Posted on Leave a comment

Outdoor Hour Challenge – Goose and Duck Study

Geese+and+Duck+Nature+Study+@handbookofnaturestudy.blogspot.com.jpg

 

Outdoor Hour Challenge

Goose Study

From the Archives and the Autumn 2010 ebook

 

Here we go with the challenges that encourage you to create a Venn Diagram for comparison. This week’s challenge guides you through a study of the goose using the Handbook of Nature Study and then you will compare it to a duck.

See the entry from earlier this month showing how to use a Venn Diagram. (make this a link later)

If you’re using the ebook, there are notebook pages for a goose study and a more generic autumn bird study just in case you don’t have a goose or duck to observe in real life.

For more bird related nature study ideas, you can click over to view my page devoted to all things having to do with birds: Outdoor Hour Challenges for Birds plus other activities.

Go look for some birds!

Learning About Birds 3D cover

If you would like to have a complete plan for studying birds using the Handbook of Nature Study, you can take a look at my Learning About Birds ebook.

Learning About Birds ebook Bird List @handbookofnaturestudy

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

Discount Code: BIRDLOVER5

Posted on Leave a comment

Outdoor Hour Challenge – Signs of Autumn 2017

Outdoor Hour Challenge Signs of Autumn with printable @handbookofnaturestudy

 

Original Challenge: Signs of Autumn

Updated 2017: This challenge was originally written for the first day of autumn 2010 but it can easily be done on any day and in any year. I hope you enjoy learning more about your early autumn world using the ideas and printables in this challenge.
Some signs to look for:

  • Dry grass and weeds
  • Seeds
  • Wildflowers-thistles, goldenrod
  • Birds eating at feeders or flying overhead to migrate
  • Chilly morning temperatures or dew on the grass
  • Fruit ripe on trees
  • Insects or webs
  • Nuts, acorns, or berries
  • Clouds and wind

 

Signs of Autumn Notebook Page

 

You can use the Signs of Autumn notebook page  to record your observations or you can use your own nature journal. I put together a Squidoo Lens from last year’s autumn nature/art study where you might glean some more information and inspiration this season.

Year Long Nature Study Autumn Reminders @handbookofnaturestudy

Here are some ideas from year-long nature study topics we’ve done in the past:

Posted on Leave a comment

October Planner for the Outdoor Hour Challenge

October 2017 Nature Planning     PageOctober 2017 Nature Planning Page-Print out your own copy here!

Now that there is no longer a newsletter with a planning page, I decided that I wanted to create a printable page each month for us to use along with the Outdoor Hour Challenge

I am going to do my best to make this available on the first of each month to make life easier.  Print the page and use it as a reminder of the month’s nature study topics. Note the newsletters from the archives listed on the planning page that members can access for additional nature study ideas and activities. Jot notes on the planning page as the month’s outdoor time unfolds and topics of interest pop up. Use any additional suggestions to keep your nature time interesting and fresh.

Download your copy here: October 2017 Nature study Planner Page

I am excited to get started with this particular series of challenges and I hope you are too!

 

Printables for Members Button
New printables are now posted in the Member’s library!

Members have two new printables to use this autumn.

  1. Autumn Photo Project: 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 is a bit simpler for younger photographers. Print, cut the list out, and adhere it right into your nature journal as a reminder!
  2. Shrub Grid Study printable: This brand new printable is going to help you with your shrub studies. There is a study grid, bookmark list, four seasons shrub project, and a nature journal topper for you to choose from.

 

Print a complete list of printables available to Members for easy reference: Printables for Members

Posted on 54 Comments

Autumn 2017 Nature Schedule and a Giveaway

I’m hoping there will be many of you who will be joining us for the up-coming autumn season of nature study. I’m all geared up to jump into an ebook from the archives with fresh eyes in a new location.

I am by nature a planner, and I know many of you are likewise, so here’s the plan for the next few months here on the Handbook of Nature Study.

 

Autumn 2010 Outdoor Hour ChallengeThe majority of the challenges from October through December will be coming from the ebook shown above: Nature Study with the Outdoor Hour Challenges – Autumn 2010. This ebook is found in the Ultimate Naturalist Library membership. See below for a chance to win a copy of this ebook!

