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Outdoor Hour Challenge Summer Bird Study – Baltimore Oriole

Note: If you’re on the west coast, look for the Bullock’s oriole for your study instead. Information and a link are in the original challenge in the archive post linked below.

You can also substitute the How to Learn Bird Songs and Calls activity  linked in the original study.

The Baltimore oriole is a gorgeous bird! I’ve never seen one in person, but someday I hope to see one during my travels. This is one reason we can study birds or other nature topics we don’t expect to find in our local area. Gathering facts and knowledge ahead of time prepares us for the time we stumble upon something new or unexpected.

Click the link below to see the original challenge in the archives or if you’re a member here on the Handbook of Nature Study, you can open the Summer Nature Study Continues ebook (linked below) for the lesson, the notebook pages, and the images.

Baltimore Oriole

Baltimore oriole image from Fishhawk

Would you like some fun facts about Baltimore orioles? Here’s a link to Wild Birds Unlimited: Baltimore Orioles.

Outdoor Hour Challenge Baltimore Oriole @handbookofnaturestudy

Link to the Archive Challenge: Baltimore Oriole

Baltimore Oriole nest

Baltimore oriole nest from synspectrum

Both the bird and the nest would make awesome subjects for a nature journal page. This challenge can also be all about differences in bird nests using the links in the original challenge.

Outdoor Hour Challenge Summer Nature Study Continues ebook

If you want to purchase the Summer Nature Study Continues ebook so you can follow along with all the notebooking pages, coloring pages, and subject images, you can join the Ultimate or Journey Membership Levels. See the Join Us page for complete information. Also, you can view the Summer Nature Study Continues – New Ebook announcement page for more details.

Ultimate Naturalist Library September 2017 @handbookofnaturestudy

Use the discount code SUMMER5 for $5 off your Ultimate Naturalist Library membership and you’ll have access to the Summer Nature Study Continues ebook and the Brook and Stream Nature Study notebook page along with 20 other ebooks and many, many more printables!

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Summer Insect Study With the Outdoor Hour Challenge

As the season gets started, you may wish to plan a few summer insect nature studies. There’s such a wealth of knowledge about insects in the Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock. Using the lessons along with the Outdoor Hour Challenge will make you confident to tackle insect nature study this summer. You won’t need to travel far to find an insect to learn about with your children!

Summer Insect Studies

Suggested Insects

  • Dragonfly
  • Cricket
  • Mosquito
  • Ladybug
  • Firefly
  • Moth
  • Yellow Jacket

You can find a complete list of the insects in the archives by clicking the “Insect” tab at the top of the website or clicking the button below.

Outdoor Hour Challenge Insect Nature Study Challenges Index @handbookofnaturestudy

If the insect is included in an ebook here on the website, you’ll find it noted after the insect name. Members have access to the ebook challenge along with the accompanying notebook pages, coloring page, and images.

Ultimate Naturalist Library September 2017 @handbookofnaturestudy

If you’d like to purchase a membership to have all of the ebooks at your fingertips, you can click the graphic above. Please use the discount code SUMMER5 to receive $5 off an Ultimate Naturalist membership.

Printables for Members Button

Members also have access to the printables library with additional insect related notebooking pages and activities.

 Handbook of Nature Study Newsletter June 2016 cover

Members may wish to download and print the June 2016 newsletter for even more insect study ideas and printables!

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Summer Nature Study Ideas – Use the Archives!

Summer nature study can be as easy and casual as you need it to be! There are no rules to completing the Outdoor Hour Challenges and if you want to pick and choose a few of the nature study topics from the archives, feel free to jump around to areas of interest in your family.

Year Long Nature Study Summer Reminders

Make sure to mark your summer calendar with one or two of the year long study summer season ideas below!

Start by clicking the link to the archived entry

Outdoor Hour Challenge Summer Nature Study Ideas Index @handbookofnaturestudy

There are many more summer nature study ideas listed under the summer tab on the Handbook of Nature Study website.

summer nature study ebooks button

You may wish to complete one of the Summer Ebook series available in the Ultimate Naturalist Library.

