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.
Find out more with these:
- Aurora Facts
- What is an aurora?
- What are nothern lights and southern lights?
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.”
What is an aurora? -NASA.gov
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.
Homeschool Nature Study members can find this full study in the Winter course.
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!
You can follow her lesson and capture the colors that you see.
More Night Sky Activities for Your Homeschool
- 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.
- Learn the Winter Night Sky Constellations
- This Homeschool Moon Study is Out of This World
- Everything You Need for a Homeschool Moon Missions Unit Study
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!
Join Homeschool Nature Study Membership Today!
Enjoy the outdoors at night with your children. If you have early risers, you can even enjoy some time then. It is a special time to share together.
Be inspired. Be encouraged. Get outdoors!
Tricia and her family fell in love with the Handbook of Nature Study and the accompanying Outdoor Hour Challenges early in their homeschooling. The simplicity and ease of the weekly outdoor hour challenges brought joy to their homeschool and opened their eyes to the world right out their own back door! She shares the art and heart of homeschooling at You ARE an ARTiST and Your Best Homeschool plus her favorite curricula at The Curriculum Choice.