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Posted on March 2, 2012 by Barb — 3 Comments

OHC More Nature Study Book 2 – Moon and Moon Names

More Nature Study Book #2
Moon and Moon Names

Inside Preparation Work:

Read in the Handbook of Nature Study pages 855-859 (Lesson 232). Read for your own information only because this week we are just going to focus on enjoying the moon and learning some of the history of the full moon names.
Read this page on Full Moon Names and see what March’s moon name means.
If you have a blog or website, you can add a lunar phase widget to keep up to date.
YouTube video: Moon phases (kid friendly)

Outdoor Hour Time:

Spend part of your Outdoor Hour time in the evenings looking at the moon. (Full Moon March 8, 2012) Have your child use words to describe what they see in the winter sky. If you have binoculars, make sure to bring those out with you and take turns looking at the moon.
As an alternative, bundle up and go outdoors for this challenge in the evening when it is dark. Have a flashlight for each person as you walk to a safe, predetermined spot (even within your backyard). Turn off the flashlight and allow time for your eyes to adjust. Make some observations. This might be a great activity to do when there is a full moon and then again when there is a new moon.
Advanced Study: Keep a record of your moon observations. The Handbook of Nature Study suggests, “Have the pupils observe the moon as often as possible for a month, beginning with the full moon.”

Follow-Up Activities:

Talk about your experiences outdoors at night. Record your moon and nighttime observations. You can sketch the full moon with colored pencils or watercolors. View these moon nature journals as examples to get started: Just Before the Full Moon, Waning Sturgeon Moon, Full Worm Moon. These should give your child an idea of how to show the moon and a setting.
Ebook Users: After viewing the moon or looking at the Mood Words Images page included in the ebook, complete the Moon Words notebook page. Use your moon words and observations to make up a new full moon name. Be sure to record you name for this full moon on the notebook page or in your nature journal.
Advanced Study: Keep a moon journal for a complete lunar cycle (full moon to full moon). Make as many moon sketches as you can during this month to document the lunar cycle. Record your observations in your nature journal. Ebook users: Use the Moon Journal notebook page from the ebook.

Additional Links:

Oreo Cookie Phases of the Moon (Uses cookies to explain the different phases!) If you scroll to the bottom there is a link to a printable notebook page.
Moon phases: Simple illustrations and glossary of moon vocabulary.
Previous Winter Moon Challenge: Winter Sky and Stars.

You can see how our family completed this challenge here in this entry:
Magnets, Compass, and Moon Names.

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Barb — 3 Comments

OHC Blog Carnival – February Newsletter Edition

The carnival reminds me that we are still officially in the winter season but many of us are starting to see some signs of spring. Perhaps we are just hopeful that spring is around the corner. Either way, this carnival is packed with lots of nature study goodness for you to enjoy and to be inspired by as your read the entries. I know that it can be a challenge to read all the entries but I encourage you to visit a few favorites and perhaps a new family as well, leaving a comment behind as a way of connecting with your fellow Outdoor Hour Challenge participants.

I always come away from my reading with a great sense of joy.

Winter Weeds/Mullein/Twigs

Julie writes about their weed study in Starting February With Weeds. They decided on a close-up study of dandelions and she shares their thoughts and journal page with carnival readers.
Diana from Homeschool Review and Crafting Too wrote a very real and honest account of their Twigs Nature Study. I love that we can feel successful getting outdoors with our children even if things don’t go as planned. Their family also completed their Mullein Study and Diana shares their adventure looking for some winter mullein…success! I am enjoying the glimpse into their family’s growing confidence in nature study.
Angie from Petra School would love for you to read her entry Twig Studies. Angie and her boys are doing such a great job with this series of challenges and you will be encouraged by their advanced study examples.
Barbara from Schoolhouse on the Prairie shares their wonderful Twig Study and a Book Review. They decided there was much to learn from their backyard twigs. Don’t miss her book review and see if you can find this OOP book at your library.
Rebecca from Mom’s Mustard Seeds joins the carnival for this edition with her Adventures with Chickadees and Twigs entry. Their family is just getting started with the Outdoor Hour Challenge and she shares her struggles and their success in this wonderful entry.

