Category: Autumn Series

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Outdoor Hour Challenge: Autumn Brook Nature Study

Outdoor Hour Challenge

Brook Nature Study

It may take a bit of research but it is entirely worth the effort to find a small brook or creek that your family can visit frequently as part of a yearlong brook nature study.

Creek brook nature study

Our family found that on homeschool days that went awry, a little jaunt to the creek always cleared up the bad moods and attitudes. Combine your visit to the brook with a few observations and use the pages in the Handbook of Nature Study in Lessons 207 and 208 along with the Outdoor Hour Challenge to really get to know the geology and the living things in your brook.

“The best time to study a brook is after a rain, and October or May is an interesting time for beginning this lesson. The work should be continued during the entire year.”

Handbook of Nature Study Lesson 207

Your frequent visits may lead to many questions that can be answered over time about the water, rocks, plants, birds, and other animals that inhabit this pleasant ecosystem.

Outdoor Hour Challenge Brook Nature Study @handbookofnaturestudyView the original challenge here: Outdoor Hour Challenge – Brook Nature Study.

Seasonal Brook Observations notebook pageYear Long Brook Nature Journal notebook page

If you have access to the ebook, there are two notebook pages to choose from for your nature journal. One of the notebook pages can be used in each season to record your observations and the other is a more advanced style notebook page where your child can record a more thorough report of what they observed and learned about the way a brook is part of the larger ecosystem.

Handbook of Nature Study Newsletter February 2016 cover

Members can use page 4 of the February 2016 newsletter that outlines a four seasons creek study. Page 5 of that same newsletter has a printable creek study nature journal page.

Handbook of Nature Study Autumn Nature Study 2015 Cover Image

Sample to view: Outdoor Hour Challenge Autumn Nature Study 2015 Sample Pages

If you don’t have a membership yet, click the graphic above and join today for immediate access to the 26 ebooks and so much more! Remember that all levels, even the Discovery level membership, include access to all of the archived newsletters!

Topics in this ebook include:

  • Swallows and swifts
  • Catfish
  • Jewelweed
  • Prickly lettuce
  • Cockroach
  • Field horsetail
  • Catbird
  • Calcite, limestone, marble
  • Chicken
  • Turkey
  • Hedgehog fungi
  • Sapsucker
  • Brooks

 

 

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Outdoor Hour Challenge Sapsucker Bird Nature Study

Did you hear that? Rattle, tat, tat, tat! Run, look out the window, there’s a sapsucker visiting again. I hear their tap or their call and I try to sneak a peek. There is such joy in seeing this colorful woodpecker each year, a reward for the effort put into learning about him and all the other birds that come to visit.

sapsucker in yard april 2020
Sapsucker in our yard this past April 2020.

Your family can learn about this interesting and beautiful woodpecker with this Outdoor Hour Challenge.

Outdoor Hour Challenge Sapsucker Bird Study @handbookofnaturestudyView the original challenge here: Outdoor Hour Challenge – Sapsucker.

sapsucker notebook page 1sapsucker notebook page 2

If you have access to the ebook, there are two notebook pages to choose from for your nature journal.

Alternate study: Take a bird walk and look especially for birds you observe in trees.

Handbook of Nature Study Autumn Nature Study 2015 Cover Image

Sample to view: Outdoor Hour Challenge Autumn Nature Study 2015 Sample Pages

If you don’t have a membership yet, click the graphic above and join today for immediate access to the 26 ebooks and so much more! Remember that all levels, even the Discovery level membership, include access to all of the archived newsletters!

Topics in this ebook include:

  • Swallows and swifts
  • Catfish
  • Jewelweed
  • Prickly lettuce
  • Cockroach
  • Field horsetail
  • Catbird
  • Calcite, limestone, marble
  • Chicken
  • Turkey
  • Hedgehog fungi
  • Sapsucker
  • Brooks

 

Join Us Ultimate Naturalist June 2020

You may want to look at the Learning about Birds ebooks for additional bird study ideas using the Outdoor Hour Challenge. There are two other woodpeckers featured in this book: downy woodpecker and hairy woodpecker.

Learning About Birds 3D cover

You’ll find this ebook in the Member’s Library.

Learning About Birds ebook Bird List @handbookofnaturestudy

 

 

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Outdoor Hour Challenge: Field Horsetail Nature Study

I’m excited to be learning about the field horsetail this week for our nature study lesson. We have a patch of it that we’ve been observing on our street and along a favorite hiking trail. I hope to glean some new information about this interesting topic right alongside all of you.

It isn’t particularly pretty but it does have an interesting life cycle story. Use the Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock (Lesson 196) along with the link to the original challenge below to learn more.

Outdoor Hour Challenge Field Horsetail @handbookofnaturestudy

View the original challenge here: Outdoor Hour Challenge – Field Horsetail.

Please note that the original challenge and the ebook have the wrong page numbers for the Handbook of Nature Study. The correct pages are 706-709 or just look for Lesson #196.

Field Horsetail notebook page Field Horsetail notebook page 2

If you have access to the ebook, there are two notebook pages to choose from for your nature journal.

Alternate study: Take your outdoor hour time and look for any autumn weeds you have, especially those with seeds. Contrast your weed with what you learned about the field horsetail.

Handbook of Nature Study Autumn Nature Study 2015 Cover Image

Sample to view: Outdoor Hour Challenge Autumn Nature Study 2015 Sample Pages

If you don’t have a membership yet, click the graphic above and join today for immediate access to the 26 ebooks and so much more! Remember that all levels, even the Discovery level membership, include access to all of the archived newsletters!

