invertebrates Archives

Posted on May 3, 2022May 24, 2023 by Tricia Hodges — 4 Comments

Earthworms Homeschool Nature Study: Invertebrates

This earthworm homeschool nature study is packed with great learning for all ages and even includes advanced invertebrate studies! Bring the Handbook of Nature Study to Life in your homeschool! Here’s a peek at what you can expect to enjoy in this Outdoor Hour Challenge for Homeschool Nature Study members.

Earthworms Homeschool Nature Study: Invertebrates

“Any garden furnishes abundant material for the study of earthworms. They are nocturnal workers and may be observed by lantern or flashlight….For the study of the individual worm and its movements, each pupil should have a worm with some earth upon his desk.”
Handbook of Nature Study, page 424

Take 15 minutes of your outdoor hour time to find a place in your yard to dig for worms. If you have a garden or flower bed, you may be successful in finding earthworms just a few inches down in the soil. Use some of the suggested activities from the lesson in the Handbook of Nature Study to carefully observe your earthworms.

This earthworms homeschool nature study for our members includes:

Handbook of Nature Study references and indoor preparation time
Suggestions and questions for your Outdoor Hour Time
A list of questions to ask during your earthworm nature study time
Follow up activity for your nature journal

Members will find the full homeschool nature study in the Spring with Art and Music Appreciation Outdoor Hour course and curriculum.

You can use the notebook page provided with Spring with Art and Music Appreciation course or your own blank nature journal to record you observations and sketches. Don’t forget to sketch and label your earthworm.

Wondering how to start? Grab our FREE Getting Started with Homeschool Nature Study Guide!

More Resources For Learning About Earthworms

My Anatomy-Getting to Know Squirmin’ Herman. This is an excellent source of specific information about the parts of an earthworm.
Worm World: Invertebrates Facts
Project to try: Quart Jar Worm Farm
Spring Nature Study with Multiple Ages – not only an earthworm study but more!
Our sister website, You ARE an ARTiST, has a new earthworm art lesson for Clubhouse members in the Backyard Nature course.

Join Homeschool Nature Study membership today!

Visit our website to find an affordable membership option that suits you. Why not give membership a try for a month and go from there. We would love to have you along for the adventure!

first published May 2010 and updated May 2022

Posted on August 21, 2020 by Barb — Leave a comment

Outdoor Hour Challenge: Millipede Nature Study

Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge

Millipede Nature Study

This time of year as the weather cools off, many of us head for the woods and trails of our neighborhoods. A favorite child friendly activity is to look under things like fallen leaves and rocks. You may be rewarded with finding some interesting and unique creatures dwelling in these hidden spots.

The millipede may be one of those things you could discover on an autumn’s day hike. Be prepared for this occurrence by using the information in the Outdoor Hour Challenge for millipedes.

Would you like to learn about the millipede?

The millipede is a wormlike invertebrate with an exoskeleton, segmented body, and jointed legs. Each body segment has two pairs of legs. The body is cylindrical or flattened and they have short antennae.
Video showing the millipede up close: Millipede.

See the Creepy things ebook for more millipede nature study ideas, videos, and printables!

Please note that I will not be posting the complete challenge here on the blog. You’ll find the detailed challenge in the Creepy Things ebook that’s available both in the Ultimate Naturalist and Journey level memberships. Sign into your account and download the ebook for the details, more links, and notebook pages.

Members here on the Handbook of Nature Study have access to these printables in their Library to supplement this week’s millipede study: Under a Rock Notebook Page and Under the Fallen Leaves Notebook Page.

Alternate study this week: Earthworms.

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!

Use discount code GETSTARTED to receive $10 off an Ultimate Naturalist Library membership. Code expires September 19, 2020.

We’re getting ready to start a new series of Outdoor Hour Challenges in September. Join us for the Autumn Nature Study ebook series (2015).

Posted on July 24, 2020 by Barb — Leave a comment

Outdoor Hour Challenge:Leech Nature Study

Did you know?

Leeches are flattened, segmented worms found in a variety of freshwater aquatic environments, including lakes, ponds, marshes, springs and slow streams.

Please Note: In North America, there are probably more freshwater leeches that don’t feed on blood than there are blood-feeders.

Use these links to learn a little about the leech:

If you have an invertebrate field guide, look up leeches. Read the information to know where to look and what to look for during your Outdoor Hour Time.
Use this link to learn more about the leech: Biokids

Alternate study this week

Seasonal Pond Study: This is a great start to a pond study and it includes a printable notebook page.

See the Creepy things ebook for more leech nature study ideas, videos, and printables!

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:

Banana slug
Tarantula
Black widow
Scorpion
Leech
Muskrat
Sphinx moth
Cicada
Millipede
Poison oak

Posted on July 17, 2020 by Barb — Leave a comment

Outdoor Hour Challenge: Scorpion Nature Study

I hope I don’t encounter a scorpion this month! But after using the links, videos, and information in this week’s challenge, I’ll be ready to look for the interesting and amazing traits of a scorpion.