Galls and Gall Dwelling Insects

Makita from Academia Celestia shares there Galls: Nature Study entry with carnival readers. She has collected quite a few galls and shares their study and your images for your inspiration
Julie from the Homeschool Balancing Act asks Galls? What is a Gall? as part of their entry for this challenge. They did some discovering and now they will be on the lookout for more potential galls.
Western Galls and Squalls, but No Gulls with Gals. How is that for a blog entry title? Angie from Petra School has a humorous and informative entry to share with carnival readers.
Zonnah from Zonnah’s Addictions has submitted Galls for carnival readers to view. She includes two beautiful clear images of different kinds of galls. Thanks so much for the reference. She is also sharing their Twig Update…absolutely gorgeous!

What a display at Petra School! Thanks Angie for sharing.

Quartz

Zonnah from Zonnah’s Addictions submits their Quartz nature study entry for your to read and view. She has a collection of quartz that they observed and then they made rock candy! Excellent idea for follow-up for families.
Angie from Petra School is going to inspire you to get outside and collect some quartz of your own. Her entry for the Quartz Challenge shows just how creative and personalized you can make each challenge. Awesome job! My boys and I are going to make our own quartz collections!
Rebecca from Mom’s Mustard Seeds also writes about their Learning about Rocks, Sheep/Wool, and a Detour to Marshes and Ponds for this edition of the carnival. I love seeing how they make so many connections to their other studies, their values, and beliefs while learning through nature study. Excellent.

Magnets and Compass

Zonnah shares their Compass entry with carnival readers which includes an easy adaptation to one of the suggested activities. I think we are going to use images for our notebook page as well.

Lacey and her family (So Every Day) have created a wonderful nature collection on their mantel.

Potpourri

Jenny Anne from Royal Little Lambs has submitted their Sheep Study for carnival readers. It sounds like they thoroughly enjoyed this challenge.
Barb at Give Us This Oklahoma Day has just started with her first Outdoor Hour Challenge. I loved seeing the muddy hands and the smiling faces. Please pop over and give her some encouragement.
Leslie from Two Cowgirls shares their first Outdoor Hour Challenge and they saw some signs of rabbits! I think they did a great job of finding something interesting even in the city.
Lacey from So Every Day has been sharing their Getting Started nature study entries. For OHC #8 (magnifying glass), she writes about how she initially needed the push to get outdoors but felt the rewards of doing so with her children. Great example. For OHC #5 and #6 (list and collection), she shares their awesome new collection that is beautiful and contained on their mantel. Please pop over and let her know you stopped by. She is longing to “catch up” to us and be a part of our community.
Crafty Cristy has submitted S is for Science which documents their beginning on the Handbook of Nature Study trail. It is always wonderful to get to meet new families.
Makita has another entry from their blog: First Fridays which details their latest Roots and Shoots nature group outing. You must click over and see their ginormous list of birds observed.
Diana from Homeschool Review and Crafting Too has submitted their Chickadee Study Part 2 for the carnival. Here is another family that completed the pastel chickadee project!
Kristin from Broom and Crown has put together a wonderful entry for you to read: Our First Sonoran Desert Nature Walk. This is one of my top ten nature study destinations in the world. I love everything about the Sonora Desert. Thanks Kristin for the visual trip.
Martha from Sunrise to Sunset captured some fantastic images for you to see. Click over and read: My Backyard Excitement!
Amy from By His Design shares their Signs of Spring entry for this edition of the carnival. Don’t miss the image of the grubs…and the beautiful spring photos as well. 🙂

It is almost time for a new set of challenges!

Publish Date – March 5, 2012

I am polishing up the More Nature Study Book #3 – Spring Splendor volume of Outdoor Hour Challenges. This is the most thorough and exciting book so far. I can’t tell you how much I have learned as I put this book together and I look forward to sharing the ideas with you as we work through each one this spring.

