of the weekly outdoor hour challenges brought joy to their homeschool and opened their eyes to the world right out their own back door! She shares the art and heart of homeschooling at You ARE an ARTiST and Your Best Homeschool plus her favorite curricula at The Curriculum Choice.

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    Project Based Homeschool Nature Study: Keeping a Calendar of Firsts

    Keeping a perpetual calendar of nature firsts is a wonderful long-term nature study project for families. It’s a simple way to learn the cycle of life in your world, noting the nature firsts that catch your attention each year. Comparing the dates of the firsts in nature will give you a more accurate telling of the passage of time.

    Keeping a perpetual calendar of nature firsts is a wonderful long-term nature study project for families. It’s a simple way to learn the cycle of life in your world, noting the nature firsts that catch your attention each year. Comparing the dates of the firsts in nature will give you a more accurate telling of the passage of time.

    Keeping a Calendar of Nature Firsts

    Calendars: It’s a great idea to have children keep a calendar to record when and where they saw the first oak leaf, the first tadpole, the first primrose, the first ripe blackberries. Then next year they can pull out the calendar and know when to anticipate seeing these things again, and they can note new discoveries. Imagine how this will add enthusiasm for daily walks and nature hikes! A day won’t go by when something isn’t seen to excite them.

    Charlotte Mason-in modern English
    calendar of firsts nature study

    Download Your Free Calendar Page

    (Note that members have this printable in your Planning Resources course in Homeschool Nature Study membership!)

    Get Your Nature Study Calendar Page!

    Subscribe to get your free nature study calendar page.

      We won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

      You can use a calendar page for each month with the list of days down the side or a more traditional grid style calendar where you fill in the boxes as you go. Whichever way you choose will work if you just remember to weekly take a minute or two to note any nature firsts you observed. Make sure to record the date (including year), time, and or location of your observation.

      Keeping a calendar of firsts a great project based activity for your homeschool nature study. Here's how to make it work.

      Nature Study Items To Look For Each Year

      • First elk
      • First ground squirrels
      • First snow
      • First robin, junco, swallow, hummingbird
      • Last leaves on the aspen (Yes, you can keep track of “lasts” as well.)
      • First campfire of the season
      • First fire in the wood stove
      Keeping a calendar of firsts a great project based activity for your homeschool nature study. Here's how to make it work.

      More Nature Study Firsts for You to Observe in Your Homeschool

      • First bee seen
      • Frogs chirping– first day heard
      • First mosquito bite
      • First skunk smell
      • First trillium or other wildflower blooming
      • First acorns on the ground
      • First green grass
      • First tulips blooming
      • First day warm enough for shorts and t-shirts
      • First freezing temperatures
      • First snowfall

      As you can see from the list, you are not limited to any one season or any one area for your firsts. Challenge your children to come up with some nature firsts of their own.

      A calendar of firsts can be kept by the entire family or by each individual child. The observations can be listed in words and/or pictures!

      The beauty of this project is that it can be started at any time and can be completed over many years with no guilt if you forget to record something for a period of time. If that happens, just pick up where you left off.

      Keeping a calendar of firsts a great project based activity for your homeschool nature study. Here's how to make it work.

      More Ways to Include Nature Study in Your Homeschool

      Here are a few more ideas you might enjoy:

      Be inspired. Be encouraged. Get outdoors!

      Find Out More About Homeschool Nature Study Membership – with a NEW Nature Study Each Week!

      Written by Outdoor Hour Challenge founder, Barb McCoy in 2015. Updated by Tricia 2022.

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      How To Find The Joy of Nature Study in Your Own Backyard

      How do you find the joy of nature study in your own backyard? Here are some encouragement for easy homeschool nature study right out your back door.

      How do you find the joy of nature study in your own backyard? Here are some encouragement for easy homeschool nature study right out your back door.

      The simple truth is that everyone has something special and unique to explore in their own backyard or neighborhood.

      How To Find The Joy of Nature Study in Your Own Backyard

      I always go outside with the expectation that there will be something interesting.

      Sometimes you have to look harder to find it than other times.

      Nature study has made me more of a positive person…I expect to find something outdoors to make me joyful. I expect that there will be something that we can observe and notice.

