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The Ultimate Guide To Fall Homeschool Nature Study In Your Own Backyard

The benefits of autumn or fall homeschool nature study in your own backyard are endless! These simple resources get you started making memories together.
Photos by Amy Law

When the calendar flips to September you might be ready for an autumn or fall homeschool nature study in your own backyard. How about your part of the world? Are you feeling like autumn or is it lingering summer? Whatever your world looks like you can take a fall walk and discover some fall color…maybe not your leaves but look for berries, nuts, and weeds that are changing color.

autumn nature study with light coming through the treees

The Benefits of Nature Study in the Fall

The benefits of fall nature study seem to be endless! The most important of all is making memories together as a family. The crisp, cooler air and the brilliant blue sky (on sunny days) highlight all of the fall leaf color for us. Being outside does wonders for moods. And having an outdoor ‘laboratory’ for discovery is as simple as swinging open your backdoor.

The fall Outdoor Hour Challenges are among our very favorites. My children and I have wonderful memories of looking for not only different leaf color but leaf shapes. With the cooler weather, we tend to take nature walks even more.

Plus, a fall homeschool nature study gives an opportunity for all ages to learn as little or as much as they would like to.

Fall Nature Study Lesson Plans

We have Outdoor Hour Challenge Homeschool Nature Study Curriculum filled with weeks of fall nature study plans! You can also take a look at this sampling of the resources we have for you to enjoy simple, fall homeschool nature study in your own backyard.

  • Seasonal Tree Observations Outdoor Hour Challenge
  • Fall Color Walk with Printable Color Cards in membership (great for your youngest adventurers)
  • How to Make Leaf Rubbings (video)
  • Tips for Drawing Leaves
  • Learn Why Leaves Change Color
  • Advanced studies on the chemistry of leaves
  • Plus apples, pumpkins, bats, turkeys and more!

The benefits of autumn or fall homeschool nature study in your own backyard are endless! These simple resources get you started making memories together.

Fall Notebooking Pages For Your Homeschool

There are so many easy printable pages in Homeschool Nature Study membership for quick and fun nature walks!

  • Access to a Fall Leaf Nature Study Grid for printing (you can place in your journal and ‘check off’ scavenger hunt style. Includes a bookmark for coloring in the colors of the fall leaves near you)
  • Autumn nature study journal pages for each Outdoor Hour Challenge
  • Autumn coloring pages
  • Under the Fallen Leaves notebooking page
  • Autumn Changes in Your Own Backyard
  • Learning About Leaves – with journal page
  • Autumn Weather Tracking chart printable
  • Signs of Autumn Notebook Page
  • Printable Fall Series Field Notebook

And SO much more! (with more topics coming!)

Autumn is on the horizon with the yellowing of leaves signalling chilly weather to come, so lets create this forest floor biome to celebrate. In this tutorial I will show you how to layer watercolours to create depth as well as texture using a stippling technique. So grab your paints, download the free printable I have created and let's get crafting!

Fall Forest Biome Nature Craft Activity

Our resident illustrator, Victoria Vels, shares, “Autumn is on the horizon with the yellowing of leaves signalling chilly weather to come, so lets create this forest floor biome to celebrate. In this tutorial I will show you how to layer watercolours to create depth as well as texture using a stippling technique. So grab your paints, download the free printable I have created and let’s get crafting!”

Autumn is in full swing with rusty leaves and seeds galore, so let us bring in some of the season’s beauty with this Autumn garland.

Fall Garland Craft Activity

Autumn is in full swing with rusty leaves and seeds galore, so let us bring in some of the season’s beauty with this Autumn garland.

Members enjoy this craft in the Nature Crafts course!

More Homeschool Nature Study for Your Fall Learning

Join Us For Fall Homeschool Nature Study

We’ve heard from families that they were reluctant to start a nature study plan, stating that they thought it would restrict their freedom to focus on one topic. But, they found that having a focus each week actually helped them to stay regular at getting outside and it helped them be better at taking a few minutes to learn about an object they encountered, even if it wasn’t the original aim for getting outdoors.

