This month we are beginning with a new series of Outdoor Hour Challenges from the Summer Nature Study ebook. These challenges incorporate using your senses alongside observing nature in your neighborhood. All children should develop the ability to use all their senses when making careful observations. Focusing on these skills during nature study is a natural way to take their learning to a new level in a fun way.
New May Printable: This month there’s a fun new printable Farmers Market activity in the Members Library. Look for it in the “garden” section of your membership!
Please note there are additional nature study ideas listed on the planning page for you to use if you have access to the newsletter library. (Right now use the discount code OHC10 for $5 off any membership here on the Handbook of Nature Study.)
I’ve created the April planning page to motivate some spring nature study in your family! Download and print your page as a reminder of the Outdoor Hour Challenges featured this month as well as some additional nature study ideas.
The new printables in the membership library will also stimulate some spring nature study this month. I hope you get a chance to learn about nyctinasty (blog post coming soon) and a little more about bird’s nests too.
Happy spring nature study!
Please note there are additional nature study ideas listed on the planning page for you to use if you have access to the newsletter library. (Right now use the discount code OHC10 for $5 off any membership here on the Handbook of Nature Study.)
New printables are now posted in the Member’s library!
Members have access to several brand new printable notebook pages.
1. Nyctinasty: Use this notebook page to record your research notes about this amazing phenomenon that explains why some flowers close up at night. I find this information fascinating!
2. My Nest Study: Every bird creates a nest of some kind and this month I encourage you to pick a local bird and learn about its nest’s shape, materials, and placement.
3. Bird Study: This more advanced bird study notebook page will help you record some information and sketches. In particular, it helps you look at the bird, the nest, and the egg.
Print a complete list of printables available to Members for easy reference:Printables for Members
We’re still in the midst of winter weather…no spring yet! But, that hasn’t kept us from getting outside and enjoying the amazing clouds, birds, and weather that greets us each day. I had a friend ask me this week if I’m suffering from the loss of spring green and early wildflowers that she has in California and I could honestly say that it hasn’t been a big deal to me. We moved here to experience something different and that is exactly what we’re feeling here in the middle of March. I created a sign on my chalkboard to remind me of an important fact…
Spring will come and I will be just as excited about it in May as I would’ve been in March.
We’re busy planning the landscaping in our backyard right now. Doing the research on plants and trees and shrubs that thrive here in our harsh climate has made my heart happy in anticipation. We want to get it right so it’s taking a lot of research to decide which plants will give some color and depth to our very flat piece of land. We don’t want to obstruct our view of the mountains so everything needs to be viewed in light of how it will affect the sight lines from our back windows and from the future patio. More on that project in an upcoming post!
Here are my weekly entries from March!
I had been eagerly anticipating the arrival of the Great Backyard Bird Count since it’s our first here in Oregon. We had some surprise bird visitors just in time to be officially counted for the event.
I wanted to record our March nature events as they unfolded so this two page spread will allow me to add to the journal throughout the month. I should have called it “not really spring yet” instead of “almost spring”.
I’m still going strong with the Nature Observer journal that I began in January. The premade pages encourage me to record things I wouldn’t otherwise think about including in my journal. The pages shown here are both to record the winter bird visitors we observe during this season on one page and then another page to record migratory birds we’ll see in future seasons that are not here now. These pages required some research on my part but I love that kind of work. It impressed on me more deeply the rhythm and cycles of bird migration here in Central Oregon. It’s a way we can anticipate the changing seasons and view a bird’s comings and goings as a natural sign of the time of year.
Bonus! Plus here is a page from my archives that you can create in your journal using the March 2014 newsletter printables.
This is from my 2014 nature journal where I was using a little bit larger page (Mixed Media Side Wire 7 x 10). I was able to use the printable list and nature journal topper from the March 2014 newsletter to create a page using a photo and some journaling. I’m anticipating using this size journal again after I finish my current smaller one (Mixed Media Side Wire 8.5 x 5.5).
Have you taken a look at my updated nature journal page? Here’s a link to see some ideas to inspire you in your journaling efforts.
Don’t forget that I’m sharing a nature journal page each week on my Instagram account if you want to see the pages as they unfold. Follow me here:Instagram – outdoorhourchallenge.And, if you want to create a page and share it on your Instagram for me to see, use the hashtag #OHCnaturejournal.
I’m excited to participate again this month with the Nature Book Club group! I love trees and this month’s book selection is one that we have used in our family over the years. I still like to page through it and learn little tidbits about each of the trees.
This is an opportunity for you to join in with the club your own tree book entries by using the linky tool below to share your own tree related links this month too!
My Favorite Tree-Terrific Trees of North Americaby Diane Iverson is one of my all time favorite tree picture books for children of all ages. (Note this book is only available used on Amazon and this is my affiliate link) This book features trees native to Canada, Mexico, and the United States (including Hawaii). This is not a comprehensive field guide sort of book but it introduces a variety of trees from around North America along with interesting facts and much more.
¨ Tree Traits-excellent concise information on habitat, height, bark, leaves, flowers and seeds.
