This is a topic that never gets boring…ants are everywhere and once your children start hunting they will find more to observe than you ever imagined. Use the options below to complete a nature notebook page for ants. If you don’t find ants, look for any insect of interest!
Printable Notebook Page:
There are two versions of the generic insect notebook page for you to download and use with any of the insect challenges.
Insect Study– record your field guide notes and a sketch Insect Notes – simple page with wider lines for younger students
For Members:
This challenge was originally published in the Spring Nature Study ebook. If you have this in your Ultimate Membership library, you may wish to print out the custom notebook page that goes along with the nature study ideas.
This is the time of year that the rewards of creating a wildlife habitat are coming clear as the insects, birds, reptiles, and mammals visit our yard each day. There seems to be someone enjoying the space at all times. I hear buzzing and chirping during the day and see signs that someone has come to drink water and dig around in the leaves at night. I even have seen where some deer have been sleeping around on the side of our house. My husband saw a fox one evening and I heard an owl in our tree.
The yard is so alive and full of surprises each day.
I highly recommend the creating of a wildlife habitat that fits your local area’s wild residents.
Once you certify your garden online, you can order a flag or sign to proudly display in your yard. I ordered the classic sign and we mounted it near our front walkway. Here are all the signs available: National Wildlife Federation Sign Shop.
Would you like a free printable plan for creating your own Wildlife Habitat? I created one for you to use as you access your yard for the four elements you will need to become certified.
I wrote an entry a few years ago about the making of our own wildlife habitat. This entry mostly shows our backyard and how we planted things and arranged the yard to accommodate a variety of wildlife. Read more about the specific things you need to create a living space in your own yard: Making Your Backyard a Wildlife Habitat.You may find this entry helpful: Birdwatching 101- Attracting Birds with feeders and plants.
Here is another entry that shows the transformation of our front yard into a more wildlife friendly habitat: Frontyard Remodel. We have since added a mason bee house that you can read about in this post: Mason Bee House.Here is an entry that shows our frontyard in all four seasons: From My Window.
Now that summer is here, you may be spending more time in your yard or garden. Take a few minutes to observe any wildlife that visits! Use the printable above to make your wildlife habitat plan soon and then go over to the National Wildlife Federation website to get certified. Then, proudly display your sign and tell your neighbors about the program so they can participate too.
Have you thought about creating a wildlife habitat?
Take a look at the two new printables available in the Member’s Library for both the Ultimate and Journey level memberships. There is a simple Northern mockingbird notebook page and also a set of notebook and coloring pages for the buttercup and the poppy (4 pages in all). For a complete list of member’s printables, click the button below for a printable list.
Please note that Ultimate Naturalist and Journey level members have access to members only printables each month in addition to the newsletter printables. You will need to log into your account and then go to the “Other Releases” section. You can download a complete list of printables available to members here: Printables Current List May 2016.
I know there are a lot of new readers here on the Handbook of Nature Study and many of you have never downloaded my free printable that outlines 3 easy steps to encouraging better nature study experiences. This printable includes suggestions for progressive nature study using practical ideas, a printable chart, and a reminder checklist for your nature journal.
Whether you are beginning your nature study adventure or you have been on the trail a long time, take a look at the ideas we tested and found valuable in my own family.
Please read the following explanation outlining how to get this month’s newsletter.
The newsletter link is not in this email but will come separately. There may be a delay in your receiving the email so please don’t email me until the second day of the month if you haven’t received the link on the first. For some reason, some email providers take longer to receive the newsletter email.
If you don’t receive the separate email with the download link, you probably aren’t subscribed to the blog yet. This will take less than a minute to do if you follow the steps below.
If you are a subscriber and you haven’t received your newsletter email yet, check your SPAM inbox. Some subscribers have found the email buried in SPAM inbox.
If you need to subscribe:
You will need to go to the Handbook of Nature Study, look to the top right corner for the box to type in your preferred email address, and then confirm the email that comes to your email inbox.
Once you subscribe, you will receive a thank you email from me with the download link.
This month’s newsletter link will be available only during the month of December so be sure to download it before 12/31/15.
Contents of this edition of the newsletter include:
Weather Nature Study Ideas: You will find weather and seasonal weather nature study ideas, links, journal, topics, photo ideas, and printables for any season and learning level in this month’s newsletter.