Use these links to learn a little about the scorpion:

If you have an insect/spider field guide, look up scorpions to learn some facts for identification. Use this link to learn more about the desert scorpion: Desert USA.
Here are some images to view with your children: Bugguide.com.

See the Creepy Things ebook for more scorpion nature study ideas, videos, and printables!

Print the Creepy Things ebook sample here: Creepy Things Ebook Sample

Please note that I will not be posting the complete challenge here on the blog, but you will find the detailed challenge in the Creepy Things ebook. It’s available both in the Ultimate Naturalist and Journey level memberships. Sign into your account and download the ebook for the details, more links, and notebook pages.

Topics in this ebook include:

Banana slug
Tarantula
Black widow
Scorpion
Leech
Muskrat
Sphinx moth
Cicada
Millipede
Poison oak

Posted on July 10, 2020 by Barb — Leave a comment

Outdoor Hour Challenge: Black Widow Nature Study

We are continuing our summer of “creepy things” nature study by studying the black widow spider. Use this lesson to learn in detail about the black widow spider. I’ve included information for both younger and more advanced students to capture your whole family’s attention with this nature study lesson.

An alternative nature study idea this week is to study spider webs.

Use these links to learn a little about the black widow:

I found this printable fact sheet for the Black Widow Spider to download. This link is perfect for younger students: Black Widow Spider. Here’s an additional link to information about the black widow: National Geographic.
This spider is venomous and will be painful if you handle it and get a bite! Watch this video to see a black widow up close and listen to the warnings and the advice given: Will It Bite?

See the Creepy Things ebook for more black widow nature study ideas and printables!

Print the Creepy Things ebook sample here: Creepy Things Ebook Sample

Topics in this ebook include:

Banana slug
Tarantula
Black widow
Scorpion
Leech
Muskrat
Sphinx moth
Cicada
Millipede
Poison oak

Posted on July 3, 2020 by Barb — Leave a comment

Outdoor Hour Challenge: Tarantula Nature Study

This week’s brand new challenge is to learn more about the tarantula! It’s one mighty big spider that you may never encounter in person, but it is worth knowing a little about its features and habitat. There are plenty of complementary nature study ideas presented in the ebook challenge, so take a look at ways to include a few in your weekly nature study time.

Alternative nature study ideas include: spider webs, nighttime flashlight walk, field trip to a nature center, or researching the tarantula hawk.

Use these links to learn a little about the tarantula:

If you have an insect field guide, look up the tarantula to learn some facts for identifying this hairy spider. Use this link to learn more about the desert tarantula: Animal Diversity Web.
I love this YouTube video from Brave Wilderness that features the desert tarantula. He has such an appreciation for the beauty of this huge spider that I was able to watch the whole thing even though I have a little bit of arachnophobia. Giant Tarantula Shows Its Fangs.

See the Creepy things ebook for more tarantula nature study ideas and printables!

Please note that I will not be posting the complete challenge here on the blog, but you will find the detailed challenge in the Creepy Things ebook that’s available both in the Ultimate Naturalist and Journey level memberships. Sign into your account and download the ebook for the details, more links, more videos, and notebook pages.

Would you like to see a sample challenge from the Creepy Things ebook? Here is a link to the complete banana slug nature study challenge for you to download: Creepy Things ebook sample-Banana Slugs.

If you don’t have a membership yet, you can 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:

Banana slug
Tarantula
Black widow
Scorpion
Leech
Muskrat
Sphinx moth
Cicada
Millipede
Poison oak

Posted on June 26, 2020 by Barb — Leave a comment

Outdoor Hour Challenge Banana Slug Nature Study

Brand New Outdoor Hour Challenge – Banana Slug

Creepy Things series of challenges

This week we’re starting a new series of Outdoor Hour Challenges from the Creepy Things ebook! If you download the sample for this new ebook, it contains the Outdoor Hour Challenge for banana slugs!

Use this sample challenge to get you started with the new series:

Creepy Things ebook sample-Banana Slugs.

Our first creepy thing topic is the banana slug! We’ve encountered banana slugs on our hikes in the redwoods and at the California and Oregon coast. These creepy things are actually quite beautiful when you take a look at them up close. They move so slowly that you can avoid them if you want to, so they really aren’t to be feared as creatures. Learning how they play a vital role in keeping the forest floor clean and tidy is one way to show their value and necessity in the whole forest ecosystem.

Use these links to learn a little about the banana slug:

Do your research before you look for banana slugs. Here are some links to check out for information: Banana Slug-Creature Feature, Deep Look-Banana Slug and Animal Diversity Web-Banana Slugs.
Watch this informative video: Banana Slugs.

See the Creepy things ebook for more banana slug nature study ideas and printables!

Please note that I won’t be posting the complete challenge here on the blog, but you will find the detailed challenge in the Creepy Things ebook that’s available both in the Ultimate Naturalist and Journey level memberships. Sign into your account and download the ebook for the details, more links, and notebook pages.