We make it easy with resources you can use at your own pace and on your own schedule. Or, you may choose to follow our annual nature study plans closely and have everything at your fingertips.

Be inspired. Be encouraged. Get outdoors!

The benefits of autumn or fall homeschool nature study in your own backyard are endless! These simple resources get you started making memories together.

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.

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Homeschool Nature Study: Free Notebook Page For The Last Days of Summer

Enjoy a last days of summer homeschool nature study free notebook page. Let’s soak up these last sunny and glorious days, have fun and make memories together as a family.

Backyard Garden Retreat
I am still working in the garden…picking beans and watering.

Many of you have gone back to school already but we need to remember that it is still officially summer until September 23. There is still time to get outside and do a few more summer activities, making some family memories.

I made up a notebook page for you to download to remember to have some fun while the summer weather is still around.

Summer Lake Fun
The boys have convinced us to go to the lake a few more times to wakeboard.

I am not ready to give up on summer yet! My boys are ready to hit the lake a few more times and we are going camping and hiking too.

Last Days of Summer Homeschool Nature Study Free Notebook Page

Homeschool Nature Study members already have this page in your Summer Outdoor Hour Curriculum course. Not yet a member? You can download the notebook page, below and sample the Outdoor Hour Challenges:

Get Your Last Days of Summer Notebook Page!

Subscribe to get your free Last Days of Summer Notebook page.

    We won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

    Have fun!

    More Family-Style Summer Homeschool Nature Study

    You might also like these fun ways to enjoy summer homeschool nature study:

    As we also look forward to autumn nature study and all the joys of nature study for your homeschool year.

    For even more homeschool nature study ideas for all seasons, 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!

    Be inspired. Be encouraged. Get outdoors!

    First shared by Barb August 2011 and updated by Tricia August 2022

    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.

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    The Outdoor Mom Series – New Feature for Homeschool Moms

    This month we start a new Outdoor Mom series focused on the Outdoor Hour Mom. Yes, this is all about you! As homeschool moms we give…A LOT, which is why it is so important that we carve out a little time to nurture our own well-being.

    This month we start a new Outdoor Mom series focused on the Outdoor Hour Mom. Yes, this is all about you! As homeschool moms we give…A LOT, which is why it is so important that we carve out a little time to nurture our own well-being.

    This does not have to be finding swathes of time to do something extravagant. Most of us don’t have that time.

    But it is important to develop a heart for the simple joys that come from the most ordinary of tasks and the most fleeting of moments. For it is these things that help us create moments of calm throughout our day and it is in these unhurried moments that we can see and hear the voice of our Saviour and experience His peace.

    Our vision for the Outdoor Mom series is to inspire you to slow down, find beauty in the ordinary, in celebrating your home, in ordinary everyday tasks; your hobbies, interests and of course, nature journaling, nature and the seasons.
    This is Shirley Vels in her garden!

    What Is The Outdoor Mom Series?

    Our vision for the Outdoor Mom series is to inspire you to slow down, find beauty in the ordinary, in celebrating your home, in ordinary everyday tasks; your hobbies, interests and of course, nature journaling, nature and the seasons.

    Join Homeschool Nature Study membership to enjoy the NEW Outdoor Mom series – with nature journal prompts – by your Outdoor Hour hostess, Shirley Vels.

    Nature Study Members: Find the NEW Outdoor Mom posts in the Outdoor Mom course.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Cgq2EVjI7gm

    We Invite You To Participate!

    Not a member? We invite you to us!

    You can also participate with the prompts below:

    How Do You Join?

    Answer all or just one of the prompts in a post on Instagram – and tag us at @outdoorhourchallenge! You can also answer in a blog entry on your own blog or right here on our blog in a comment. If you answer on your blog, make sure to leave me a link in a comment so that I can pop over and read your responses.

    • During our outdoor time this week we went….
    • The most inspiring thing we experienced was…
    • Our outdoor time made us ask (or wonder about)…
    • In the garden, we are planning/planting/harvesting….
    • I added nature journal pages about….
    • I am reading…
    • I am  dreaming about…
    • A photo I would like to share…

    Whether your family spends a few minutes a week outside or hours at a time, share what is going on in your world.

