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Posted on October 2, 2020 by Barb — Leave a comment

Outdoor Hour Challenge Sapsucker Bird Nature Study

Did you hear that? Rattle, tat, tat, tat! Run, look out the window, there’s a sapsucker visiting again. I hear their tap or their call and I try to sneak a peek. There is such joy in seeing this colorful woodpecker each year, a reward for the effort put into learning about him and all the other birds that come to visit.

sapsucker in yard april 2020 — Sapsucker in our yard this past April 2020.

Your family can learn about this interesting and beautiful woodpecker with this Outdoor Hour Challenge.

View the original challenge here: Outdoor Hour Challenge – Sapsucker.

sapsucker notebook page 1 sapsucker notebook page 2

If you have access to the ebook, there are two notebook pages to choose from for your nature journal.

Alternate study: Take a bird walk and look especially for birds you observe in trees.

Sample to view: Outdoor Hour Challenge Autumn Nature Study 2015 Sample Pages

If you don’t have a membership yet, click the graphic above and join today for immediate access to the 26 ebooks and so much more! Remember that all levels, even the Discovery level membership, include access to all of the archived newsletters!

Topics in this ebook include:

Swallows and swifts
Catfish
Jewelweed
Prickly lettuce
Cockroach
Field horsetail
Catbird
Calcite, limestone, marble
Chicken
Turkey
Hedgehog fungi
Sapsucker
Brooks

You may want to look at the Learning about Birds ebooks for additional bird study ideas using the Outdoor Hour Challenge. There are two other woodpeckers featured in this book: downy woodpecker and hairy woodpecker.

You’ll find this ebook in the Member’s Library.

Learning About Birds ebook Bird List @handbookofnaturestudy

Posted on June 19, 2020 by Barb — Leave a comment

Outdoor Hour Challenge- Bristlecone Pine Nature Study

The bristlecone pine is a truly unique and amazing tree for a variety of reasons. For this challenge you will more than likely be using links and images to glean the interesting facts about the bristlecone pine rather than observing it up close in person.

Great Basin (38) Bristlecone Wheeler Peak hike_original

Our family was able to hike to the bristlecone pines in Great Basin National Park a few years ago (see my account in this entry: Great Basin National Park). It took some effort but it was one that left an impression on us, the sense of time and the history that the trees have lived through. It also taught us that even in the harshest of environments, life can survive. What a metaphor for us right now!

Outdoor Hour Challenge Bristlecone Pine Nature Study

Use these these links to learn a little about the bristlecone pine:

Look in your tree field guide for the bristlecone pine. If you need to use an online resource, check out these websites: National Park Service-Bristlecone Pine or Bristlecone Pine PDF.
You will learn a lot about the bristlecone pine by watching this video: NPS Bristlecone Pine.

See the High Desert ebook for more bristlecone pine nature study ideas and printables!

Please note that I will not be posting the complete challenge here on the blog but you will find the detailed challenge in the High Desert ebook that is available both in the Ultimate Naturalist and Journey level memberships. Sign into your account and download the ebook for the details, more links, and notebook pages.

If you don’t have a membership yet, you can click the graphic above and join today for immediate access to the 26 ebooks and so much more! Remember that all levels, even the Discovery level membership, include access to all of the archived newsletters!

Topics in this ebook include:

Bitterbrush
Sagebrush
Greater sage-grouse
Succulents
Mountain Lion
Coyote
Pocket Gopher
Bristlecone Pine
Elk
Turkey Vulture
Juniper
Snowberry
Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel
River Otter

Posted on May 29, 2020 by Barb — Leave a comment

Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge: Greater Sage-Grouse Nature Study

Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge

Greater Sage-Grouse Nature Study

Have you ever read about the greater sage-grouse? Have you ever heard what it sounds like? Have you seen its beautiful mating dance? Not many of us will be able to observe this magnificent bird in person, but there are many wonderful online resources for viewing and learning about the greater sage-grouse. The habitat for this bird is decreasing and the numbers of greater sage-grouse are decreasing with it.

The value of studying such interesting birds is in exposing your children to the challenges of development and the impact on certain species of birds and other wildlife.

Outdoor Hour Challenge Greater Sage Grouse bird nature study

Use these ideas to get you started with your greater sage-grouse study:

Choose your resource to study the greater sage-grouse. A terrific website for bird information is All About Birds: Greater Sage-Grouse. Make sure to listen to the sound of a greater sage-grouse: AllAboutBirds.
Make sure to look at the range maps in a field guide or on All About Birds to determine if you have this grouse near your home.
For this challenge, practice listening to birds during your outdoor time. We know there will be times that we can’t see a bird but we can hear it in the trees or in the brush. The skill of listening carefully to distinguish a particular bird is something that will be helpful to anyone wanting to be a good birder. Here’s a link to an Outdoor Hour Challenge I posted in the past that will help you with your building of this important life skill: Birding by Ear.

