Snowy walks are a great opportunity to spot beautiful winter weeds and seeds. Like this seed pod I noticed in our backyard. In my mind’s eye I see the seeds all sleeping inside cozy, waiting for the right time to spring out and sprout in the springtime sunshine.
Winter Weeds and Seeds Nature Hunt
What are seeds doing in the winter? In the winter, seeds are dormant and experience cold stratification. These are two great words to define and draw in your Nature Journal! We are all pretty familiar with “dormant”, but “cold stratification” might be a new concept. It means, the cold weather breaks down the seed coat and allows water to enter the seed. This process mimics the natural cycle of winter cold and precipitation, followed by spring warmth.
Take advantage of your winter season to look for weeds and seeds. The landscape at this time of year has far less competing for your attention and weeds can be spotted even if you have snow or ice.
If it’s still a bit too cold to start hunting for seeds – bring the seed hunt inside with this new Member’s Worksheet: Seed Comparison. Let students draw their seeds and discuss the different shapes, colors, and sizes. Find the Seed Comparison Worksheet in your Member’s Database.
I am so looking forward to the wildflower season this year! We have had a decent amount of rain and it should help make it a splendid show of color in a few weeks! Read more about Wildflowers from these great posts!
Join The Homeschool Nature Study Membership for Year Round Support
Can you believe all of these garden and wildflowers resources you will find in membership? You will also find a continuing series on gardens and wildflowers 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!
If you’re using Ambleside Online for your homeschool year, you know that the nature study rotation for Term 3 of 2024-25 is studying insects! Some people love insects, and many do not; but if you look closely at them, they have so much about them that is interesting!
And, insects can be found literally everywhere! We’ve gathered the Outdoor Hour Challenges that go along with Term 3 for this year in this one post for you. We hope it will help to make insect nature study a breeze for Ambleside Online users over the next few months. . .and lots of fun, too!
Don’t forget your copy of the Handbook of Nature Study! So may of these studies follow right along with that book, and it’s great if you have it on hand to reference. It’s always helpful to read it ahead of time; so you can tell it back to your kids without having to read it out loud to them word for word.
Ambleside Online Nature Study Resources Term 3: Insects
Here is an Outdoor Hour Challenge perfect for this time of year!
If you work your way through the section on insects in the Handbook of Nature Study, the lessons listed below line up with the Outdoor Hour Challenges!
A sweet post encouraging us to take the time to observe flowers and insects:
This post has ideas for building winter habitats in your backyard for wildlife. . .including insects!
More Insect Nature Studies with The Outdoor Hour Challenges
Here are even more nature studies for discovering and learning about insects!
There is a wonderful Insect and Invertebrates Nature Study Grid in the Insects course in Homeschool Nature Study membership! You can also enjoy a Butterfly Journal Page, an Insect Scavenger Hunt, Insect Photo Hunt and a Dragonfly Coloring Page. More insect studies are included in each of the seasonal courses.
Preschool insect studies – enjoy spider, bee, butterfly and more preschool nature studies for your youngest learners.
Summer Insect Study – There’s such a wealth of knowledge about insects in the Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock
Insect Nature Study for Kids: How to Identify an Insect – Even if you or your children are squirmy about insects, there is so much to discover and learn! In this insect nature study, learn how to identify an insect with simple steps!
If you’d like to look back our post about Term 2’s nature study from the school year 2024-2025, you can find that post here. It also gives a quick overview of the Ambleside Online curriculum and several helpful links.
Happy insect observing!
Spring Nature Studies with the Outdoor Hour Challenges
Our Homeschool Nature Study members have access to endless year round nature studies, including these courses with Handbook of Nature Study references, follow up nature journaling activities, printable notebook and journaling pages and resources to inspire and guide you.
Amy Law is wife to Jeremy, and mom to three. They homeschool using Charlotte Mason’s principles, and love to spend lots of time in nature! You can often find them hiking the beautiful trails of their beloved Tennessee hills, while Amy attempts to capture the beauty of it all with her camera lens.
The night sky is an amazing sight to behold! With the opportunity to take part in these northern lights nature study activities, there are fantastic memories to be made with your children. Learn about the aurora borealis in your homeschool!
Aurora Borealis is Commonly Called The Northern Lights
The beautiful rays of deep and colorful lights are usually only visible in the most northern or southern areas of the planet – at the poles. That is why the aurora borealis is commonly called the northern lights. The visual display is the result of disturbances in the magnetosphere caused by solar winds.