      How do you find the joy of nature study in your own backyard? Here are some encouragement for easy homeschool nature study right out your back door.
      Wow! Look at the color of this fungi? We think it is called Witches Butter.

      There is just so much to see and learn about, but we need to train our eyes and hearts to be open to the opportunities that arise.

      seeds nature study
      I am amazed by these seeds. As many times as we have hiked down this same path, by this same plant, I have never noticed these really great seeds but there they are.

      Keep your senses open to any opportunities and you may be surprised what you find to be interested in along with your children.

      How do you find the joy of nature study in your own backyard? Here are some encouragement for easy homeschool nature study right out your back door.
      There were lots of fresh critter holes along the trail this week. This one was especially large. We see signs of lots of mammals as we walk and holes are some of the most intriguing signs that we are not alone.

      Tips for Simple Homeschool Nature Study

      I got to thinking about all of the simple things we have nature study in our own backyard that we have noticed over the years.

      • Trees: leaves, bark, twigs, roots, flowers, cones, needles, seeds, pods, nests, birds
      • Patch of weeds: leaves, roots, bugs, flowers perhaps
      • Dirt: worms, gravel, stones, seeds, mud
      • Sky: clouds, sun, moon, stars
      • Air: temperature, wind, smells, breath on a cold morning
      • Birds: flying, pecking, eating, chirping, hopping, shapes and colors, beaks, wings, tails, feet
      • Sounds: wind, frogs, rain, leaves, crickets, bees, fly buzzing, mosquitoes
      • Weather: rain, clouds, temperature, snow, ice, dew, wind
      • Flowers (garden or in a pot): petals, pollen, roots, leaves, stem, fragrance, shapes, colors, seeds
      The ferns are growing right now like crazy. Every day there are more and more to enjoy.

      More For Your Homeschool

      Find out more about homeschool nature study encouragement and prompts in The Joy of Nature Study in Your Homeschool Year.

      If you are not a Homeschool Nature Study member yet, please consider joining to gain the benefit of having a nature study library at your fingertips. There are numerous resources available for you to help create the habit of nature study within your family.

      How do you find the joy of nature study in your own backyard? Here are some encouragement for easy homeschool nature study right out your back door.

      What can you put on your list?

      Above all, have fun and be joyful!

      By Barb McCoy, Outdoor Hour Challenges founder

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      Simple Ways to Study Nature in Your Homeschool This Winter

      There are so many simple ways to study nature in your homeschool this winter! From nature walks to indoor studies, use this guide as a starting point for making memories together.

      Simple Ways to Study Nature in Your Homeschool This Winter

      There are so many simple ways to study nature in your homeschool this winter! From nature walks to indoor studies, use this guide as a starting point for making memories together.
      Photos by Amy Law

      Take a First Day of Winter Nature Walk

      Getting outside for a walk on the first day of winter may be one of the most refreshing activities you could do with your children. The temperatures drop and we huddle inside more and more, especially on the shortest day of the year!

      “The most obvious work of nature has been the preparation for winter. A wide range of observation should be used to impress the truth: the trees and shrubs have lost their leaves, and stored the provisions for spring in the buds and branches; many softer plants die down to the ground, storing the food in roots, others in bulbs, and still others in tubers. The question may be asked for each plant that comes up for observation – How did it get ready for winter?”

      Nature Study by Months
      There are so many simple ways to study nature in your homeschool this winter! From nature walks to indoor studies, use this guide as a starting point for making memories together.

      1. Take a walk this week and spend a few minutes looking at the plants in your yard and neighborhood. Look for bushes and trees without leaves, stopping to note that these plants are many times not dead but just waiting for spring to begin a new growth cycle. Don’t go into too much detail but allow time for quiet observation.

      2. After your outdoor time, spend a few minutes discussing how plants get ready for winter. You can bring out the following points:

      • Some plants (Annuals) have seeds that survive the winter even when the plant does not.
      • Other plants (Perennials) have roots that survive the winter and start to grow again in the spring.
      • Deciduous trees shed their leaves, conserve food, and have buds that are waiting until spring to open and grow.