    Outdoor Mom’s Journal

    Here is an entry by Barbara McCoy!

    The most inspiring thing we experienced was.….traveling to two national parks, Zion and Grand Canyon! My husband and I spent three days at each park and put a lot of miles on the old pedometer as we hiked and hiked and hiked.

    zion national park nature journal

    I added nature journal pages about.….both Zion and Grand Canyon. I created “twin” sorts of entries for each park. I am in the process of finishing off my pages but here is a sneak peek.

    Please join us! Share something that you have done lately. We are looking forward to reading your entries and comments!

    Be inspired. Be encouraged. Get outdoors!

    Shirley and her family have used the Handbook of Nature Study and Barb’s Outdoor Hour Challenges from the beginning of their homeschooling. Having begun their homeschool journey in Cape Town South Africa and finished it in the UK, the challenges and the Handbook of Nature Study have proved to be adaptable and relevant across continents. Shirley lives in Chester, England and blogs at Building A Household of Faith where she writes about homeschooling the Charlotte Mason way, nature study and encouraging homeschooling moms in their great charter as Christian wives, mothers and keepers of the home. She also hand-dyes yarn in her home studio Under An English Sky, which is inspired by the English countryside and of the great living books she and her family enjoyed over their homeschooling journey.

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    Spectacular Night Sky Nature Study Ideas for Your Homeschool

    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.

    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.

    Spectacular Night Sky Nature Study Ideas for Your Homeschool


    Outdoor Hour Challenge
    Night Sky Study

    Record your night sky observations using this free printable. Barb McCoy created it so you can get two simple journal pages from one sheet of paper. Print the page, cut it in half, and then staple at the top to make a Night Sky Journal. Print several pages if you want to create a larger journal.

    Night Sky Journal Printable


    Night Sky Journal Printable Notebook Page

    Please fill out the form, below, to receive your free night sky journal page!

    Get Your Night Sky Journal Page!

    Subscribe to get your free night sky journal page.

      We won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

      Stargazing: Perseids Meteor Shower Homeschool Ideas

      If you aren’t familiar with the Perseid Meteor Shower, it is one of the brightest and longest-lasting meteor showers. And, it happens in August, so it’s usually easy to view because the weather is warm, and the sky is likely to be reasonably clear. 

      Barb McCoy, founder of the Outdoor Hour Challenges, shares some Perseids Meteor Shower encouragement and a journal page:

      Last weekend I visited with a friend who is also a nature lover. She and I talked about the night sky for a long time and how much joy it brings to us to view the magnificent canvas of stars each night. We shared stories of past experiences with viewing meteor showers and agreed that it is something to make time for even if it is late at night.

      Our family was able to view the Perseid meteor shower over the last few nights…it doesn’t disappoint! As soon as it is dark you can view a few “shooting stars” so don’t think you have to keep your kids up too late. It is more spectacular later in the night but just getting your children aware of what is out there is worth the effort.

      We also looked up the next full moon for August and marked it on our calendar. We noted last night’s sunset and the time in our area..planning on checking it a few more times later in the month.

      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.

      My nature journal entry is a work in progress and as the month goes by I will add more of my thoughts to the box I made on the bottom of the page.

      Getting Started in Nature Study Suggestion


      If you already own the Getting Started in Homeschool Nature Study ebook, complete Outdoor Hour Challenge #4.

      *Note: the free Getting Started book has the first three challenges. Members enjoy all 10 Outdoor Hour Challenges.

      Have a short discussion with your child about which aspect of the night sky they are most interested in and focus on that as long as they are interested…could be a week or the whole month.

      Some night sky nature study ideas are:

      • stars
      • planets
      • meteors
      • or the moon

      Complete the notebook page from the Getting Started ebook if you want a more formal record of your study. 

      Moon phases homeschool nature study

      More Hands On Night Sky Homeschool Nature Study

      You might also like these fun ways to learn about the night sky:

      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!

      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.

      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.

      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.

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      Creating a Nature Journal Supply Kit for Your Homeschool

      Here are some tips for creating a nature journal supply kit for your homeschool. It is simple, inexpensive and is easy to do!