Posted on February 27, 2012 by Barb — 5 Comments

Updated Free Nature Notebooking Pages

When I released the very first Outdoor Hour Challenge ebook, there was also a set of free notebook pages that was offered by my friend Tina Joyce. Since then the files were somehow deleted from Lulu.com and it was not until this week that I was able to get them uploaded to my file share site.

Thanks so much Tina.

You should now be able to download each page for free.

Blank Nature Journal Page #2
Blank Nature Walk Journal Page
Blank Nature Journal Page for Older Children
Running List of Thinks Observed (I use this one all the time!)
Record of Things Collected
Mammal Outdoor Hour Challenge Notebook Page

You will find more free pages here: Handbook of Nature Study Free Downloads.

Posted on February 24, 2012 by Barb — 2 Comments

OHC More Nature Study – Magnets and Compass

More Nature Study Book #2
Magnets and Compass

“The first ideas to learn are that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Just by knowing this he’ll be able to tell in which direction nearby streets and buildings are from his house or town….Have him stand so that east is towards his right where the sun rises and west is towards his left, where the sun sets. Everything straight in front of him is north, everything behind him is south.” Charlotte Mason, volume 1 page 75

Inside Preparation Work:

Read in the Handbook of Nature Study pages 776-779 (Lesson 219 on the magnet). Use a highlighter or underline sections that you would like to share with your children. Suggested magnet activities: #1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7.
As a supplement to the lesson on the magnet, introduce your child to a compass. Start by teaching your child the four cardinal directions: North, East, South, and West. Show them that the compass will always point to magnetic north. Now explain that south will be in the opposite direction, east to the right, and west to the left. Suggested activities from Lesson 219: #12 and #13.
Watch these videos: How to Hold a Compass and Bill Nye on the Earth’s Magnetism.
Advanced suggestion: Make your own compass.

Outdoor Hour Time:

Spend your Outdoor Hour time in your own backyard or neighborhood. Take your magnet and compass outside with you. Let your child use the magnet to find things that are magnetic in your yard. (Make sure to keep magnets away from electronics.)
Take your compass outdoors and have your child find the four cardinal directions. Find landmarks for each direction. For example: north is the pine tree across the road from your house, south is the telephone pole on the next street, east is the neighbor’s flag pole, west is the mailbox.
Advanced suggestion: Observe the sunset to see the exact direction it sets during the winter. Make observations over the next month, record the results, and see how the direction changes over time. Use a compass to record the exact direction in degrees. Ebook users: Use the Sunset Observation notebook page to record your results and conclusions.

Follow-Up Activity:

Take a few minutes to ask your child what they learned about magnets and compasses. They may be satisfied with this challenge at this point and the best way to follow up is to use the skills you learned in the days to come. Use the vocabulary you learned (magnetic, north, south, east, west) as you complete future nature study or outdoor activities.
Your child may like to complete a notebook page recording their magnet and compass observations on notebook page or they could record their results in a nature journal. Optional: Use this Points of a Compass (Homeschool Share) activity for younger students if you wish.
Advanced follow-up: Use your compass skills to determine the orientation of your house. Make a map of your neighborhood and include a compass rose. (You can learn more about a compass rose HERE.) Use this information in the future by recognizing wind direction as you observe the weather. Wind is named for the direction it is coming from and not where it is blowing to. (Example: North winds are blowing from the north.)
Advanced follow-up: Map and Compass Basics-Azimuth and Navigation with a Compass.
Advanced follow-up: Have you read about Letterboxing or Geocaching? Both of these family activities can be fun ways to get outdoors and use your compass and map reading skills.

You can see how our family completed this challenge here in this entry:
Magnets, Compass, and Moon Names.

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Posted on February 23, 2012 by Barb — 76 Comments

Birdcage Press Wild Cards- Review

Birdcage Press Wild Cards – Cards, Activities, and Instructional Booklet

Wild Cards – Backyard Birds is a great learning tool for nature study loving families! They are beautiful to look at and full of information that has helped us get to know our backyard birds a little better. The quality of the cards, the images, and the informational booklet has impressed me!

Wild Cards – Backyard Birds
For a bird-loving family like ours, this set of cards and accompanying book is a perfect fit! We have had more fun quizzing each other with these colorful and informative cards.