      3. Make a nature journal entry recording anything of interest from your outdoor time.

      Alternately, make plans to get outside for a brisk nature walk and then to follow up with a nature journal page recording all of the interesting things you found while outside.

      animal tracks in winter

      Animals in Winter Homeschool Nature Study

      “The same thought should be applied to the animals. Most of the birds have gone south because of the cold, and also because their food is gone; the frogs, turtles, and toads are going to sleep all winter down in the mud or earth below the frost; the caterpillars are waiting in their cocoons for the warm spring sunshine; most of the other insects have laid their eggs for the next season, while a few of them have crawled into warm places to wait; the squirrels have gathered a store of nuts, and will soon be asleep in the old tree-trunks; the cats dogs, horses, and cows have grown a fresh coat of hair and fur. Nothing is forgotten; each is ready in its own best way.”

      Nature Study by Months

      Ideas to Prepare for Outdoor Study:

      This will be another easy week of nature study that will blend easily with other Outdoor Hour Challenges. Take the opportunity to spend some time outdoors noticing the way that animals prepare for winter. Make this one an investigation!

      You might prepare with a little discussion about the various animals and birds that live in your local area. Some ideas to get you started:

      • migrating or visiting birds
      • squirrels gathering nuts
      • insects in cocoons
      • changes in color of various animals as they prepare for the white of the snow time
      • You can also read this article: Animals in Winter.
      snow homeschool nature study
      Snow Outdoor Hour Challenge included in Homeschool Nature Study membership!

      Get Outside!

      Bundle up and spend fifteen minutes outdoors enjoying the December world. A good nature walk is pleasurable for everyone and allows you and your children to appreciate God’s beautiful creation. The best times I can remember with my children are the times we just took it slow and easy, looking for the little things that most people pass by.

      Look for signs of animals and think about ways they prepare for winter. You can also make bird and animal observations, noting their behavior. How are they staying warm? finding food? sheltering from the weather?

      Encourage everyone to use all of their senses on this walk:

      • Did they see something colorful or unusual?
      • How does the air feel on your skin?
      • Is there a particular fragrance to the air?
      • Can you listen carefully for a minute or two to distinguish any particular sounds?

      Another idea is to ask your children to find differences in the landscape, comparing your neighborhood habitat on this winter day to what they remember about the first day of summer. This is a little harder and you may need to help them get started with a few of your own observations.

      More Outdoor Hour Challenge Ideas:

      • Turn over a rock and see what’s underneath.
      • Look up in the branches of the trees and see if you can find any birds or other critters.
      • Sit quietly by the edge of a pond or stream and see what comes along.
      • Breathe the air and enjoy the day.
      indoor winter nature study ideas for your homeschool

      Follow Up Indoor Winter Nature Study Activities:

      • After your outdoor time allow time for a nature journal entry. Use the notebook page or the journal idea from the December Newsletter to record your observations of anything that your child finds interesting. I also have a December World Notebook Page included Homechool Nature Study Membership or you can use one of the journaling pages included in the free membership sample, below.
      • Maybe this week you could use a different art medium in your journal…many of us get stuck in a rut. Offer colored pencils, thin markers, watercolors, or pastels.

      Paint a Winter Frosty Leaf in Chalk Pastels

      Nana of You ARE an ARTiST offers a sample of her winter art lessons series in You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse membership. Suggested supplies: dark blue construction paper and leaf chalk pastel colors. Baby wipes or slightly damp paper towel for easy clean up.

      • You could also try offering modeling clay as an alternative to drawing the subject this week and then take a photo of the finished product to include in the nature journal.
      • Additional Link: Animals in Winter lapbook – free printable

      Not all nature study needs to happen outdoors during the winter season! There are so many lovely ideas for you in Taking Your Winter Nature Study Indoors.

      Download from your member’s area

      Wonderful Winter Homeschool Nature Study Topics

      In Homeschool Nature Study membership, each challenge gives you step by step instructions to get started with simple weekly nature study ideas…even in the middle of winter! This may just be what your homeschool week needs to get you through the cold winter days of January, February, and March.