      Creating a nature journal with your children is an experience you all can enjoy. I always told my children (and myself) that there’s really no right or wrong way to create a page, except if you never gave it a try. Over the years, I had to create a routine for nature journaling or we would procrastinate or forget it altogether.

      One way to give us a better chance of creating a nature journal was to take our journal and our supplies along on our nature walk so we could create a page right at the moment. But, this meant I needed to be a little prepared before we left the house.

      So, we created a nature journal supply kit.

      Nature Journal supplies basic. Here are some tips for creating a nature journal supply kit for your homeschool. It is simple, inexpensive and is easy to do!

      Creating a Nature Journal Supply Kit for Your Homeschool

      What did we take along with us?

      When the children were younger they exclusively used spiral bound journals because they were easier to take along with us when we did our sketching. We used No. 2 pencils and colored pencils pretty much for all the entries.

      Nature Journal supplies pouch with pens pencils

      For variety and as they grew older, we started to use colored pencils and thin markers to create our nature entries. Watercolors often gave a wonderful result but they required a bit more effort because you needed to bring along a water source, the brushes, and a paper towel or cloth in addition to the journal.

      Nature Journal Kit in ziploc

      I found that keeping our supplies all together in one spot and storing them in an easy to find place, made it more likely that we would actually complete a page while we were taking our Outdoor Hour.

      I suggest you find a container like a plastic crate, a tote bag, or a backpack to use as a storage container for your journal supplies. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy. Don’t use anything too large or too heavy or you won’t want to lug it around on your nature walks.

      Nature Journal supplies watercolors

      I have a plastic container that I purchased at the Dollar Tree store many years ago that has held up nicely, but I’m sure you have something sitting around your house that you could start off using for now.

      Gather your supplies and remember to keep it simple. A few No. 2 pencils with erasers, a small set of colored pencils, a small set of watercolors and a brush, some tape, a pair of scissors, a water container, and a pencil sharpener can form the foundation of your supply kit.

      Over time, your family will find favorite supplies to have when journaling on the road. The most important part of journaling is to have experiences to document on the journal pages. Start there. Create the opportunity for a good nature study and then follow up with a little time to work in your nature journal.

      “It was time for new nature notebooks for sure. We purchased these smaller versions of our old notebooks at a Michael’s, and I think they’ll be just perfect. We’ve tried them out, and we are finding the smaller size to be super convenient. I love all the fun colors!” – Amy Law

      The habit of nature journaling is something that will benefit your child long after they have grown up. It teaches important observation and documenting skills that will benefit other areas of study and real life.

      Handbook of Nature Study: an Outdoor Hour Homeschool Curriculum - Nature Journaling

      More Nature Journal Encouragement For The Entire Family

      Here are some more ideas and encouragement on nature journaling for you and your children:

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      The Joy of Nature Study For Your Homeschool Year

      We are excited to announce several fun resources that will make is easy for you to add the joy of nature study for your homeschool year!

      “Make this a time to learn a little something new about your world. Finding time for these challenges will help this season be one that your child will not only learn something new but make special memories for a lifetime.” – Barbara McCoy (founder of The Outdoor Hour Challenges)

      We are excited to announce several fun resources that will make is easy for you to add the joy of nature study for your homeschool year!

      When Barbara McCoy retired, I knew that these gentle nature studies needed to still be available to homeschool famillies like mine.

      These are the very nature studies my children and I started homeschooling with. To us, they are deliberate delight!

      I shared a short introductory video, below:

      That is why we are now offering Homeschool Nature Study and your Outdoor Hour Challenge hostess, Shirley Vels, has joined us!

      Homeschool nature study annual plan. We are excited to announce several fun resources that will make is easy for you to add the joy of nature study for your homeschool year!

      Outdoor Hour Challenges Schedule of Nature Study

      The plan for the coming year is now available to members! In the photo above, you can see a preview of the courses and homeschool nature study curriculum we look forward to using! These plans were prepared by Shirley Vels, your Outdoor Hour Challenge hostess!

      Shirley and I are always planning something new for you! The new plans for the homeschool year are available each July so that members will know the topics ahead of time and can plan even more fun learning.