Because of solar flares, the northern lights have been visible several times much further south in latitude. We live in Georgia and have been able to see these awesome lights right out our back door!
An aurora looks like a beautiful display of lights in the sky. We can also see auroras from space! The name of an aurora changes depending on its location. If you’re in the northern hemisphere, it is called aurora borealis, or northern lights, and if you’re in the southern hemisphere, then it is called aurora australis, or southern lights.”
With more opportunities for even more families to enjoy the northern lights, we knew it was time to take a deeper dive into a northern lights nature study!
Northern Lights Nature Study Activities
There are several ways to learn about and enjoy nature study activities about the northern lights.
Learn About the Northern Lights with The Handbook of Nature Study
Read pages 776-779 in the Handbook of Nature Study on The Magnet.
Find out when you have the opportunity to view the northern lights or plan to travel to see them. You can also view our northern lights experience on Instagram.
Include a magnet study, below, in your study of northern lights.
Follow up with some nature journaling time. You will also find an art lesson, below.
Homeschool Nature Study on Magnets and The Compass
Enjoy this study exploring magnets and the compass. This study lends itself to lots of lovely opportunities to draw in experiments. So if you are one that struggles with science then this study is a wonderful and gentle introduction. Learn about the cardinal directions, north, south, east and west. And dig deeper into the magnetic fields of our planet earth.
Hands On Nature Journaling Art Activity: Northern Lights Art Lesson at You ARE an ARTiST
We were fascinated with these beautiful northern lights even before we had we had the opportunity to see them in our own backyard. My mother, Nana, of our sister website, You ARE an ARTiST, shared a gorgeous northern lights art lesson!
Spectacular Night Sky Nature Study Activities for Your Homeschool – includes a printable night sky journal page! Take some time this next week to get outside at night and enjoy a beautiful night sky homeschool nature study. Allow plenty of time for your eyes to adjust to the darkness and just enjoy gazing up at the heavens. Use some of these suggestions to get started with some simple night sky observations.
For even more homeschool nature study ideas, 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!
Learn about this mighty bird with a bald eagle study for kids that includes nature study, journaling and nature craft activities plus hands on art ideas.
Bald Eagle as National Symbol of the United States and America’s National Bird
The Bald Eagle is National Emblem of the United States of America and has been since 1782. The eagle has been considered a symbol of strength since Roman legions used this bird as their symbol. After its adoption as the national emblem, the eagle then was added to government documents, flags, buildings and more. The eagle is part of the Great Seal of the United States as well as the seal of the President of the United States. That seal is also on the one dollar bill.
The bald eagle bird spent time on the endangered list starting in 1978. Its numbers recovered and the bald eagle was removed from the list in 2007.
Bald Eagle Study for Kids
Bald eagles build nests with large sticks. They usually choose to build their nest at the top of a lone tree or on a rock in a very high place. This gives the eagle a great view for hunting.
Why is this bird of prey called a bald eagle? A bald eagle is actually not bald. But the white feathers on its head make it distinct and gives this majestic bird its name.
Enjoy a video all about bald eagles for kids.
Bald Eagle Nature Study for Kids and Other Birds of Prey
Though The Handbook of Nature Study does not include the eagle, we can use so many of the suggestions for other bird of prey.
Use your favorite bird field guide to study the range and habits of the bald eagle.
If you have the opportunity to observe eagles near your home, plan a time to! If not, there are many bird observations and backyard bird activities you can enjoy during your outdoor hour.
Members can follow the Study on the Hawk with detailed observations as well as advanced studies.
Amy Law shared these wonderful resources on birds of prey! “My husband has been a falconer for years; so this week’s Outdoor Hour Challenge on hawks is a special one to our family. Through the years, my husband has had a few different kinds of birds of prey. . . Red Tail, Harris Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Gyr Falcon, and a Kestrel. They’re amazing to watch close up, but also so amazing to watch in their natural habitat as well!”
Here are five tips to help you find and study hawks or other birds of prey this week!
1. Birds of prey can be found everywhere. . .in the woods, in fields, along roadsides. It’s not uncommon to find a nest in a neighborhood these days.
2. You can often find Red Tails sitting on the top of utility poles along the roads or up in the tallest tree around. They sit up high, while they’re looking for small animals for food. 3. Kestrels are often seen sitting on telephone wires or on wire fences. These tiny birds of prey are so cute!