October 6 – Signs of Autumn

October 13 – Nature Journal – How to Get Started

October 20 – Geese and Ducks

October 27 – Horse (and dog)

November 3 – Apples

November 10 – Seasonal Tree – Leaves

November 17 – Year Long Study –  Queen Anne’s Lace

November 24 – November World

December 1 – Seasonal Weather

December 8 – Pine Cones

December 15 – Trout and Salmon

December 22 – December Mini Challenge

 

1 Outdoor Hour Challenge Oct 17 to Aug 18 Plans

If you want to see the complete plan for the next year, you can pop over to this entry to see what will be covered: Plans for October 2017 to August 2018.

 I’m giving away 5 copies of the Autumn 2010 ebook!

Would you like a chance to win the Nature Study with the Outdoor Hour Challenge – Autumn 2010 ebook? Here you go! Enter by leaving me a comment and then using the Rafflecopter gadget to make your official entry. The giveaway will end on Friday, September 8, 2017 at midnight. You can enter once a day until then!

I will be choosing 5 winners at random!

The giveaway runs until Friday, September 8, 2017 at midnight so enter now!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Ultimate Ebook Library @handbookofnaturestudyUse the discount code NATURE5 to receive $5 off an Ultimate Naturalist Membership!

 

Posted on Leave a comment

Outdoor Hour Challenges – Maples (and Seeds)

 Outdoor Hour Challenge Autumn Maple Tree Study @handbookofnaturestudy

Outdoor Hour Challenge
Maple Trees (and Seeds) – from the More Nature Study Autumn ebook and the Archives.

Maple Keys @handbookofnaturestudy

We just returned from an Oregon trip filled with colorful maples. We also found the most amazing clump of maple keys ever.

 

Maple Leaf

Use the ideas and seasonal tree printable in this week’s archive challenge to learn a bit more about this beautiful tree along with its interesting seeds. Don’t forget there is a Maple Tree notebook page in this month’s newsletter for you to use as a follow up to your outdoor time.

Even if you don’t have a maple tree to enjoy…pick a different tree and make some careful observations!

Outdoor Hour Challenge Plans for Sept 16 to March 17 @handbookofnaturestudyNote: You do not need to purchase the ebooks to participate but they are handy to have for planning and for the regular and advanced notebook pages included in each one. Click the graphic at the bottom of this post to go over to check out the Ultimate Naturalist Library membership. You can click over and download a sample for both the More Nature Study Autumn and More Nature Study Winter ebooks. This may help you decide whether to purchase a membership.

Ultimate Ebook Library @handbookofnaturestudy

 

Posted on Leave a comment

Outdoor Hour Challenge – Thistles in Autumn

Outdoor Hour Challenge Thistles in Autumn @handbookofnaturestudy

Outdoor Hour Challenge
Thistles in Autumn – from the More Nature Study Autumn ebook and the Archives

This is the week to look for thistles. The landscape right now makes it easier to find some dried up thistles for you to look at closely. Make sure to be careful if you touch the thistles because the thorns are going to be sharp. I tried to remember to bring a leather glove on our thistle walks to wear if the boys wanted to touch the plant. Go on a thistle hunt this week!

You may wish to view this entry:

Thistles – Starting a Year-Long Study

 

 

Handbook-of-Nature-Study-Newsletter-Nov 2016-button-

Don’t miss this month’s newsletter! If you haven’t already subscribed to this blog and would like to receive every post in your inbox and each month’s newsletter with practical tips and nature study encouragement, you can subscribe by clicking THIS LINK or below.

Sign Up Here for the Handbook of Nature Study Monthly Newsletter.

Sign up for an email subscription and receive every blog post in your email inbox. PLUS you will receive the exclusive monthly newsletter available only to subscribers!

 

Save

Save

Posted on Leave a comment

Outdoor Hour Challenge – Leaf Study

Outdoor Hour Challenge Autumn Leaf Study @handbookofnaturestudyOutdoor Hour Challenge

Autumn Leaf Study from the Archives and the More Nature Study Autumn ebook

This week is a challenge that should take you outdoors as you hunt for leaves to look at up close with a magnifying lens. Bring inside as many kinds of tree leaves as possible and then make simple classifications by shape, margin, and veining. There is a link in the advanced study portion that you can use as a reference for this activity. Make sure to follow up with a nature journal page (suggestions in the archive challenge and notebooking page in the ebook).