      We even have some new series coming soon!

      Autumn Handbook of Nature Study outdoor hour homeschool curriculum

      NEW Autumn Outdoor Hour Challenge Homeschool Curriculum

      The new Autumn Outdoor Hour Challenge homeschool curriculum is available to members. It is also now available for purchase in our nature study store.

      The Outdoor Hour Mom - nature study with Homeschool Nature Study series

      New Outdoor Mom Series

      Because nature study is for parents too, we have a new series starting in membership. These simple prompts will bring you joy, help you notice beauty and encourage you as you model nature study for your children.

      Outdoor Hour challenge Nature Crafts

      New Nature Crafts Series

      In addition to the Outdoor Mom series, we will also be offering a new Nature Crafts series for members. We are so excited about both of these offerings!

      New Outdoor Hour Challenge Every Friday

      Shirley Vels, your Outdoor Hour Challenge hostess, shares about how there is a new Outdoor Hour Challenge Nature Study each Friday. She also talks about how these nature studies bring The Handbook of Nature Study to life in your homeschool.

      Nature journaling series at Homeschool Nature Study

      Monthly Nature Journal Activities

      In this continuing series for members, monthly nature journal activities take your outdoor experiences, your thoughts, new ideas or facts, and make them tangible. Here are some ideas to get you started nature journaling.

      We are excited to announce several fun resources that will make is easy for you to add the joy of nature study for your homeschool year!

      How to Get Started in Homeschool Nature Study

      You can download Getting Started – Nature Close to Home for FREE which helps you get started in homeschool nature study and outlines how to participate in the Outdoor Hour Challenges.

      We are excited to announce several fun resources that will make is easy for you to add the joy of nature study for your homeschool year!

      Nature Study in Your Own Backyard and Nature Journaling with Outdoor Hour Challenges

      To get each Friday’s homeschool nature study Outdoor Hour Challenge and for access to a continuing series of new nature studies, join us in Homeschool Nature Study Membership. With homeschool nature study membership, you will have everything you need to bring the Handbook of Nature Study to life in your homeschool.

      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.

      We are excited to announce several fun resources that will make is easy for you to add the joy of nature study for your homeschool year!
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      A Beautiful Lupine Wildflower Nature Study for Your Homeschool

      Enjoy a beautiful lupine wildflower nature study for your homeschool! Don’t miss the free lupine resource download and the free, live event! Details, below.

      Enjoy a beautiful lupine wildflower nature study for your homeschool! Don't miss the free lupine resource download and the free, live event!

      Lupine Wildflower Nature Study

      This Homeschool Nature Study is part of the Wildflower Course with an accompanying Outdoor Hour Challenge curriculum ebook.

      The lupine nature study includes:

      • indoor preparation and Handbook of Nature Study references
      • Outdoor Hour suggestions
      • additional resources on the host plant and butterflies that love lupine
      • custom notebook pages to use for the lupine flower and the pea family
      • advanced studies
      • drawing lesson

      You may wish to watch this short video of lupine (including a bee visit): Lupine.

      Make Your Homeschool a Little More Beautiful – A Free Event with a Lupine Nature Study!

      Make your homeschool a little more beautiful with literature, art and nature study! Explore the beloved picture book, Miss Rumphius, with Sarah, Nana and Tricia. What a FUN way to kick off your homeschool year!

      YOU are invited!

      • When: Wednesday, July 27th at 11AM PT/2PM ET
      • Where: Zoom platform

      Sign Up To Participate

      Get your free resources + info on the Live Event!

      Make Your Homeschool Year a Little More Beautiful

        Sign Up To Participate and For Your Free Resources

        When you sign up you will receive:

        • Information for joining us for the live July 27 event
        • Your Read Aloud Revival Family Book Club Guide on Miss Rumphius
        • A Homeschool Nature Study lupine Outdoor Hour Challenge
        • Access to the replay for one week after the event

        Please note: A replay will only be available to those who sign up. Be sure to fill out the form, below!

        Here’s How to Be Ready for the Event

        For your literature time with Sarah, reserve or pick up your copy of Miss Rumphius at your local library or order online today!