December Nature Study Planning Page printable.
My article this month is a wonderful reminder to not talk too much during your nature walks. I am also sharing a weather nature journal idea that you can complete with your family.
Weather Study Big Grid, Weather Chart, and Seasonal Weather Notebook Page – There is something in the newsletter for everyone this month as we try to observe our weather more closely. Save this edition for future use in any season!
Resources for your Nature Library: I have started to build a nature library store on Amazon that will feature by category my favorite nature study books and resources. Take a look and see if there is anything you would like to put on your wish list for your family’s nature study library: Handbook of Nature Study Nature Library Suggestions on Amazon.com.Note this is my affiliate store to items I personally recommend and have read or seen in person.
Please note that Ultimate Naturalist and Journey level members have access to members only printables each month in addition to the newsletter printables. You will need to log into your account and then go to the “Other Releases” section. This month I have a special treat for you! My daughter designed this complete lapbook unit for her Hearts and Trees site a few years ago. She is adding it to my Ultimate Naturalist Library this month for members to use as part of their weather study!
This printable weather lapbook is available to Ultimate and Journey level members only!
Don’t miss downloading, saving, and using this lapbook as part of your nature study soon!!!
Need help getting started with your nature study using the Handbook of Nature Study? Check out the fresh “Getting Started” page here on the website!
Members:You may also wish to download the December 2012 newsletter. You will find additional articles, printables, and links to support your weather nature study. Note: All levels of membership here on the Handbook of Nature Study include all back issues of the newsletter.
Please read the following explanation outlining how to get this month’s newsletter.
The newsletter link is not in this email but will come separately. There may be a delay in your receiving the email so please don’t email me until the second day of the month if you haven’t received the link on the first. For some reason, some email providers take longer to receive the newsletter email.
If you don’t receive the separate email with the download link, you probably aren’t subscribed to the blog yet. This will take less than a minute to do if you follow the steps below.
If you are a subscriber and you haven’t received your newsletter email yet, check your SPAM inbox. Some subscribers have found the email buried in SPAM inbox.
If you need to subscribe:
You will need to go to the Handbook of Nature Study, look to the top right corner for the box to type in your preferred email address, and then confirm the email that comes to your email inbox.
Once you subscribe, you will receive a thank you email from me with the download link.
This month’s newsletter link will be available only during the month of November so be sure to download it before 11/30/15.
Contents of this edition of the newsletter include:
Mammal nature study tips and resources in the form of links to the Handbook of Nature Study website, printables, and Pinterest.
November Nature Study Planning Page printable.
I have written an article entitled, Wild Mammal Study For Your Family with suggestions for creating an opportunity to observe a wild animal in your neighborhood.
Mammal Study Notebook Page and a Big Grid Study – These two printable pages will provide the basis for all kinds of mammal nature study whether this is your first time or you are a veteran outdoor family.
Members:You may also wish to download the November 2012. You will find additional articles, printables, and links to support your mammal nature study. Note: All levels of membership here on the Handbook of Nature Study include all back issues of the newsletter.
Resources for your Nature Library: I have started to build a nature library store on Amazon that will feature by category my favorite nature study books and resources. Take a look and see if there is anything you would like to put on your wish list for your family’s nature study library: Handbook of Nature Study Nature Library Suggestions on Amazon.com. Note this is my affiliate store to items I personally recommend and have read or seen in person.
Please note that Ultimate Naturalist and Journey level members have access to members only printables each month in addition to the newsletter printables. You will need to log into your account and then go to the “Other Releases” section. You are going to find two new printables this month.
Mammal Nature Journal Ideas with a printable card
Fungi Up Close for a more in-depth fungi study (perhaps with the hedgehog fungi challenge that will take place in November).
Need help getting started with your nature study using the Handbook of Nature Study? Check out the fresh “Getting Started” page here on the website!
I’m really trying to encourage you to go a little deeper in your reptile study using the brand new reptile reproduction notebook that has been added to the membership library. Also, it isn’t too late to take a brook or stream walk this season using this mini grid notebook page. Print one for each member of your family and take a walk sometime soon!
Reptile Reproduction Notebook Page – perfect for more advanced students who are taking their reptile study to a higher level.