This set of 36 cards with clear and beautiful images introduces six types of birds: Tricksters, Songbirds, Woodpeckers, Hummers, Little Chirpers, and Waterbirds.
The 32 page booklet not only gives more details for each bird in the set but it actually teaches you how to identify birds by looking at different attributes.
The combination of cards and booklet will give beginning birders as well as experts a fun way to learn more by using them to play games with your family (instructions included).
The booklet also gives additional ideas for online learning with your cards.

Big thumbs up from our family for Birdcage Press Wild Cards!
We are going to purchase more of these sets to have on our nature shelf, in our nature pack, and with our card game collection. Fun and learning go hand in hand with this product from Birdcage Press. The Backyard Birds set is only one of thirteen sets available on Birdcage Press. You can click over and see more for yourself: Birdcage Press Wildlife and Nature Products.

Giveaway and Free Shipping Offer

If you would like to order from the Birdcage Press website, you can use the free shipping code until 3/31/12. Shipping code is good for purchase of ANY item on their website.
Free Shipping Code: IN12

More Reviews and Giveaway Opportunities for Birdcage Press Products:
Spell Outloud — Choice of Egyptian Art Cards or Battle Cards-Military Jets
Finding Joy — Choice of Wild Cards – North American Birds or Art Ditto Game.
Jimmie’s Collage –Choice of Impressionist or Renaissance Art Game
Mama’s Learning Corner — Renaissance Art Game
Harmony Art Mom — Choice of Go Fish for Art or Art Close-Up Cards
The Curriculum Choice — Art Ditto Memory Game
Hodgepodge — Go Fish for Wildlife – Sea Creatures
The Traveling Praters — Choice of Go Fish for Van Gogh and Friends or 52 Amazing Places-National Parks
Get Along Home — Choice of Wild Cards, Backyard Birds or Renaissance Art Game

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Barb — 7 Comments

Forcing Spring Buds – Leaves and Blooms Update

Have you tried forcing twigs to blossom? It is the perfect easy late winter nature study project for any family.

This is an activity that we enjoy every year. In February, we cut and bring in forsythia twigs to force the buds to bloom indoors. This year we added some additional twigs and buds to our collection and they are starting to unfold. The project is so easy and it is not too late to try your hand at some twigs from your yard.

This birch leaf is from our Twig Study earlier this winter. It has little spring green leaves opening…love the texture and the shape.

We also collected twigs from one of our hiking trails and even though they all looked a little different at the beginning, we realized now that they are opening that they are all from buckeye trees.

It is such a simple project with some fascinating results. We cut the twig, placed it in a jar of water, and then set it in the window sill. After that, you just need to be patient.

We have had such amazing results that we are going to cut some more twigs today. I think the plum tree would be a great candidate for this project. I will post our results when we see some blossoms. 🙂

So did you start a tabletop garden of your own? We have been watching our carrot first grow roots and now it is putting lots of energy into making leaves. This is another simple and fun project that your family can try at any time.

You can find instructions and a notebook page on my daughter’s blog: Hearts and Trees Tabletop Garden.
Instructions for forcing forsythia
Twig Study in More Nature Study Ebook #2

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Barb — 5 Comments

Great Backyard Bird Count 2012 – Complete!

What a great weekend of bird watching we had as we participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count! We have finished our counting and I thought I would post our results.

Western Scrub Jay 2
Oak Titmouse 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Spotted Towhee 2
White-crowned Sparrow 10
Dark Eyed Junco 11
House Finch 10
House Sparrow 14
California Towhee 1
American Robin 42
American Crow 3
Anna’s Hummingbird 3
Nuttall’s Woodpecker 1
Mourning Dove 5
Northern Flicker 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 2
Western Bluebirds 4
Lesser Goldfinches 4

You can see more images of our backyard birds in this post: December Bird List with Two New Birds .

We compared our numbers to the last three year’s numbers and there is virtually no change. The only significant bird missing from our list is the Cedar Waxwing. We usually have a flock come through during the GBBC weekend and this year we did not. We were talking about why that may be and the only piece of information that may be significant is that every other year we have had at least one day of snow on the GBBC weekend. We have not seen the flocks of Cedar Waxwings that we usually see this time of year come through yet. What does that mean? Maybe nothing but it is worthy of noting.