        For your art time with Nana, you will just need a very few suggested supplies, below:

        • a starter set of chalk pastels (Our favorites are here).
        • construction paper (Nana suggests white construction paper for this lesson)
        • baby wipes or damp paper towel for easy clean up

        For your nature study time with Tricia, have your lupine download on hand.

        Remember to sign up, above!

        Enjoy a beautiful lupine wildflower nature study for your homeschool! Don't miss the free lupine resource download and the free, live event!

        Share On Social Media!

        Be sure to share your Make Your Homeschool A Little More Beautiful time on social media and tag @readaloudrevival @outdoorhourchallenge and @chalkpastelart – We can’t wait to see you participating and to see your paintings!

        And please invite your friends!

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        Cicada Homeschool Nature Study: An Outdoor Hour Challenge

        This cicada homeschool nature study will be a lesson in learning to listen and distinguish the sound of the cicada. In the past we’ve listened in the evenings for other insects like the cricket. Now we’re going to learn about the cicada by listening and observing like investigators during the daylight.

        Outdoor Hour Challenge Cicada Homeschool Nature Study

        Cicada Nature Study For Your Homeschool

        Use this link to learn a little about the cicada: Very informative website with photos, sounds, and descriptions of North American cicadas. Note that some appear periodically, every 13 or 17 years: Cicada Mania.

        See the Creepy things Homeschool Nature Study curriculum for more cicada nature study ideas, videos, and printables!

        Reading About Cicadas

        You may be interested in reading this about cicadas:

        “But the most distinctive peculiarity, which has no parallel in any of the other groups, appears in the organs of sound (of the males). These consist of two large parchment sacs, ribbed and gathered into numerous plaits, furnished with powerful muscles, and situated in large cavities at the base of the abdomen. When in action, the air is driven in great force against the ribbed surfaces, and vibrations are set up which produce the sound in accordance with the number and form of the fluted spaces and ribs.”

        An Introduction to Entomology

        By John H. Comstock and Anna Botsford Comstock.

        Please note that I will not be posting the complete challenge here on the blog. You’ll find the detailed challenge in the Creepy Things Curriculum that’s available at the annual level of Homeschool Nature Study. Sign into your account and download the curriculum for the details, more links, and notebook pages.

        This cicada homeschool nature study will be a lesson in learning to listen and distinguish the sound of the cicada. In the past we’ve listened in the evenings for other insects like the cricket. Now we’re going to learn about the cicada by listening and observing like investigators during the daylight.

        More Resources For Homeschool Nature Study

        An alternative nature study would be the cricket or the grasshopper.

        If you don’t have a membership yet, join today for immediate access to the courses, matching downloadable curriculum and so much more!

        Topics in this Creepy Things Course and Homeschool Nature Study curriculum include:

        • Banana slug
        • Tarantula
        • Black widow
        • Scorpion
        • Leech
        • Muskrat
        • Sphinx moth
        • Cicada
        • Millipede
        • Poison oak

        More Cicada Resources for You!

        Our sister website, You ARE an ARTiST, has a cicada art lesson with Nana.

        Homeschool Nature Study Membership
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        Using the Public Library to Enhance Your Nature Study

        You don’t need to spend lots of money building a library of nature literature. Using the public library as a source of books is easy and fun.

        Nature themed literature is a wonderful way to generate an interest in the natural world.  They can also be used to enhance an area of study by sharing information along with illustrations in a simple and non-threatening way.

        Children can usually sit still for a few minutes while you share a picture book and many times they will later pick up the book again all on their own and really study it.

        Using the Public Library to Enhance Your Nature Study

        You don’t need to spend lots of money building a library of nature literature (unless you want to). Using the public library as a source of books is easy and fun. How do you get started?

        • Pick an area of interest—trees,  forest animals, butterflies, etc. Really the sky is the limit.
        • Use your library’s computer search, enter in the topic and then find the books on the shelves.
        • Generally, children’s literature and children’s nature-themed non-fiction books are the best for all ages. Information will be on a level that will be appropriate for children to understand (and moms too).
        • Field guides will probably be in the adult non-fiction section and you can ask your librarian to point you to the shelf or you can use the library’s computer search to find the call number for your selection.
        • If you find an author or series you like, look for more books by that author or in that series.