Summer Nature Study Ebooks Available

Summer Nature Study

More Summer Nature Study

Summer Nature Study Continues

Ultimate Naturalist Library September 2017 @handbookofnaturestudy

Use the discount code SUMMER5 for $5 off your Ultimate Naturalist Library membership.

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June Printables – New Pages to Download

Now available in the Ultimate and Journey level memberships:

Watermelon Nature Study and First Day of Summer Notebooking Pages

Watermelon Study notebook page

First Day of Summer notebook page

Watermelon Nature Study Notebook Page: Use this page along with a fun afternoon of eating watermelon to make close observations of the inside of a watermelon. Look for the seeds, the rind, coloration of the outer skin. This is a perfect hot summer afternoon activity.

First Day of Summer Notebook Page: It is coming up fast! Plan a first day of summer nature study session to make some observations and then sketch a few things you find of interest.

 (See the end of this post for more information on how you can become a member.)

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

Printables for Members Button

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

Ultimate Naturalist Library September 2017 @handbookofnaturestudy

Use the discount code NATURE5 for $5 off an Ultimate Naturalist Library membership!

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Outdoor Hour Challenge – Summer Bachelor Buttons

This week we’re starting to work through the Nature Study Continues – Summer! I invite you to join us for a fantastic series of nature study plans with the Outdoor Hour Challenge.

Now that it’s spring, it is so exciting to be starting off the series with a colorful garden flower.

“We call it bachelor’s button; but in Europe it is called the cornflower, and under this name it found its way into literature….Their tubes flare open like trumpets, and they are indeed color trumpets heralding to the insect world that there is nectar for the probing and pollen for exchange.”

Handbook of Nature Study

bachelor buttons

Use the suggestions in the Handbook of Nature Study linked below to take a look at some garden flowers this week. If you have access to the bachelor’s button, learn more in depth about the composite flower using Lesson 131 in the Handbook of Nature Study.

Outdoor Hour Challenge Bachelors Buttons @handbookofnaturestudy

Link to the Archive Challenge: Bachelor Buttons

 

Outdoor Hour Challenge Summer Nature Study continues cover

If you want to purchase the Summer Nature Study Continues ebook so you can follow along with all the notebooking pages, coloring pages, and subject images, you can join the Ultimate or Journey Membership Levels.

The rest of the topics in this summer series are:

  • Water lily
  • Lacewing
  • Willow
  • Larkspur
  • Fish: Common shiner, Johnny darter, sunfish
  • Pearly everlasting
  • Asters
  • Baltimore oriole
  • Caddisfly and water strider

Ultimate Naturalist Library September 2017 @handbookofnaturestudy

See the Join Us page for complete information.

Use this discount code to receive $5 off your Ultimate Membership:

SUMMER5

 

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Get Ready for Wildflower Season – Outdoor Hour Challenge Ebooks

Get Ready for Wildflower Season – Outdoor Hour Challenge Ebooks

Are you ready for wildflower season? It’s coming whether you’re ready or not! The Outdoor Hour Challenges will be taking us outdoors from now until the autumn season and it’s so nice to have a library of wildflower nature study ideas at your fingertips for all those wildflowers you may encounter.

I’m especially proud of the three newer wildflower focused ebooks I’ve created in the past few years.

Outdoor Hour Challenge Wildflower Set 1 Ebook

Fireweed

Salsify

Forget-Me-Not

Paintbrush

Common silverweedOHC Wildflower Set 2 @handbookofnaturestudy

 

Henbit

Cow Parsnip

Columbine

Chicory

Cocklebur

Outdoor Hour Challenge Wildflower 3 Covermaker

Fireweed

Salsify

Forget-Me-Not

Paintbrush

Common silverweed

 

 

 Outdoor Hour Challenge Garden Wildflower and Weeds Index @handbookofnaturestudy

 

Additional Wildflower Challenges

I’ve written Outdoor Hour Challenges for every wildflower listed in the Handbook of Nature Study. You can find them under the “Garden” tab on my website. That’s dozens of wildflowers to choose from!