Topics in this ebook include:

Banana slug
Tarantula
Black widow
Scorpion
Leech
Muskrat
Sphinx moth
Cicada
Millipede
Poison oak

Use the discount code NATURESTUDYFUN for $10 off an Ultimate Naturalist Membership!

Posted on November 6, 2019 by Barb — Leave a comment

New Ebook – Creepy Things with New Challenges!

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

New Ebook is Now Available to Members!

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

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

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

Here are the specific topics included in this ebook:

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

How do you get the new Creepy Things ebook?

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

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

Discount Code: OHC10

Posted on October 1, 2018 by Barb — Leave a comment

New Printables Added to Member’s Library

Outdoor Hour Challenge- New Members Printables

I’m excited to share some new printable pages with you!

Prairie Wildflowers and Animals Clipart and Coloring Pages: This set of five pages can be used in many ways. There is a page of clipart that you can use to decorate a prairie nature study page, three pages of various subjects for prairie nature study that can be used as coloring pages or printed on cardstock to create small cards for your nature table, and a page that explains how to use the pocket printable in a lapbook or in a nature journal.

Sea Star, Newt, and Jelly Fish Nature Notebook Pages: These three pages have been requested by families and I had time to create them this month. I hope they help make your study of these topics a little easier.

Deciduous Trees in my Yard Notebook Page- This fun page has a space for you to draw a map of your yard and then mark where you have deciduous trees growing.

Note: If you have any subjects you would like me to create nature notebook pages for, please let me know in a comment here on the blog or in an email: harmonyfinearts@yahoo.com

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

FYI: There will no longer be a monthly printable planning page. Please note that members have access to the complete year’s plan in the Ultimate and Journey level memberships. Non-members can follow along by subscribing to this blog and each Friday the Outdoor Hour Challenge will come into your email inbox.

Posted on August 22, 2016 by Barb — Leave a comment

Snail Observations at the Tidepools

This month as I wrote the Handbook of Nature Study newsletter, I really didn’t think I would find any snails to observe up close. Some topics are like that and I don’t anticipate having the opportunity to see the month’s focus topic in person. But, many times I am proven wrong and all of my preparation for the study is rewarded with an awesome experience.

This happened while camping on the Oregon coast when we found lots and lots of black turban snails (Tegula funebralis) to view up close and in detail.

Here is a short YouTube video that we uploaded showing the animal that lives inside the shell:Black Turban

This is the star of our nature study…the black turban which in real life looks quite blue or purple. We discovered the reason for this doing some research once we were able to get on the internet. Take a close look at who is living on the outer shell of this black turban! Amazing since the size of the snail shell is probably a little over an inch….it just looks bigger in my close up images. (click on the photo to really see it)

They get pounded by the surf and it actually wears away the outer shell to expose the colorful layers underneath. This image shows just how plentiful they are on this part of the coast. This is only exposed at low tide so the black turban actually can capture some water inside its shell and then “plug” it up with the operculum to keep itself moist until the tide rises again and they are under water. Amazing creation!

If you look closely at the images, you may spy some limpets and barnacles on the rocks surrounding the snails and also on the snails outer shell! This was not apparent to use until we looked at the images and is quite common.

Want to learn more about the Oregon Tidepools? Here is a wonderful and helpful link: Oregon Tidepools.

Just a sidenote: I found a wonderful page on the Monterey Bay Aquarium that features many invertebrates that you might like to share with your children. So many of these don’t look like they should be invertebrates so it may spark some interest in the topic for your family. Plus, it is a beautiful page! Invertebrates – Animal Guide

Here is my very sloppy journal page for our discovery…it is more about the learning than the journal at this point in my life. I hope it inspires you to create something after your snail study!

There is still time to subscribe to the blog and receive this month’s newsletter link in your confirmation email.

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Category: invertebrates

Earthworms Homeschool Nature Study: Invertebrates

Earthworms Homeschool Nature Study: Invertebrates

More Resources For Learning About Earthworms

Outdoor Hour Challenge: Millipede Nature Study

Use discount code GETSTARTED to receive $10 off an Ultimate Naturalist Library membership. Code expires September 19, 2020.

Outdoor Hour Challenge:Leech Nature Study

Outdoor Hour Challenge: Scorpion Nature Study

Outdoor Hour Challenge: Black Widow Nature Study

Outdoor Hour Challenge: Tarantula Nature Study

Outdoor Hour Challenge Banana Slug Nature Study

Use this sample challenge to get you started with the new series:

Creepy Things ebook sample-Banana Slugs.

Use the discount code NATURESTUDYFUN for $10 off an Ultimate Naturalist Membership!

New Ebook – Creepy Things with New Challenges!

New Printables Added to Member’s Library

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

Snail Observations at the Tidepools

There is still time to subscribe to the blog and receive this month’s newsletter link in your confirmation email.

Outdoor Hour Challenges for families since 2008!