      Each challenge is written for you to complete in your own neighborhood or backyard and you can adapt each challenge to fit your local area with suggestions I offer with each topic. Don’t be discouraged if you look at the list of topics and think you don’t have that particular subject close at hand. I will guide you through finding a replacement to still offer you a weekly dose of nature study.

      The winter homeschool nature study challenges were written for families with children of all ages. In addition to the regular challenge, I have bumped up the nature study for older or more experienced children, complete with their own set of notebooking pages. You will be able to use these studies with your whole family and pull it out from year to year and have a nature study resource for all levels.

      Find Out More About Homeschool Nature Study Membership Today!

      Outdoor Hour Challenges for Winter – Bring the Handbook of Nature Study to Life in Your Homeschool!

      Membership includes all you need for using the Handbook of Nature Study and enjoying learning together as a family. See a sample membership Winter Homeschool Nature Study by signing up with the form, below.

      Membership includes all of this plus MORE!

      • notebook pages and coloring pages
      • Upper Level notebook pages for advanced or experienced students
      • Charlotte Mason style exam questions
      • Complete list of supplies needed
      • Detailed instructions for each challenge, including links and printables
      • Nature journal suggestions
      • Alternate ideas to adapt the challenges to your local area

      Members also enjoy:

      • Bird in Snow video art lesson
      • First Day of Winter Walk and Observations Page
      • December World Notebook Page
      • Winter Weather Observations Journal Page
      • Window Observations Journal Page
      • December Words and Poem Journal Page

      Special Outdoor Hour Challenges

      • Snow Study!
      • Red and Green Outdoor Hour Challenge
      • Moon and Moon Names
      • Study on Magnets and the Compass

      And more challenges from all of the courses pictured above!

      There are so many simple ways to study nature in your homeschool this winter! From nature walks to indoor studies, use this guide as a starting point for making memories together.

      Get Your Free Sample Of Membership: Winter Homeschool Nature Study Download

      Get Your Membership Sample of Winter Homeschool Nature Study!

      Subscribe to get FREE Membership Sample of Winter Homeschool Nature Study.

        We won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

        Most importantly, when you get outside for your winter homeschool nature study, take along a good attitude and leave yourself open to whatever the experience brings. Allow your children to direct you to things they find interesting and then share in their excitement.

        Tricia and her family fell in love with the Handbook of Nature Study and the accompanying Outdoor Hour Challenges early in their homeschooling. The simplicity and ease of the weekly outdoor hour challenges brought joy to their homeschool and opened their eyes to the world right out their own back door! She shares the art and heart of homeschooling at You ARE an ARTiST and Your Best Homeschool plus her favorite curricula at The Curriculum Choice.

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        Nature Study Crafts For Kids: Easy Activities For Learning And Fun!

        Nature study crafts for kids are a hands on way to learn. What beautiful and easy activities for learning and FUN! Let us show you how.

        Nature study crafts for kids are a hands on way to learn. What beautiful and easy activities for learning and FUN! Let us show you how.

        Nature Study For Kids

        There is such value in adding nature study! Getting outside for a walk may be one of the most refreshing activities you could do with your children. Not only will you be learning about the beautiful creation in your very own backyard but you will be building lasting memories together.

        And, gathering supplies from your yard makes doing a nature craft together even more fun! Spend a little bit of time outdoors then come inside and create. You could even stay outdoors and be crafty on a nice day.

        Nature study crafts for kids are a hands on way to learn. What beautiful and easy activities for learning and FUN! Let us show you how.

        Nature Study Craft Activities For Learning and Fun

        Using our nature craft activities makes nature study easy on mom because our craft artist, Victoria, leads you and your students, step by step. Victoria grew up participating in the Outdoor Hour Challenges with her family. Nature has always inspired her work, right from when she was young. She, along with her sister, would go on weekly nature walks following lessons from the Handbook of Nature Study to learn about the beauty of our natural world. She has found through years of nature study that the slow and simple process of painting and being surrounded by nature has become her form of escapism from such a fast paced and material world.

        Each craft activity is seasonal and matches what you are already studying in your homeschool. Plus, nature crafts are just so much fun!

        Here are a few examples of the nature study craft activities you can enjoy in Homeschool Nature Study membership!