There are many free tree printables under the Tree tab at the top of my website and several more for Ultimate Naturalist and Journey level Members in their library.

Ultimate Ebook Library @handbookofnaturestudyHandbook of Nature Study Newsletter Button Oct 2016

Don’t miss this month’s newsletter! If you haven’t already subscribed to this blog and would like to receive every post in your inbox and each month’s newsletter with practical tips and nature study encouragement, you can subscribe by clicking THIS LINK or below.

Sign Up Here for the Handbook of Nature Study Monthly Newsletter.

Sign up for an email subscription and receive every blog post in your email inbox. PLUS you will receive the exclusive monthly newsletter available only to subscribers!

 

Posted on Leave a comment

Outdoor Hour Challenge Blog Carnival Reminder

Outdoor Hour Challenge Blog Carnival Button @handbookofnaturestudyThis is a reminder that the Outdoor Hour Challenge Blog Carnival is coming up soon!

All nature study type entries can be submitted, preferably entries that highlight the Outdoor Hour Challenge and Handbook of Nature Study newsletter activities.

Deadline for entries for the first carnival will be 10/26/16.

You can send in your entries to harmonyfinearts@yahoo.com

You can grab one of the OHC Carnival buttons from this entry for your blog if you would like to share this event. A link back to this blog would be much appreciated. https://naturestudyhomeschool.com/

If you have any questions or comments about the plans, please feel free to email me or leave a comment here on the blog. harmonyfinearts@yahoo.com

Outdoor Hour Challenge Blog Carnival Square button @handbookofnaturestudy

Here are the carnival dates:

  • November 1, 2016
  • February 1, 2017
  • May 1, 2017
  • August 1, 2017

Save

Save

Save

Posted on Leave a comment

Autumn Seasonal Nature Study Reminder

Year Long Nature Study Autumn Reminders @handbookofnaturestudy

Here are some ideas from year-long nature study topics we have done in the past:

I have updated and added to the autumn seasonal nature study list above. Scan through and pick one to start with this month. Then in the seasons to come, revisit the topic and make some comparisons. Our family gained a sense of time and cycles by following one particular topic through a complete year noting the changes and the way life is a series of changes that make new growth possible. I highly recommend this way of learning to all of the Outdoor Hour Challenge families.

Enjoy your autumn and put some ideas on your plan for the autumn season. If you complete a seasonal study and create a blog entry, make sure to send in the link for the OHC Blog Carnival coming up in November. Send your entries to: harmonyfinearts@yahoo.com

 Yhttps://naturestudyhomeschool.com/2012/07/for-love-of-trees-year-long-tree-study.html/

Save

Posted on 2 Comments

Outdoor Hour Challenge – Fall/Winter Specific Plans

Outdoor Hour Challenge Plans for Sept 16 to March 17 @handbookofnaturestudyI have received many emails asking me specific plans for the Outdoor Hour Challenge for the autumn and winter seasons.  I had hesitated to post up a plan until I had it nailed down on my calendar. But, now I have it all straight in my mind and I’m going to share the specifics in this post. Make sure to bookmark it or add the topics to your calendar for future reference. My wish is that we all have some interesting and productive nature study time as a regular part of our week. If you miss a week  or you don’t have access to the particular topic, just pick up where you can participate.

Remember that we are going to be starting up the Outdoor Hour Challenge Blog Carnival again on November 1, 2016. If you create a blog entry with your nature study activities featured, please send me the link and I will add it to the carnival. My email is: harmonyfinearts@yahoo.com

Note: You do not need to purchase the ebooks to participate but they are handy to have for planning and for the regular and advanced notebook pages included in each one. Click the graphic at the bottom of this post to go over to check out the Ultimate Naturalist Library membership.

 

Outdoor Hour Challenge – Autumn and Winter 2016/2017

More Nature Study Autumn Cover imageSeptember 9 – Leaf Miners

September 16 – Pears

September 23 – Milkweed

September 20 – Fall Webs

October 7 – Fall Color Walk

October 14 – Chipmunks

October 21 Sparrows

October 28 – Leaf Study

November 4 – Thistles

November 11 – Maple Tree and Seeds

November 18 – Oaks (from the archives)

November 25 – off

December 2 – Silent Nature Walk (from the archives)

December 9 – Senses Nature Walk (from the archives)

December 16 – December World (from the archives)

December 23 – off

December 30 – off