Please note that I will not be posting the complete challenge here on the blog, but you will find the detailed challenge in the High Desert ebook. It’s available both in the Ultimate Naturalist and Journey level memberships. Sign into your account and download the ebook for the details, more links, and notebook pages.

If you don’t have a membership yet, you can click the graphic above and join today for immediate access to the 25 ebooks and so much more! Remember that all levels, even the Discovery level membership, include access to all of the archived newsletters!

Topics in this ebook include:

Bitterbrush
Sagebrush
Greater sage-grouse
Succulents
Mountain Lion
Coyote
Pocket Gopher
Bristlecone Pine
Elk
Turkey Vulture
Juniper
Snowberry
Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel
River Otter

Posted on April 5, 2020 by Barb — Leave a comment

Western Tanager Nature Study and Journal Page

I’ve been looking forward to the Western Tanager bird study (Outdoor Hour Challenge – Western Tanager) ever since we saw our very first tanager visitors to the feeder last spring. Their bright colors reminded us of the tropical flowers we see in Hawaii!

western tanager may 2019

Would you like to see my nature journal page for the Western tanager? I tend to follow the same format for my bird pages, including the four key graphics from the AllAboutBirds.com website. I include a sketch and some pertinent facts. I use my field guide and the website to gather my information so it’s a super easy page to make.

Western Tanager nature journal

I struggle with drawing and depicting birds accurately but in the end I get the basic idea onto the page even if it isn’t exactly the way I picture it in my head.

Tip: You can always add a photo instead of sketching if it makes you more comfortable.

I was just telling a friend who’s starting out with identifying the birds at her feeder that she should just take it one bird at a time. Birding is something you can do for a lifetime so if you can manage to learn about and identify just one new bird a month for the next ten years, imagine the number of birds you will be familiar with.

Nature study is just the gathering of knowledge over time.

One bird, one tree, one flower at a time.

Would you like some more ideas for nature journal pages? There is a page on my website devoted just to nature journal ideas. I invite you to click over and scroll through for something that catches your eye!

The Western Tanager Outdoor Hour Challenge is found in the Forest Fun ebook available in the Ultimate and Journey level memberships.

Use the discount code OHC10 for $5 off an Ultimate Naturalist Library membership.

You can also use the Learning About Birds ebook from the Ultimate and Journey level memberships to learn more about the birds in your local area. This book can be used over multiple years as you identify a bird and want to learn about it more in depth.

Posted on July 5, 2019 by Barb — Leave a comment

Outdoor Hour Challenge Summer Willow Year-Long Study

We’re coming up to our fourth and final willow tree study in our Year-Long Tree Study. Take some time this week to revisit your willow tree and make your summertime observations. You may wish to pull out your autumn, winter, and/or springtime observations to make some comparisons.

If this is the first time you’re studying a willow, follow the link to the challenge in the archives for suggestions to get started. All of the previous season’s studies are listed below for your convenience.

Outdoor Hour Challenge summer willow study

Link to the challenges in the archives:

Outdoor Hour Challenge – Summer Willow Study

The Summer Willow study is found in the Summer Nature Study Continues ebook. If you have access to this ebook in your Ultimate or Journey level membership, make sure to print out the notebook page that goes along with this challenge.

You’ll also find a complete list of tree nature study lessons (for every tree in the Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock) here on this link.

Links to prior season’s Outdoor Hour Challenges:

Autumn Willow Nature Study

Winter Willow Nature Study

Spring Willow Nature Study

Don’t have a willow?

Complete a summer tree study for any tree you found during your outdoor time.

Posted on June 7, 2019 by Barb — Leave a comment

Outdoor Hour Challenge – Summer Caddisfly Nature Study

What is a caddisfly? Use this challenge to learn about a creature you may have in your local area and you just never noticed it before!

The caddisfly larvae (caddisworms) will be found in creeks, ponds, and streams.

caddisfly case

Image of a caddisfly case attribution to S. Rae

caddisfly

Image of Caddisfly attribution to Katja Schulz

Adult caddisflies are moth-like creatures that will be attracted to light in the evenings.

Watch this video to create some interest: Deep Look-The Amazing Underwater Tape of the Caddisfly. Note: this video has references to evolution.

The Outdoor Hour Challenge for caddisflies is a great opportunity to take a creek walk. Make sure to watch the video linked above to get an idea of what to look for while you’re exploring your creek. You’ll also want to make sure to keep your eyes out for water striders too, since they may be much easier for your children to spot on the surface of the water.

Use the archive link below to get prepared for your Outdoor Hour time and then enjoy a day at the creek!

Link to the Archive Challenge: Caddisfly and Water Strider

Brook and Stream Mini Grid Study

Members here on the Handbook of Nature Study may wish to print out the Brook and Stream Nature Study notebook page in the printables library. This activity would be a great complement to your caddisfly/creek day.

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.