Ultimate Naturalist Library September 2017 @handbookofnaturestudy

You can have access to the ebooks in the Ultimate and Journey level memberships.

summer nature study ebooks button

In addition, there are many other summer related challenges available in the summer ebooks.

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Summer Nature Study Ebooks

Summer Nature Study with the Outdoor Hour Challenge

It’s coming soon! Summer!

I have just finished editing and updating all three of the summer themed nature study ebooks. These ebooks contain 31 nature study topics for you to choose from over your summer break. This is the time of year that you may have some time available for getting outdoors with your children to enjoy the summer season without distractions. Click the links below to see the specific topics to choose from in each book. Along with the challenge, there are custom notebooking pages for each topic which will make your life easier if you are interested in keeping a nature journal.

Summer Nature Study Continues

More Nature Study – Summer

Summer Nature Study- Using Your Senses

 

summer nature study ebooks button

 

If you’re new to the Outdoor Hour Challenge, you can find all three of the ebooks in the Ultimate Naturalist Library membership. (See below for a discount code to use with your purchase!)

I’ll list the summer themed ebooks below and if you want to click over to see the specific topics covered, you can easily do that by clicking the book title.

Summer Nature Study Ebooks Available

Summer Nature Study

More Summer Nature Study

Summer Nature Study Continues

Outdoor Hour Challenge Summer Nature Study Ideas Index @handbookofnaturestudy

For a complete list of summer season nature study topics, you can click the summer tab at the top of the website.

 

Use the discount code SUMMER5 for $5 off your Ultimate Naturalist Library membership.

 

Benefits by Level Updated size 500

If you’d like to have access to all of the summer ebooks, you’ll find them in the Ultimate Naturalist Library membership.

In addition to the summer books, there are 16 additional nature study ebooks in this membership.

 

OHC Plan 18 to 19 Join Us

This year we’re going to cover the four series noted in the graphic above: Autumn 2009, Winter Series 2010, Garden Flowers and Plants, and More Nature Study – Summer. Click the graphic to read more about the year’s plan.

 

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Outdoor Hour Challenge #7 – Summer Field Guide

Outdoor Hour Challenge 7 field guide @handbookofnaturestudy

Outdoor Hour Challenge #7 – Create a Summer Field Guide

From the Archives and from the Getting Started Ebook

If you’ve been following along with the Outdoor Hour Challenge Getting Started series this summer, you’ve no doubt enjoyed getting outside each week with your children. Hopefully, there are some nature journal pages in your notebook, recording some of your discoveries. You may have even started a collection after last week’s challenge.

Now, you can use Outdoor Hour Challenge #7 to create a few pages in a custom field guide for your home with birds, wildflowers, or any other area of interest. We started off with birds and the free printable in the archived post linked above.

This is a long term project that your family can work on as you find new topics or interests!

 

Field Guide Card for Birds

Summer Nature Study Tip

Outdoor Hour Challenge #7 is a perfect summer afternoon activity. Print out a few copies of the bird field guide printable and have each family member tackle a different bird. Take advantage of the hot afternoons to be inside creating your field guide.

 

Getting Started Ebook New Edition button 2

If you have access to the Getting Started ebook, there’s a custom notebook page that you can use alongside Outdoor Hour Challenge #7 if you wish, or a number of blank pages you can print and use instead.

Ultimate Naturalist Library September 2017 @handbookofnaturestudy

The Getting Started ebook is included in all levels of membership here on the Handbook of Nature Study, including the Discover Level.

 OHC Membership Giveaway graphic

Still a little time to enter the giveaway for an Ultimate Naturalist Membership!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

If you would like to purchase a membership, please use this discount code for $5 off an Ultimate Naturalist Membership of your own!