Brook and Stream Mini Grid Notebook Page and Activity – print one for each member of your family and use it to have some fun at a local brook or stream.
These new printables are in your membership library if you are a member of the Ultimate Naturalist or Journey level memberships. You need to log into your account and then check the “Other Releases” section for brand new printables to enjoy along with the Outdoor Hour Challenges in 2015. Currently there are 36+ printables in the members library in addition to the ebooks and newsletters.
Looking to take a tree scavenger hunt this season? You are going to love this month’s printables! My hope is that they add some sparkle to your tree nature study activities and motivate you to take time to get outdoors with your children.
Warm Colors in Nature – This is a special activity that will combine nature study and art together. My family always loved viewing great paintings together and I encourage you to try it with your children.
Tree Scavenger Hunt Cards –We created cards that you can print and laminate for your nature walks. Use one or all of them to inspire interest in trees. One card is even a photo hunt!
These new printables are free if you are a member of the Ultimate Naturalist or Journey level memberships. You need to log into your account and then check the “Other Releases” section for brand new printables to enjoy along with the Outdoor Hour Challenges in 2015. Currently there are 36 printables in the members library in addition to the ebooks and newsletters.
Many of you have written to ask me how to go about planning a year of nature study for your family. It seems like it should be easy enough but when you want to follow your child’s interest and it doesn’t coincide with the Friday topics here on the Handbook of Nature Study you can get frustrated. My advice normally is to find a topic of interest for your family and then use the tabs at the top of the site to find specific challenges to use for your weekly nature study.
This advice works for families that are following the Ambleside Online nature study rotation as well. Find the tab at the top of my site that corresponds with the nature topic for the term and then glean ideas from the challenges and activities listed there on the page.
To make your planning a little easier, I developed Outdoor Hour Challenge Planning Pages. These pages are available in the printables section of the Journey and Ultimate level memberships.
There are three pages in the Outdoor Hour Challenge Planning Page packet.
This is the first page you can use if you prefer to have monthly nature study topics. I loved the years that we stuck with a topic for a whole month, digging in deeply. The chart at the top of the page gives you some ideas to choose from as you contemplate your seasons and habitat.
Hint: The topics listed in the chart on the page above are going to be the monthly topics found in the Handbook of Nature Study newsletter.
Some families like to schedule their nature study focus for a complete term or season. The page shown above found in the Outdoor Hour Planning Pages packet allows for a different topic to be planned each term. If you follow the Ambleside Online nature study rotation,this would be the page you could use to plan your year’s topics.
After you have chosen your topics, either monthly or for a term, you can then use the challenge and activity planning page found in the packet to note specific challenges or ideas that you want to implement during your topical study. The ideas shown above are what I hope to accomplish in September 2015 to go along with the newsletter topic of trees. Even if we don’t end up accomplishing all of the items listed, planning ahead of time will make it more likely that they will happen. You can use ideas from the tabs at the top of the website, suggestions in the newsletter, or ideas from a Pinterest board
For families that are following along with the weekly Friday challenges here on the Handbook of Nature Study, there is a planning page each month in the newsletter. It will include the current challenges, field trip ideas, nature journal page ideas, nature table prompts, and nature photo suggestions. These will all coordinate with the monthly theme of the newsletter. Note: You can receive each month’s newsletter by subscribing to the Handbook of Nature Study blog: Subscription Page.
Any more questions!
I hope this helps answer the frequently asked question about nature study planning for your family. Let me know if you have any other questions that I can answer in future posts!
Additional Help
You may like to have this page for your nature study goals.
I just added this month’s free printable notebook pages to the library for members. Remember the Ultimate and Journey levels of membership receive access to all of the monthly printables.
Wildflower Study – This notebook page will be a great addition to any wildflower study you complete with your children.
Silent Autumn Nature Walk– Plan on taking a silent (or as silent as possible)
These new printables are free if you are a member of the Ultimate Naturalist or Journey level memberships. You need to log into your account and then check the “Other Releases” section for brand new printables to enjoy along with the Outdoor Hour Challenges in 2015.
Enjoy!
Take a look at the Autumn Nature Study Ideason the newly organized tab at the top of the website. I hope it helps inspire some fresh ideas for your family.