Use the discount code SUMMER5 for $5 off your Ultimate Naturalist Library membership and you will 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!

Posted on June 5, 2019 by Barb — 2 Comments

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.

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

Year-Long Big Dipper Study – with free printable
Summer Willow Study
Seasonal Cattail Study – with free printable
Seasonal Milkweed Study – with free printable notebook page
Year-Long Pond Study – with a free printable notebook page
Year-Long Queen Anne’s Lace Study and a free printable notebook page
Seasonal Tree Study– with printable activities and a free notebook page
Year-Long Thistle Study
Summer Weather and Summer Weather

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

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

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

Posted on January 18, 2019 by Barb — Leave a comment

Outdoor Hour Challenge – Learn About a Pine Tree

“At least one pine tree should be studied in the field. Any species will do, but the white pine is the most interesting….the leaves and cones may be studied in the schoolroom, each pupil having a specimen.”

Handbook of Nature Study, page 674

The wonderful thing about a pine tree study is that you can do it at any time of the year. Since they are evergreen, you can examine the needles even when there is snow on the ground. After that, look at the bark and find some cones too! Have a great time using the suggestions in the Outdoor Hour Challenge linked below and the lesson in the Handbook of Nature Study.

Winter Pine Tree Nature Study – Handbook of Nature Study Lesson 185 pages 670-675

Check the Handbook of Nature Study index for other tree related challenges for winter.

From the Original Challenge: Simple Suggestions for Pine Tree Study:

What is the general shape of the pine tree?
Is there one central stem running straight up through the center of the tree to the top?
What color is the bark? Is the bark ridged or in scales?
Study the pine leaves. Why are they called needles? How many needles in the bundle?
Does it have a cone?

Make sure to click the link below to read the entire Outdoor Hour Challenge with helpful links, nature study ideas, and suggested follow-up activities.

Winter Pine Tree Nature Study – Handbook of Nature Study Lesson 185 pages 670-675

Bark Patterns Notebook Page

If you’re a member here on the Handbook of Nature Study, you can download the Bark Patterns Notebook Page and use it as part of your tree study.

A custom notebook page for this challenge is available in the Ultimate Naturalist Library membership in the Winter Ebook. Log into your membership and scroll down to the ebook download link.

Amazon.com links to tree books I own and love!

A Walk in the Boreal Forest

My Favorite Tree- Click over to see my entry for this awesome book that also includes a free printable!

Posted on November 14, 2018 by Barb — Leave a comment

Beginning a Year Long Willow Study

Willows in our autumn landscape are a colorful accent, lining the river’s edge and adding a rich reddish orange as you look off into the distance. There are still a few leaves left on the willows and the limbs and branches are a yellow color.

As part of our autumn study, we picked a willow to use as our subject for a year-long willow study. We tied a piece of twine on a branch to help us remember which willow we are observing.

We have done this activity before with a birch tree. Having a piece of twine on a branch really helped us focus on watching for changes from season to season. I invite you to read this entry for the specific instructions for this kind of tree study: Twigs.

If you would like to start a yearlong study of willows, you’re welcome to click over to read the challenge from last week. It’s not too late to get outside looking for willows, learning about willows, and beginning a valuable nature study of willows.

Please note there is an Autumn Willow notebooking page in the Ultimate and Journey level membership libraries. You can print it and use it for your nature journal.

Posted on November 9, 2018 by Barb — Leave a comment

New Study: Autumn Willow Nature Study

Welcome to the brand new nature study featuring the willow! I’m excited to look more closely at my own autumn willows as the season changes. This should be an easy study as you look at the color changes and the dropping of leaves in your willow.

Start Here: Willow Nature Study – Handbook of Nature Study Lesson 179 (pages 651-655)

The link above takes you to a summer study of the willow using the Handbook of Nature Study. Pay particular attention to suggestions #8 and #9 in Lesson 179 for specific autumn willow study ideas.

In Addition: Year Long Tree Study in the Handbook of Nature Study Lesson 172 (pages 623-624) My favorite suggestions are to watercolor the shape of a tree with its autumn foliage and to carefully compare leaves found on your tree for any variation.

Activity: Tie a string on a twig attached to your willow. Observe and record in your nature journal the twig’s changes for a few months. We’re going to be doing this on a willow behind our house along the river.

Both Ultimate and Journey level members here on the Handbook of Nature Study have access to a new autumn willow notebooking page for recording your autumn observations. Look for it in your printable library.

This Outdoor Hour Challenge is part of the 2018-2019 Plan here on the Handbook of Nature Study. We’ll be using the Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock to discover new things about the world around us. Join us each Friday for a different nature study topic. Make sure to subscribe to this blog to receive the weekly challenge right in your email box.

If you want to become a member here on the Handbook of Nature Study, you can click the Join Us button for more details. Benefits include those shown above including access to ebooks, notebooking pages, archived newsletters, and new ebooks and printables published during your membership.

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