4. Especially in winter, look for the birds’ silhouette in tall trees. Their colors will often blend in, but the silhouette is still there.
5. For close up study, often a nature center will have a bird of prey that has been injured and can’t live in the wild anymore. Also, zoos, of course!
Most of all, enjoy studying these beautiful birds together!.
Eagle Nature Journaling and Art Lesson
Our sister site has an eagle nest art lesson that Nana shared in her Forest Nature course in You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse membership.
Bird Nature Study Activities in Homeschool Nature Study Membership
You can enjoy these resources in Homeschool Nature Study membership:
Bird Outdoor Hour Challenge Curriculum
All About Birds Outdoor Hour Challenge Curriculum
Feather Coloring Page
Bird Feet Observations
Bird Life Cycle
and much more!
More Bird Homeschool Studies
For your resident ornithologists, besides this bald eagle study for kids, we have even more fun to explore!
Learn More About Outdoor Hour Challenges with The Handbook of Nature Study
Our Homeschool Nature Study members have access to endless year round nature studies, Handbook of Nature Study references, follow up nature journaling activities, notebook pages and resources to inspire and guide you.
These December nature study activities for the Christmas season will help you to slow down and enjoy this month with your children!
As Outdoor Hour Challenge hostess, Shirley Vels, shares, “December can be such a busy time. We are often rushed from pillar to post in an effort to fit in every festive activity under the sun so as to make the season ‘magical’ and can come away feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, and exhausted. All Christmas cheer well and truly drained out of us.” – December Outdoor Mom
-Don’t miss our Celebrate Advent with Nature Study – free download at the end!
Christmas Nature Studies
Enjoy these Christmas nature studies! May you and your loved ones experience an abundance of God’s peace and joy this festive season.
December Outdoor Mom
Here at the Outdoor Mom we are all about refocusing, slowing down, embracing simplicity and intentionally making choices that reflect the true meaning of the season – a celebration of Jesus, a Savior for mankind. The December Outdoor Mom.
Enjoy a sweet, Christmas Nativity Nature Craft! Victoria shares, “The festive season is finally upon us so it’s the perfect time to create this Christmas nativity nature craft.
So get outside to collect some pine cones, then settle down with a big hot chocolate and some classic Christmas music to see you through this festive craft.”
Advent has finally begun, so it’s time to get the Christmas decorations out! Learn how to make these adorable twig tree decorations in our Nature Crafts course. 🎄✨️
Christmas Tree for the Animals
Join us in making these adorable edible Christmas tree decorations to adorn your outdoor trees as well as feed the birds and squirrels this festive season 🎅
The temperatures drop and we huddle inside more and more, especially on the shortest day of the year! 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.
Snow Study
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!
Snowman Bird Feeder
Here is how to make a snowman bird feeder in your own backyard. This is a fun winter idea for your homeschool nature study.
Celebrate Advent with Homeschool Nature Study
Fill out the form, below, to enjoy your free advent countdown filled with fabulous December and Christmas fun! Your Outdoor Hour Challenge hostess, Shirley Vels, created this for you! Be sure to visit her at Seasons of Grace and Learning!
December Outdoor Hour Challenges in Homeschool Nature Study Membership
With four courses, you can have your pick of beautiful outdoor studies to enjoy! Members also get access to special notebooking pages for December:
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.
5 Apple Homeschool Nature Study Ideas
All things apple – what a fun, fall topic to learn about!
“The apple is a nutritious fruit, wholesome and easily digested. The varieties of apple differ in shape, size, color, texture, and flavor. A perfect apple has no bruise upon it and no wormholes in it. “
Handbook of Nature Study, page 669
Compare the outside of the apples: color, size, stems, blemishes.
Our founder, Barb McCoy, shares her tips for reading a nature literature book!
Get comfortable with your child at your side or one on each side, making sure they can see the
pages.
Start with the cover of the book and ask them what they see and what they think the book is all about.
Read the title and then the first few pages, slowly reading the words and allowing time for gazing at the pictures.
Every few pages pause for your child to tell you something about what you just read (narration). See if they have any questions.
If it is a short book, finish the book and have your child give their thoughts about the book. Did they have a favorite page or picture? Have them share something they learned about the topic from reading the book.