        Nature study crafts for kids are a hands on way to learn. What beautiful and easy activities for learning and FUN! Let us show you how.

        Ice Nature Art

        Ice art incorporating foraged berries, leaves, cones or whatever else you find in nature makes for a beautiful garden decoration…even of it only lasts a few hours.

        How to Make Forage Fairies

        This homeschool nature craft makes it so much fun to get outdoors and forage for your supplies.

        How to Make a Leaf Mask

        You will love making a nature craft with leaves! We will be making these gorgeous leaf masks with only a handful of supplies. Let your creativity go wild with these masks!

        Other nature study crafts include:

        • Last Days of Summer Wreath
        • Flower Hammered Note Cards
        • How to Make a Pouch for Your Nature Journal
        • Pressed Flower Vase

        With even MORE nature study crafts for Homeschool Nature Study members!

        Nature study crafts for kids are a hands on way to learn. What beautiful and easy activities for learning and FUN! Let us show you how.

        More Resources For Nature Study In Your Homeschool

        We love the nature crafts Victoria shares! And, did you know that Victoria’s mother, Shirley Vels, is your Outdoor Hour Challenge hostess? Not only does Shirley share your weekly Outdoor Hour Challenge, she also encourages fellow homeschool moms with her monthly Outdoor Mom lessons in membership as well!

        Find out more about the Outdoor Mom encouragement and prompts in The Joy of Nature Study in Your Homeschool Year.

        If you are not a Homeschool Nature Study membership yet, please consider joining to gain the benefit of having a nature study library at your fingertips. There are numerous resources available for you to help create the habit of nature study within your family.

        nature membership for your homeschool

        Members also enjoy access to:

        • Weekly Outdoor Hour Challenges to bring the Handbook of Nature Study to life in your homeschool!
        • the annual nature study plans
        • matching courses with materials and journaling pages
        • interactive calendar with daily nature study prompts
        • Nature Journaling course
        • and MUCH more!

        Members of Homeschool Nature Study enjoy access to both the Nature Crafts course AND Outdoor Mom plus more exclusive courses and content.

        Find Out More About Homeschool Nature Study Membership Today!

        Be inspired. Be encouraged. Get outdoors!

        Tricia and her family fell in love with the Handbook of Nature Study and the accompanying Outdoor Hour Challenges early in their homeschooling. The simplicity and ease of the weekly outdoor hour challenges brought joy to their homeschool and opened their eyes to the world right out their own back door! She shares the art and heart of homeschooling at You ARE an ARTiST and Your Best Homeschool plus her favorite curricula at The Curriculum Choice.

        November 2022, updated October 2025

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        Make a Weed Bouquet: A Beautiful Fall Homeschool Activity

        In my eyes, my autumn weed bouquet is as pretty as any flower shop bunch of roses. Invite your children to gather some of your autumn weeds to be indoors as part of your nature display.

        Bring the outdoors into your homeschool with this simple nature study activity—creating a weed bouquet! A hands-on project sure to spark joy.

        Sitting on my desk is a small vase of flowers I collected a few weeks ago. Although they’re all dried up now, they are a fond reminder of an afternoon spent walking and collecting a few blooming things with my daughter.

        This inspires me to share an idea with you readers. Why not go out on a crisp autumn day and collect a few flowers, weeds, and grasses from your neighborhood to enjoy in a vase?

        A Beautiful Fall Homeschool Activity

        My husband and I debate about the definition of a weed, an on-going discussion in our family. I say a weed is something growing where you don’t want it to grow, like in a flower or vegetable garden or in the middle of your manicured lawn. But, if the plant is growing, like most of those in our yard, in a natural landscape, I try to leave it as part of the habitat.

        Bring the outdoors into your homeschool with this simple nature study activity—creating a weed bouquet! A hands-on project sure to spark joy.

        How To Make a Weed Bouquet

        Take the opportunity to cut some of the fall weeds for a bouquet to have indoors. You and your children can create a bouquet that makes you happy. Once again, it is a matter of perspective in determining whether a plant is a weed or something amazing to look at as part of your fall homeschool nature studies in a vase.

        Please feel free to use this idea as an alternate study to any of the autumn wildflower studies.