Topics in this ebook include:

  • Swallows and swifts
  • Catfish
  • Jewelweed
  • Prickly lettuce
  • Cockroach
  • Field horsetail
  • Catbird
  • Calcite, limestone, marble
  • Chicken
  • Turkey
  • Hedgehog fungi
  • Sapsucker
  • Brooks

 

 

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Autumn Photo Project

Autumn Photo Project

From the Ultimate Naturalist and Journey Level Memberships

It’s always fun to take on a photo challenge and this printable will be something that everyone in your family can use. There are two different photo challenge lists: one for younger children, one a little more advanced.

Autumn Photo Project

Members can print their Autumn Photo Project printable by logging into their membership, scrolling down to the printables lists, and locating the Seasonal section.  Print the page, cut the lists out, and adhere one right into your nature journal as a reminder!

If you would like to go on an autumn photo hunt and you still need to purchase a membership, do it today!

Use discount code FALLPHOTO for $5 off an Ultimate Naturalist Membership. Code expires 9/30/2020.

Join Us Ultimate Naturalist June 2020

We did the Insect Photo Hunt in August and now we are going to work on the Autumn Photo Project in September and October.

Insect Photo Hunt printable activity

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Outdoor Hour Challenge: Swallows and Swifts Nature Study

Outdoor Hour Challenge

Swallows and Swifts Nature Study

This week we kick off the autumn series of Outdoor Hour Challenges with a bird study! Use the Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock (Lesson 28) to learn more about these beautiful flyers.

 

Outdoor Hour Challenge Swallows and Swifts @handbookofnaturestudy

View the original challenge here: Outdoor Hour Challenge – Swallows and Swifts.

This nature study lesson not only helps you learn about swallows, it will introduce the idea of bird migration using links and maps.

 

Swallows NB 2 Swallow NB Page 1

The follow up pages in the ebook will help you easily record your observations and research.

Handbook of Nature Study Autumn Nature Study 2015 Cover Image

Sample to view: Outdoor Hour Challenge Autumn Nature Study 2015 Sample Pages

If you don’t have a membership yet, click the graphic above and join today for immediate access to the 26 ebooks and so much more! Remember that all levels, even the Discovery level membership, include access to all of the archived newsletters!

Topics in this ebook include:

  • Swallows and swifts
  • Catfish
  • Jewelweed
  • Prickly lettuce
  • Cockroach
  • Field horsetail
  • Catbird
  • Calcite, limestone, marble
  • Chicken
  • Turkey
  • Hedgehog fungi
  • Sapsucker
  • Brooks

Join Us Ultimate Naturalist June 2020

Learning About Birds 3D cover

Included in your membership will be the Learning About Birds ebook.

Print the ebook sample here: Learning About Birds from the Outdoor Hour Challenge.

Learning About Birds ebook Bird List @handbookofnaturestudy

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New Printables for Members: First Day of Autumn and Full Moon

Now available in the Ultimate and Journey level memberships:

1. First Day of Autumn Grid Study and Nature Journal Toppers printable:  I think we are all ready for a little change in the season! Using these printables in your nature journal will help jump start your nature journaling year.

2. Full Moon Planner 2020 notebook page:  I have so enjoyed gazing at the full moons this summer. But,  I seem to lack enthusiasm as soon as the evenings turn chilly. I wanted a way to remind myself to get outside and look at the moon in all the seasons so I created the planner page to help encourage our family to take note of each of the full moons over the next year. Please join me and I hope the helps you create a record of your moon observations.

(See the end of this post for more information on how you can become a member.)

First Day of Autumn Printable Notebook Page

Full Corn Moon is September 2, 2020!

Full Moon 2020 Planner Page

Printables for Members Button

Print a complete list of printables available in the Ultimate and Journey level memberships by clicking the button above.

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September 2020 nature planner page

Members also have access to the Nature Planner pages in their library.

Print out this month’s page and use it to stimulate your weekly nature study time.


It’s time to pull out this autumn favorite!

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Join Us! Autumn Outdoor Hour Challenges Start Soon

Autumn Nature Study Ebook Series (2015 edition)

As the new school year starts for many families, the Outdoor Hour Challenge is getting started too!  Starting September 2, 2020, we’ll be working our way through the Autumn Nature Study (2015) ebook.

Handbook of Nature Study Autumn Nature Study 2015 Cover Image

In September the topics are:

Swallows and Swifts

“The swallows are very graceful birds and are exceedingly swift fliers….The chimney swift is not a swallow; it is more nearly related to the hummingbird than to the swallow.”

Catbirds

“The catbird has a beautiful song as well as the harsh “miou”, and can imitate other birds, although not as well as the mockingbird.”

Cockroaches

“The American species live in fields and woods and under stones and sticks and only occasionally venture into dwellings.”

Field Horsetail

“The horsetail is a plant that develops spores instead of seeds, and has green stems instead of leaves.”

Here’s a sample nature study from this ebook that features the catbird:

Outdoor Hour Challenge Autumn Nature Study 2015 Sample Pages

2020 to 2021 plan graphic with ebook covers2

Join us this year for a fantastic lineup of Outdoor Hour Challenges; many of them are brand new to the website. You can see the ebooks and topics by clicking over to the plan page. Members have access to all of the ebooks necessary for the complete year.

Join Us Ultimate Naturalist June 2020

If you still need a membership, please click over and join us now as we start the new school year. It isn’t too late to get started!

Discount Code GETSTARTED for $10 off an Ultimate Naturalist Library membership.

Offer expires 9/19/2020.

 

20201seal

The Outdoor Hour Challenge is proud to have been voted the top elementary science program by homeschoolers. I’m so appreciative to be able to help so many families get outdoors and enjoy the amazing things found right outside their own back doors….and beyond.

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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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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!