Let a Nature Book Inspire an Art Lesson
Use the book’s illustrations as the basis for an art lesson, copying a picture with colored pencils or markers onto paper.
Leave the book out for the child to look at again and hopefully enjoy a second time. (Make sure if you have little ones around that they can’t get to the book and mar it in some way.)
Tips for Organizing Your Nature Books
Keep your nature themed books together, perhaps organizing them by topic or by season.
Complete a Nature Book Report (Members – in Nature Journaling course) if you would like to keep a record of your learning.
Read: A Homeschool Mom’s Best Tips for Organizing Your Nature Library – Using good nature study reference books and literature will be a huge help in nudging along the seeds of a love nature in your child. To help you find what you need when you need it, these are our best tips for organizing your nature library. As the seasons and years pass, they will dig deep into your nature library and become familiar with so many things.
Ultimate List of Nature Themed Books for Fall Homeschooling
The Handbook of Nature Study Book is the Best for Fall Nature Study
The Handbook of Nature Study book by Anna Botsford Comstock is a staple in the Outdoor Hour Challenges we share. This is a wonderful reference guide for you, the homeschool teacher to use. We show you how!
Everything You Wanted to Know About the Handbook of Nature Study – Are you looking for comprehensive, easy to use nature study resources? Have you ever seen The Handbook of Nature Study? Well, it might just be the thing for you! Come check out our reviews and resources for using this as your nature study go to!
Books for September and October Fall Activities
September might be devoted to apples and fall leaves; October to pumpkins, harvest and Halloween; and November to hibernation, early winter and Thanksgiving.
Ox-Cart Man Activities for Your Homeschool – These Ox-Cart Man activities are sure to bring this great book to life! Take a trip back to the 1800s with a New England farmer in the Ox-Cart Man. In a time when you wove your own clothes, whittled your own broom, and split your own shingles, this lyrical story takes you on a journey through the changing seasons.
Pumpkin Books to Celebrate Halloween and Thanksgiving – This is a collection of pumpkin books to celebrate both Halloween and Thanksgiving. Spooky books, jack-o-lantern books, pumpkin patch books, recipe books and more!
Giving Thanks by Jonathan London (Gregory Manchess)
Autumn Harvest by Alvin Tresselt (Roger Duvoisin)
Time to Sleep by Denise Fleming
Squirrels by Brian Wildsmith
The Year at Maple Hill Farm by Alice and Martin Provensen
More Nature Themed Books for Your Homeschool
Rooted in Wonder: A Nature Study Resource Review – Have you seen this book yet? If not, you probably should. For all nature-loving families and families who are interested in starting nature study, this is a must-read. Eryn has taken love of God, His creation, and nature study and blended them together in a way that is truly beautiful. And, speaking of beautiful, the inside and outside of this book are designed so beautifully! It is a treat for the eyes, as well as the mind.
Favorite Nature Books for Your Homeschool Nature Studies – Nature study is one of things I adored when my children were younger. As soon as the weather broke here in NY we would be outside with notebooks, nature books, cameras, binoculars, magnifying glasses, and more! We enjoyed exploring nature trails, and gardening in our yard, drawing birds and flowers and creating nature poetry. As the years rolled on, our collection of nature books grew.
Beautiful Picture Book Biography of Charlotte Mason – This lovely Charlotte Mason picture book biography tells the story of Miss Mason, painting a picture of the time she lived, her knowledge of how children learn and her passion for children to love learning.
The Ultimate List of Preschool Nature Study Books – While nothing beats experiencing nature first-hand, preschool nature study books are a vital component of our preschool nature studies. We have used both fiction and non-fiction books to introduce a topic, supplement a topic and study a topic in-depth.
Out of School and Into Nature: The Anna Comstock Story – Out of School and Into Nature: The Anna Comstock Story is a beautiful picture book biography about the author of The Handbook of Nature Study. Anna Botsford Comstock was passionate about children getting out of the classroom and into nature to learn first hand about our beautiful world.
Homeschool Nature Study Membership for Fun Fall Outdoor Learning
You will find hundreds of homeschool nature studies plus all the Outdoor Hour Challenges 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!
These fall leaf activities for kids are a perfect way to study nature throughout the season. Easy to implement and enjoyable for the entire family, this study has options for all ages.