¨ Wild Companions-features a bird, mammal, or insect that makes use of the tree
¨ It’s a Fact-beyond the basic facts, this section shares fascinating historical and practical facts
¨ Hall of Fame-Location of the tallest or biggest specimen, state tree information and other “champion” information.
This is a book that would be a terrific addition to your nature study library if you live in North America.
I have created a printable chart that coordinates the trees in the My Favorite Tree book with the Handbook of Nature Study lessons and then the corresponding Outdoor Hour Challenge. You can use this information to help you provide a more thorough tree study for many of the trees covered in the My Favorite Tree book.
There is also a custom designed notebooking page to use with each tree you learn about from the My Favorite Tree book. You can print this out as many times as you need to create a lovely record of your tree studies.
Additional Tree Study Idea
You may wish to start a year-long tree study, viewing a tree in all four seasons. Click over and read this blog entry for some simple ideas to get you started: For the Love of Trees.
Make sure to subscribe to my blog to follow along with all of the nature study ideas offered every week.
Link Up Guidelines
Choose an engaging nature book, do a craft or activity, and add your post to our monthly link up.
The link up party goes live at 9:00 a.m. EST on the 20th of each month and stays open until the last day of the month. Hurry to add your links!
You can link up to 3 posts. Please do not link up advertising posts, advertise other link up parties, your store, or non-related blog posts. They will be removed.
By linking up with us, you agree for us to share your images and give you credit of course if we feature posts.
See all the great posts from The Nature Book Club’s co-hosts in March:
This month we are starting a series of bird nature study challenges as noted on the planning page. I am hoping you will join us as we learn more about the colorful birds all around us! Please note there are are additional nature study ideas listed on the planning page for you to use if you have access to the newsletter library. (Right now use the discount code OHC10 for $5 off any membership here on the Handbook of Nature Study.)
Plus, I have included a poem for your nature journal…copy it into your journal if you wish.
New printables are now posted in the Member’s library!
Members have access to several brand new printable notebook pages.
1. Mammal Set #3 – Bison, Pronghorn, and Weasel: I have created three more notebook pages for mammals. These are less common to most of us but doing the research and then completing a notebook page with interesting facts will help you be prepared for a possible future sighting.
2. Torpor:This page is for use by more advanced students after researching the term “torpor”.
Print a complete list of printables available to Members for easy reference:Printables for Members
It’s already time for a new planning page! I am excited for another full month of winter nature study using the Outdoor Hour Challenges. There are some simple ideas in each challenge that you can try with your family or if you have access to the newsletter archives, there are additional resources and ideas to use for your February nature study time.
New printables are now posted in the Member’s library!
Members have access to several brand new printable notebook pages.
1. Tick Nature Study (set of 2 pages): If you want to study a common insect during your winter insect nature study time, use the 2 notebook pages in this set to record your facts and sketches.
2. Mayfly Nature Study (set of 2 pages): Another interesting insect to study is the mayfly. Use these pages to add the information to your nature journal.
3. Mammal Notebook Pages Set #2 – (set of 3 animals): Use these pages to make a study of the North American Porcupine, the river otter, and the bobcat. Each animal has a set of three pages to use for various ages.
Print a complete list of printables available to Members for easy reference:Printables for Members
We’re going to be completing the snow activities in this challenge as a way to learn more about our new Oregon habitat and weather. Use the link above to find specific ideas for making some snow observations of your own and then follow up with a nature journal entry.
If you have access to the Winter Wednesday ebook in the Ultimate Naturalist Library, there is a custom notebook page, images of snowflakes, paper for creating a paper snowflake and a snowflake coloring page.
Join us for the Winter Wednesday series of challenges here every FRIDAY. You can find them under the winter tab on the blog or if you have an Ultimate Naturalist Library membership, you can find the ebook there for downloading.
Now that there is no longer a newsletter with a planning page, I decided that I am creating a printable page for you to use instead. Keep track of the month’s Outdoor Hour Challenge topics, be inspired to create a nature journal page, jot down notes for future study, and use the list of archived suggestions to go deeper into a particular topic.
New printables are now posted in the Member’s library!
Members have access to two brand new printable notebook pages.
Squirrel Watch Activity: Use the ideas on the page to take a fun look at squirrels. There is also a place for you to draw a squirrel.
Know Your Own Backyard – Window Observations: This time of year it can be a challenge to get outdoors. Use this page to record your window nature observations.
Print a complete list of printables available to Members for easy reference:Printables for Members
Now that there is no longer a newsletter with a planning page, I decided that I am creating a printable page for you to use instead. Keep track of the month’s Outdoor Hour Challenge topics, be inspired to create a nature journal page, jot down notes for future study, and use the list of archived suggestions to go deeper into a particular topic.
New printables are now posted in the Member’s library!
Members have two new printables to use this autumn.
Autumn Insect Study Notebook Page: Use this page to record any autumn insects you discover during your outdoor time.
Myrmecochory: Research the term myrmecochory and then write a summary of what you learned for your nature notebook. (Look for a blog entry that talks about this interesting topic soon!)
Print a complete list of printables available to Members for easy reference:Printables for Members
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.
I am excited to get started with this particular series of challenges and I hope you are too!
New printables are now posted in the Member’s library!
Members have two new printables to use this autumn.
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!
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