        More Fall Nature Study Craft Ideas

        • Autumn is finally upon us with all its rust, orange and golden glory, so it’s the best time to make these pumpkin pixie houses. With yellowing leaves, ripening apples and pumpkins galore, what better way to celebrate the new season than with an adorable new nature craft. Enjoy this fabulous new craft for our members – led by Victoria Vels! Join Homeschool Nature Study membership today!

        Homeschool Nature Study Membership

        Join us for even more homeschool nature studies for all the seasons! With a nature study each week, you will have joyful learning leading all the way through the homeschool year for all your ages!

        Not yet a Homeschool Nature Study Member? We’d love for you to join us and take advantage of the numerous studies – already planned out for you, craft ideas, free worksheets, and #outdoorhourchallenge fun! Become a member and bring the love of learning nature and science easily into your home.

        Find Out More About Homeschool Nature Study Membership!

        Be inspired. Be encouraged. Get outdoors!

        -First published by Barb October 2020. Updated September 2025 by Tricia.

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        Learning About Bird Migration with Project Feederwatch

        Learn about bird migration with Project Feederwatch and grow to know the birds that frequent your own backyard. Nature study ideas for kids of all ages!

        I am learning about bird migration with Project Feederwatch. I am fascinated by birds that migrate. It makes me feel an awe for such creatures and the way they travel up to thousands of miles as the seasons change. When I lived in California, I was aware of birds and the way they would come and go at my feeders season by season. I could anticipate their arrival and then have a fairly good idea of who would be leaving at the turn of the weather.

        Learn about bird migration with Project Feederwatch and grow to know the birds that frequent your own backyard. Nature study ideas for kids of all ages!

        Learning About Bird Migration with Project Feederwatch

        Project Feederwatch each year made me keenly aware that the birds at my feeders were not the same year round. Check out the details at their website, here.

        thistle feeder

        I am getting ready to participate in my first year of Project Feederwatch here in my new home. I have updated my account and created a new description of the feeders and their locations and types. Watching birds is an everyday affair here from my kitchen and family room windows so Project Feederwatch is a perfect match for our lifestyle.

        Citizen Science Projects In Your Homeschool

        I enjoy participating in a citizen science project that helps gather data for those involved in various bird science projects and studies. Plus, it is something that refreshes me and brings a lot of joy to my life. It is something that I can participate in that doesn’t take a huge commitment of time and I can do it right from my own home, even if I am wearing my pajamas.

        snag pile for shelter

        This is our first autumn and winter here in our new home so we are still experimenting with various feeder types and the placement within the yard. I had an idea to add a brush pile just outside our back fence after we trimmed some tree limbs. So far I have observed birds and squirrels investigating the jumble of limbs with their needles and cones still intact. It isn’t too far from my cluster of feeders so it will provide some shelter for birds once the snow arrives.

        bluejay figurine

        I started right after we moved in creating a list of bird visitors to our yard. I will be keeping that habit going right on through the next few seasons. This should give us a pretty good idea of the migrant visitors as they pass through or stay for awhile. This is a simple way to get your family started with a more in-depth bird study and I encourage you to keep track of the birds that come to your feeders. It may just make you more aware of bird migration!

        sandhill crane bird

        We recently had the experience of hearing and then seeing a group of sandhill cranes fly over our yard. It was about sunset when my son and I were out doing yardwork. I heard in the distance what at first I thought were geese coming overhead. But, it was a strange and unfamiliar sound and not geese at all. (Click over to AllAboutBirds to hear what it sounded like.)

        My son spoke up when he realized it was the sound of sandhill cranes. He had heard them before when we lived in California and immediately recognized the rattling loud commotion of a group of cranes flying south over our house. It was exciting to experience this for the first time and I have since done some research into the migration habits of the sandhill crane. Knowing how far they fly has given me such an awe for these large birds. I followed up that time and created a page in my nature journal with this information.

        The opportunity to study birds can present itself when you least expect it…look for those opportunities!

        Make sure to learn about the Feederwatch program and decide if it is a good fit for your family!