Discount Code: NATURE4U

This discount code will expire on 8/18/18.

Benefits by Level Updated size 500

 

 

 

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Outdoor Hour Challenge #3 – Summer Edition

Time+To+Draw+Nature+Journal+button.jpg

Outdoor Hour Challenge #3

Revisited Summer 2018

 

From the Archives and from the Getting Started Ebook

If this is your third week following along with the Getting Started series this summer, you’ve already accomplished some important steps in your nature study journey. OHC #1 helped you get outside with your children. OHC #2 showed you how easy it is to follow up with a discussion and words. Now, it’s time to take a few minutes after your outdoor time to put something on paper.

Getting Started with Nature Journals

I’ve written at length here on my blog about nature journals. If you click over to my nature journal tab, you’ll find lots of information to inspire and encourage you and your children in your efforts to record the fascinating things you discover during your Outdoor Hour time.

It may make it more fun if you start a nature journal alongside your children, leading by example, writing your words down on a page. Don’t worry about sketching if you’re intimidated by the thought of drawing in your nature journal. (You can read my journey with my nature journal here: Drawing and Your Nature Journal.)

working+on+nature+journal.jpg

Summer Nature Study Tip: Use the hot afternoon hours to pull out the nature journaling supplies and work together to create a page or two using items you collected on a nature walk or you can work from photos you took during your Outdoor Hour.

It’s okay if they don’t want to create a nature journal every time you have your

Outdoor Hour Challenge time.

Getting Started Outdoor Hour Challenge ebook

If you have access to the Getting Started ebook, there’s a custom notebook page that you can use alongside Outdoor Hour Challenge #3 if you wish, or a number of blank pages you can print and use instead.

Ultimate Naturalist Library September 2017 @handbookofnaturestudy

The Getting Started ebook is included in all levels of membership here on the Handbook of Nature Study, including the Discover Level.

Nature+Study+the+Gentle+Way+@handbookofnaturestudy.jpg

Overwhelmed with the thought of getting started with nature study? You may wish to read my entry: Nature Study the Gentle Way. In this entry, I share a simple idea that you could try in your family.

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Outdoor Hour Challenge #2 – Summer Edition

Nature+journaling-using+your+words.jpg

 

Outdoor Hour Challenge #2 – Using Your Words

Revisited Summer 2018

Don’t forget to read the suggested pages in the Handbook of Nature Study as noted in the original challenge!

From the Archives and from the Getting Started Ebook

This week we’re going to be getting back to basics. Keep it simple by taking your 15 minute outdoor time, looking for something of interest with your child, and then follow up with a short discussion of what you experienced. Use the prompts in the original challenge to inspire your child’s thinking about what they experienced during their time outside. Share what you enjoyed or didn’t enjoy about your nature time with your children.

Quote:

“In nature-study the work begins with any plant or creature which chances to interest the pupil.”

Handbook of Nature Study

For now, be content to just talk about what you saw while outside. Aim to keep your nature study time a pleasurable adventure, building a lifelong habit of getting outside and being refreshed by noting the amazing things happening right outside your own door or in your very own neighborhood.

garden renees sunflower august 2016 (5)

Was it too hot? Be creative about when you go outside for your nature time. Mid-afternoon might not be the best time. We always enjoyed getting out early during the summer to beat the heat. Your family may enjoy going out in the evenings. Pick a time when you are most relaxed and can enjoy getting outside with your children.

Nature+journaling-using+your+words.jpg

Here’s the link to the challenge for this week: Outdoor Hour Challenge – Getting Started #2 Using Your Words.

Getting Started Outdoor Hour Challenge ebook

If you have access to the Getting Started ebook, there’s a custom notebook page that you can use if you wish or a number of blank pages you can print and use instead.

Ultimate Naturalist Library September 2017 @handbookofnaturestudy

The Getting Started ebook is included in all levels of membership here on the Handbook of Nature Study, including the Discover Level.