“Make the lesson an investigation and make the pupils feel that they are investigators…The ‘leading thought’ embodies some of the points which should be in the teacher’s mind while giving the lesson; it should not be read or declared to the pupils…The outlines for observations herein given by no means cover all of the observations possible; they are meant to suggest to the teacher observations of her own, rather than to be followed slavishly…If the questions do not inspire the child to investigate, they are useless.”
Spend your Outdoor Hour time in your own backyard or neighborhood.
Look at the various kinds of leaves and have your child point out several that capture their interest.
Choose four or five leaves to collect and bring home to look at with the magnifying lens.
Follow-Up Activity for Fall Nature Study:
Use the hand lens to make careful observations of your leaves. One at a time have your child describe what he sees as he looks at the leaf carefully. Record your results in your nature journal (or use the notebook page in the ebook).
Advanced and High School Leaf Studies
Advanced Follow-Up: Use this LINK and scroll down to the section, “Taking a Closer Look At Plant Cells”. Make your own leaf slides to look at under your microscope. Members – Use the Leaf Morphology page and the notebook page to complete your study.
Advanced Follow-Up: Read this article on Wikipedia: Leaf. Read this page that illustrates Leaf Margins and Shapes (love this page with the clear images).
Activities for Pressing Leaves and Leaf Nature Study
Press your leaves to add to your nature journal at a future date. You can watch my YouTube video to learn how to do this with simple household items.
Make beautiful Leaf Prints with Victoria in Homeschool Nature Study Nature Crafts course!
Fall Garland Craft
Autumn is in full swing with rusty leaves and seeds galore, so let us bring in some of the season’s beauty with this Autumn garland.
An Example of a Family Fall Leaf Study for All Ages
Tricia’s shares their family-style fall leaf study up close investigation!
Our leaf studies started when the first leaves started to change. We enjoyed the fall colors with a local trip to Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield Park. We’ve awed each week at the maple at church, watching it turn every beautiful shade from green to yellow to red.
One Saturday, we traveled to the next state over to the highest point. We walked and we slowed to soak in the colors.
And earlier this week, we drove about 20 minutes down the road, where we climbed rocks as big as boats under a canopy of colors.
While we’ve been oohing and aahing this whole month at leaves, we didn’t stop to marvel closely at design until we took the Up-Close Leaf Study Challenge with The Handbook of Nature Study Outdoor Hour Challenges.
And while gorgeous leaves had gathered on the kitchen table now and then in an arrangement, Friday morning Middle Girl and I went out early for the very purpose of gathering a variety. Maple, poplar, river birch, oak leaf hydrangea, mimosa.
It had just started to make a new web, using part of the pink string someone had tied.
With our notebook pages at the ready, we hit a problem. Where is the magnifying glass? We couldn’t even find the little plastic one kept in the outside playhouse. *Sigh* “I know!” Middle Girl said, “There’s an app for your iPhone. And I think it’s free.” After a quick search, we downloaded Magnifying Glass with Light and we were in business!
Looking first at a larva on the mimosa leaves…
…Then each choosing a leaf to study up close.
Matching the margins. I heard, “what is venation?” So we looked closely at the veins in each leaf, comparing.
The two youngest girls sketched their leaves up close. Love this notebook page!
Eldest boy compared four different leaves, referencing the shape & arrangement, margins and venation page. That’s when he said, while sketching each leaf…
“That’s the most fun leaf study I’ve ever done.” ~ 12-year-old
Middle Girl discovered you can turn the ‘lens’ around and look at yourself up close!
Technology and nature study.
For the record, we did find our little, plastic magnifying lens (after our study).
As a bonus, we copied some of our favorite leaf colors for our nature journals.
There are many fun art and nature journal ideas for trees and leaves listed below as well!
So many things we discovered by taking the time to look up close! Thanks to an October of beautiful fall colors and Handbook of Nature Study.
Leaf Resources for Homeschool Nature Study Members
Members have all of these leaf studies to enjoy!
Outline the Shape + Leaf Coloring Page
Leaf Masks Nature Craft Activity
Learning Leaf Parts
Fall Leaf Study Grid
Under the Fallen Leaves Autumn Fun
Fall Color Walk with Printable Color Cards
Learning About Leaves Outdoor Hour Challenge
Seasonal Tree Autumn Comparisons
Outdoor Mom – September and October
You will find hundreds of homeschool nature studies plus all the Outdoor Hour Challenges 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!