         

        Project Feederwatch button

        More Resources for Learning About Birds

        Bird Sleuth button
        There is a wealth of birding information on the internet but I have not found a more homeschool-friendly site than the ones sponsored by Cornell University. I would love to encourage you all to subscribe to their homeschool blog (click the logo above to pop over there now).

        You can also follow them on Facebook .
        You can download homeschooling resources here.
        Of course, my favorite resource is their AllAboutBirds website which is a great tool for identifying and learning more about birds in your own neighborhood.

        Birdcast gives you live updates on bird migration! Fascinating to follow! Thanks to Carol for sending this resource.

        Hummingbirds are such fun ones to keep track of migration! Enjoy these Hummingbird Nature Activities for Kids!

        Birds are such a joy to learn about. Here are some more bird nature studies you can enjoy!

        Homeschool Nature Study Membership

        Join us for even more homeschool nature studies for all the seasons! With a nature study each week, you will have joyful learning leading all the way through the homeschool year for all your ages!

        Not yet a Homeschool Nature Study Member? We’d love for you to join us and take advantage of the numerous studies – already planned out for you, craft ideas, free worksheets, and #outdoorhourchallenge fun! Become a member and bring the love of learning nature and science easily into your home.

        Find Out More About Homeschool Nature Study Membership!

        Be inspired. Be encouraged. Get outdoors!

        -First published by Barb October 2017. Updated September 2025 by Tricia.

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        October Nature Study Activities For Children Of All Ages

        October can often be the most mild and inviting time to be outdoors! The mornings are cool, the sunshine abundant, and the afternoons offer the perfect invitation to take a walk crunching the leaves under the foot. I hope your month is full of sunshine and outdoor walks too with these engaging October nature studies.

        October Nature Study Activities

        October can often be the most mild and inviting time to be outdoors! The mornings are cool, the sunshine abundant, and the afternoons offer the perfect invitation to take a walk crunching the leaves under the foot. I hope your month is full of sunshine and nature walks too.

        photo by Amy Law

        Outdoor Nature Study Plans with the Outdoor Hour Challenges

        • Autumn Favorites Outdoor Hour Challenge Curriculum
        • Autumn Curriculum
        • Fall leaf study grid
        • Signs of autumn study
        • Under the fallen leaves autumn fun
        • Fall color walk with printable color cards
        • Swallows and swifts and learning about bird migration
        • Goose

        • Turkeys
        • Horses
        • Salmon and trout
        • Seasonal tree study
        • Apples and how they grow
        • How to start a field notebook
        • Autumn weather and changes in your own backyard

        The October Outdoor Mom

        Anne reveled in the world of color about her. What is this? “Oh Marilla”, she exclaimed one Saturday morning, coming dancing in with her arms full of gorgeous boughs, “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November, wouldn’t it”?

        Anne of Green Gables

        Your Outdoor Hour Challenge hostess, Shirley Vels, shares lovely prompts just for mom in The Outdoor Mom course for annual members: I’m sure most of us resonate with Anne and her love for October. There is no doubt in my mind that October is my favourite time of the year!

        The smell of woodsmoke in the air, the gentle mists that gather each morning as the sun pops its face over the horizon, the chill that makes soft clouds form as you speak, the splendour of the autumnal trees and the golden light that seems unique to this time of the year filtering through the golden tree tops and painting beautiful dappled shadows on the ground is all simply quite heavenly!

        Autumn Fern Nature Journal Entry

        Nature Journaling Video on Ferns: Nature Crafts

        Your nature illustrator, Victoria Vels, shares a beautiful fern nature journal entry. Follow along as she shares her process in a step-by-step video in the Nature Crafts course for annual Homeschool Nature Study members. Autumn is here with all its vibrant colour changes, so it’s time to document the beauty with this fern themed autumn nature journal entry. Follow along with me as I create this autumnal spread, experimenting with colours and painting techniques. Gather up your specimens, literature and facts and lets get started!

        Nature Study Outdoor Hour Challenges for Pumpkins and Apples

        All the apples and pumpkins for nature study fun! When the air turns cooler and the leaves start to change color, it is always fun to learn more about apples and pumpkins! Enjoy this ultimate guide of fun apple and pumpkin nature study ideas for your homeschool.