Our family really enjoys the bird count each year and now that we are participating in Project Feederwatch we have become very good at recognizing our feeder birds. Learning to identify your backyard birds is easy and you can take it one bird at a time. Don’t get overwhelmed and make it fun for the family.

Bird Outdoor Hour Challenges
There is a series of bird nature study challenges here on my blog. Each challenge helps your family get to your own backyard birds. I invite you to use these free challenges as a way to develop a love of birds in your family.

There is a wealth of birding information on the internet but I have not found a more homeschool-friendly site than the ones sponsored by Cornell University. I would love to encourage you all to subscribe to their homeschool blog (click the logo above to pop over there now).

You can also follow them on Facebook .
You can download their FREE Homeschool Guide to Project Feederwatch.
Of course, my favorite resource is their AllAboutBirds website which is a great tool for identifying and learning more about birds in your own neighborhood.

Posted on February 20, 2012January 10, 2022 by Barb — 1 Comment

Gall Dwelling Insects – Our Winter Study

Our gall study has been going on for several months now and we have gathered quite a few different kinds of galls during our hikes. Some of the galls are really small but once we know what we are looking for we can look for the signs on the oaks. During the winter, the galls are more noticeable because there are far fewer leaves to deal with. Our local forest is a mix of evergreen and deciduous oaks so we still have plenty of leaves to check but not as many as the middle of summer.

I think the key to finding galls is to know what you are looking for. Check the links in the original challenge if you have any trouble getting started.

The California Gall Wasp is only 1/8″ to 1/4″ in size…far too small to probably ever be recognized or identified but we do know what their gall looks like. It is the big gall in the top image and you can clearly see the exit holes. Fascinating stuff.

We took time to observe the smaller galls under our microscope. It truly is a completely different world under the lens of a microscope. Amazing…even a hand lens will open that world up.

Empty Galls Image Credit: Christine Lynch Flickr

There is so much to learn about this topic, reaching into insect study and tree study.

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Barb — 2 Comments

OHC More Nature Study Book 2 – Quartz Study

“Quartz is the least destructible and is one of the most abundant materials in the crust of the earth as we know it. It is made up of two elements chemically united—the solid silicon and the gas oxygen.” Handbook of Nature Study

More Nature Study Book #2
Rock Study – Quartz Crystals
Inside Preparation Work:

Read pages 754-755 in the Handbook of Nature Study (Lesson 213). This short lesson is packed with information and the lesson suggestions will give you some careful observation ideas.
If you can locate some quartz samples to have on hand, do some close up observations of quartz. Even little ones can describe with words their quartz sample. Compare quartz with some other rocks in your collection.
If you do not have samples, make sure to view the images of quartz with the additional links provided below.

Outdoor Hour Time:

If the weather allows, take your outdoor time in a place that has rocks to pick up and handle. Be on the lookout for quartz crystals. Do not be discouraged if you can’t find quartz in your neighborhood but take the opportunity to observe and describe any rocks you see.
Collect a few rocks to bring home and either start or add to your rock collection.

Follow-Up Activity:

After your Outdoor Hour time, take a few minutes to follow-up your outdoor time. Bring out your quartz samples and compare them to other rocks you may have collected. Set up a rock observation spot on your nature table. See the image above for ideas.
Give time for a nature journal entry or ebook users can complete the quartz notebooking page and/or the coloring page to follow up this study.
Advanced study: Research more about quartz on Geology.com. Use a printable Mineral Chart for additional information and identification. Learn the identifying marks of quartz. Record your information in your nature journal or a notebook page.

Additional Links:

Definitions: Crystal, Luster, Hardness, color, transparency/diaphaneity, and streak
YouTube: Smoky Quartz Part 1 and Part 2

You can see how our family completed this challenge here in this post:
Quartz Study – Rock Collecting Gone Crazy.

Outdoor Hour Challenges for families since 2008!