“The best time to plant spring-flowering bulbs depends on where you live. Ideally, wait until the soil temperature is below 60°F. As a general guide, plant in September through early October if you live in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 or 5; October to early November in zones 6 or 7; and November to early December in zones 8 and 9. Plant bulbs that have been refrigerated for 8 to 10 weeks in late December to early January in zone 10.”
Planting Bulbs in Your Yard with Children
Our Outdoor Hour Challenge founder, Barb McCoy, shared her experience with planting bulbs in the fall:
I ordered the bulbs online and they held my order until it was time to plant them in the ground. I decided I needed to just do it before I forgot about the bulbs and they sat in the box all winter. (Not like I have ever done that before.)
The instructions that came with the bulbs said that the soil needs to have good drainage and our natural garden soil is a little on the clay-like side so we added some soil enhancer to increase the texture of the soil.
The instructions also said to add a little bulb booster product and I found this sack at Home Depot for a few dollars. I read the back and added the prescribed amount into each hole I dug.
You can see, in the photo above, my holes for the allium gladiator bulbs that I purchased. I am so excited about planting these guys and I look forward to seeing them bloom sometime next year.
The photo collage also shows my tulip bulbs going in. They will be in the front of the garden box that the allium is in and they will bloom at different times. I purchased purple tulips for the first time. I also planted dutch iris and double daffodils for a total of forty-one new bulbs.
It took me the better part of an afternoon but now I can sit back and wait for spring and some new color in my garden.
Don’t miss your best opportunity for a spring bloom. It will be a delight to see all that spring bulb color after a long winter.
More Homeschool Garden Activities in Homeschool Nature Study Membership
These homeschool garden activities are perfect for your nature studies. Includes outdoor activities and gardening tips for kids. Enjoy all of these and more in homeschool nature study membership:
Flower and Gardening Activities and Notebook Pages
Learning leaf parts
Poppies and buttercups
Ferns
Looking for pollen
Pressing flowers
How to draw flowers
Learning flower parts and dissection of flowers
The garden snail
Garden Seed Ideas
You will find hundreds of homeschool nature studies plus all the Outdoor Hour Challenges 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!
While nothing beats experiencing nature first-hand, preschool nature study books are a vital component of our preschool nature studies. We have used both fiction and non-fiction books to introduce a topic, supplement a topic and study a topic in-depth.
Sometimes the books we read have been intentionally picked for nature study, and other times while reading, we come across a nature topic we’d like to learn more about.
Preschool Nature Study Books
Here are some suggestions for enjoying preschool nature study books in your homeschool.
Introduce a Nature Study Topic:
Recently we read the book Fish Eyes by Lois Ehlert. It is a cute toddler and preschool counting book that read for fun. It also got my young girls wondering about different types of fish. After reading the book they wanted to see real fish. The only local place that I could think of that had many different types of fish on display was our local pet store (nature study doesn’t always have to happen outdoors!) We observed the fish and ended up purchasing a small tank and 2 guppies so we could continue our observations at home.
Sometimes a book that wasn’t intentionally picked for nature study can be used as a springboard for further nature studies. Of course you can also pick a quality picture book to intentionally introduce a topic.
Supplement a Topic with Nature Activities:
Once we had our tank set up, we printed out our fish nature journal and watched our new pets. To help supplement our observations, I picked up a few non-fiction picture books about fish. Our favorite book was What’s It Like to Be Fish? by Wendy Pfeffer. It was the perfect amount of information for young children. Explore even more Fun Fish Activities for Preschoolers!
How To Study a Nature Topic with Preschoolers:
When we want to go more in-depth, we usually turn to field guides and The Handbook of Nature Study for more information. In order to help my children delve deeper, I will gather various resources and set up a book basket on that topic. This basket is accessible at all times to encourage independent learning and exploration. I might also put in items relating to the study and tools to help them observe on their own (such as binoculars and magnifying glasses.)
A List of Preschool-Age Picture Books To Introduce and Supplement Seasonal Nature Studies:
Preschool Nature Study Books For Any Time of Year:
Backyard Books by Judy Allen and Tudor Humphries
Outside your Window A First Book of Nature by Nicola Davies
Do you like the idea of involving young children in nature study but not sure how to start? Do you need a little help being intentional with your nature studies? Nature Study Printables is full of printable tools for you to use to get young children observing and talking about nature!
Preschool Nature Study with Homeschool Nature Study Membership!
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