        New for Homeschool Nature Study members: apple printables, apple observations, apple taste test plus visiting a pumpkin farm and more!

        Fall Leaf Study

        There are leaf nature studies to fill an entire week! Go on a fall leaf tour!

        Fall Color for Preschoolers

        A really great thing about fall is that it is a great time to get outdoors with the kids and explore nature. With that being said, here are some great fall nature study ideas for toddlers and preschoolers that I hope you (and your little ones) will enjoy.

        Autumn Outdoor Hour Curriculum

        More Fall Nature Study for Your Homeschool

        Homeschool Nature Study Activities for Every Month of the Year!

        Check out all we have for our members for each month:

        October can often be the most mild and inviting time to be outdoors! The mornings are cool, the sunshine abundant, and the afternoons offer the perfect invitation to take a walk crunching the leaves under the foot. I hope your month is full of sunshine and nature walks too.

        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!

        Explore Homeschool Nature Study Membership Today!

        Be inspired. Be encouraged. Get outdoors!

        Tricia and her family fell in love with the Handbook of Nature Study and the accompanying Outdoor Hour Challenges early in their homeschooling. The simplicity and ease of the weekly outdoor hour challenges brought joy to their homeschool and opened their eyes to the world right out their own back door! She shares the art and heart of homeschooling at You ARE an ARTiST and Your Best Homeschool plus her favorite curricula at The Curriculum Choice.

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        Preschool Nature Hike: I Spy Fungi

        Fall is the perfect time of year to go on a I Spy Fungi: Preschool Nature Hike. It's fun to observe the different colors, shapes, and locations of fungi.

        When we think of fall we often picture pumpkins, hay rides, apples, and changing leaves. But it is also the perfect time of year to go on a I Spy Fungi: Preschool Nature Hike.

        We didn’t set out to have a fungi nature hunt but it turned into that once we noticed how many different types of mushrooms we were seeing on our walk.

        Fall is the perfect time of year to go on a I Spy Fungi: Preschool Nature Hike. It's fun to observe the different colors, shapes, and locations of fungi.

        I Spy Fungi: Preschool Nature Hike

        There’s something about fungi that is gross and cool at the same time! While we were walking through the woods, we came across several different types of fungi. With my preschool children, we observed the different colors, shapes, and locations of fungi.

        slug on mushroom

        We even found a slug on fungi. That got us thinking– why would a slug want to be on fungi? (Moisture was our guess.)

        Slime and mushrooms– what was the connection? Was it part of the mushroom or was it left from an animal? Those were some of the “I Wonders” that we came up with while on our hike.

        We also talked about how some mushrooms are safe to eat but others are not — and we just observe mushrooms with our eyes not our hands.

        Fall is the perfect time of year to go on a I Spy Fungi: Preschool Nature Hike. It's fun to observe the different colors, shapes, and locations of fungi.

        We observed a variety of fungi on our nature walk and had some great discussions about what we saw.

        So head out on your own I Spy Fungi hunt! Bring a camera or sketchbook and capture what you find. I’d love to see your photos! Be sure to tag us on Instagram or Facebook.

        Fall is the perfect time of year to go on a I Spy Fungi: Preschool Nature Hike. It's fun to observe the different colors, shapes, and locations of fungi.

        More Resources for Your Homeschool

        There are 25+ continuing courses with matching Outdoor Hour curriculum that will bring the Handbook of Nature Study to life in your homeschool! In addition, there is an interactive monthly calendar with daily nature study prompt – all at your fingertips!

        Find Out More About Homeschool Nature Study Membership Today!

        Join us for even more homeschool nature studies for all the seasons! With a new nature study each week, you will have joyful learning leading all the way through the homeschool year for all your ages!

        Be inspired. Be encouraged. Get outdoors!

        By Maureen Spell, a long-time contributor to the Outdoor Hour Challenges. Maureen helps Christian mompreneurs operate their business from a place of joy, purpose, and excellence because they are clear on how their business is serving their family and others. As a homeschool mom, she believes success at home AND business without the mom-guilt, stress and burn-out is possible! Outside of work, she loves having good conversations over a hot chai or GT Gingerberry kombucha and spending time with her husband and seven children. Visit her at MaureenSpell.com