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OHC More Nature Study #8 Fall Leaf Study – Close Up

Outdoor Hour Challenge Fall Leaf Study @handbookofnaturestudy

“Make the lesson an investigation and make the pupils feel that they are investigators…….The ‘leading thought’ embodies some of the points which should be in the teacher’s mind while giving the lesson; it should not be read or declared to the pupils……..The outlines for observations herein given by no means cover all of the observations possible; they are meant to suggest to the teacher observations of her own, rather than to be followed slavishly….If the questions do not inspire the child to investigate, they are useless.”

Handbook of Nature Study, page 23

More Nature Study #8
Fall Leaf Study – Close Up

Inside Preparation Work:

  • Read in the Handbook of Nature Study pages 9-10 (The Lens, Microscope, and Field Glass As Helps in Nature Study).
  • Have on hand a magnifying glass to use as part of this leaf challenge. You can see more ideas on my: Squidoo Lens on Magnifying Lenses.

Leaves for nature journal

Outdoor Hour Time:

  • Spend your Outdoor Hour time in your own backyard or neighborhood.
  • Look at the various kinds of leaves and have your child point out several that capture their interest.
  • Choose four or five leaves to collect and bring home to look at with the magnifying lens.

Follow-Up Activity:

  • Use the hand lens to make careful observations of your leaves. One at a time have your child describe what he sees as he looks at the leaf carefully. Record your results in your nature journal (or use the notebook page in the ebook).
  • Press your leaves to add to your nature journal at a future date. You can watch my YouTube video to learn how to do this with simple household items.

Leaves with loupe

  • Advanced Follow-Up: Use this LINK and scroll down to the section, “Taking a Closer Look At Plant Cells”. Make your own leaf slides to look at under your microscope. Ebook Users – Use the Leaf Morphology page and the notebook page to complete your study.
  • Advanced Follow-Up: Read this article on Wikipedia: Leaf. Read this page that illustrates Leaf Margins and Shapes (love this page with the clear images).

More Nature Study Autumn

This challenge is part of the More Nature Study – Autumn series. All of the challenges are gathered into one ebook with notebooking pages (regular and for advanced students) and additional resources. You can gain access to this ebook by purchasing an Ultimate Naturalist membership here on the Handbook of Nature Study. See the Join Us page by clicking the link at the top of the website for more information about what comes with your Ultimate membership.

Ultimate Ebook Library @handbookofnaturestudy

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2 thoughts on “OHC More Nature Study #8 Fall Leaf Study – Close Up

  1. I just had to stop by and say that we were enjoying part of this study this morning. When 12yo finished sketching on the Advanced study notebook page he said, “That’s the most fun leaf study I’ve ever done.”

    Thanks for opening the doors of learning and enjoyment a little wider for us.

  2. Dear Tricia,

    There are families like yours that make me so hopeful. Hopeful that allowing an avenue for older children to explore nature in an age appropriate way is encouraged and nurtured. I feel a little like I am reworking Anna Botsford Comstock’s vision for nature study as part of a regular school program. She saw the need a hundred years ago and I see it today.

    I am grateful to be at a place in my life that I can devote some time to offering these activities to my older son and then to share with others too. I hope that in the future that homeschool curriculum will include more outdoor nature study type experiences for older children…much better organized and more rich than I can do right now.

    Thanks for the encouraging words this morning…means a lot to me.

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