        Weekly stops at the library will allow you to find information on any topic that comes up during your Outdoor Hour Challenge time. Questions can be recorded in the child’s nature journal and then answered during the next trip to the library.

        It is always exciting to find the answers to questions and satisfy a child’s curiosity.

        Out of School and Into Nature is a wonderful book for your library nature study.

        You can put a limit on the number of books your child can borrow on one topic. It is always disappointing to go to the library and find that someone has cleared the shelf of all the books on one topic. Take just enough to read in a week and then if you still have interest, check out another book on the same topic.

        How to Read a Nature Literature Book

        • Get comfortable with your child at your side or one on each side, making sure they can see the pages.
        • Start with the cover of the book and ask them what they see and what they think the book is all about.
        • Read the title and then the first few pages, slowly reading the words and allowing time for gazing at the pictures.
        • Every few pages pause for your child to tell you something about what you just read (narration). See if they have any questions.
        • If it is a short book, finish the book and have your child give their thoughts about the book. Did they have a favorite page or picture? Have them share something they learned about the topic from reading the book.
        • Use the book’s illustrations as the basis for an art lesson, copying a picture with colored pencils or markers onto paper.
        • Leave the book out for the child to look at again and hopefully enjoy a second time. (Make sure if you have little ones around that they can’t get to the book and mar it in some way.)
        • Keep your nature books together, perhaps organizing them by topic or by season.
        Fun with the art of Eric Carle! Tricia and her family checked out several Eric Carle books for their library nature study after their visit to the art museum.

        Nature Authors to Look Up at Your Library

        Please some are Amazon affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.

        Lois Ehlert                                                           Eve Bunting

        Joyce Sidman                                                     Eric Carle

        Diane Siebert                                                     Diana Hutts Aston

        Jim Arnosky                                                        Jean Craighead George

        I have some books that are personal favorites that I will include here in this post. You can look for them at your local library.

        North American Wildlife: I am highly recommending this book to all Outdoor Hour Challenge families who live in North America. This is a perfect complement to the Handbook of Nature Study and will give your family a valuable tool in digging deeper into the wonders of nature in our own part of the world.

        Keeping a Nature Journal at The Curriculum Choice: This book can be used right alongside the Handbook of Nature Study. It will give you step by step help in creating nature journal pages that are simple but meaningful to your child. (Shirley’s review here).

        Take Along Guides for Homeschool at The Curriculum Choice: When I found my first “Take-Along Guide” at a used book store, I was interested so I purchased it.  But it was later when I began really reading it that I became really interested.

        You don’t need to spend lots of money building a library of nature literature. Using the public library as a source of books is easy and fun.

        Charlotte Mason Picture Book Biography: This lovely Charlotte Mason picture book biography tells the story of Miss Mason, painting a picture of the time she lived, her knowledge of how children learn and her passion for children to love learning. At our sister site, The Curriculum Choice.

        This is a life-long project and you can share that concept with your children, building the notion that nature study is a way of life long after homeschooling is over.

        Homeschool Nature Study Membership for Learning for the Whole Family

        Members will find a Nature Book Report you can complete if you would like to keep a record of your library nature study learning.

        To get each Friday’s homeschool nature study Outdoor Hour Challenge and for access to a continuing series of new nature studies, join us in Homeschool Nature Study Membership. You will have everything you need to bring the Handbook of Nature Study to life in your homeschool.

        With membership, you will have access to Outdoor Hour Challenges curriculum and resources to enrich your homeschool.

        Be inspired! Be encouraged! Get outdoors!

        November 2013 Newsletter

        You don’t need to spend lots of money building a library of nature literature. Using the public library as a source of books is easy and fun.
        Posted on 2 Comments

        Is Nature Study Old-Fashioned for Your Homeschool?

        Why are we spending time in nature study? Is nature study old-fashioned for your homeschool? Do we really need to expose our children to this type of learning in our modern age, where everything is at our fingertips as far as finding answers to anything we want to know in books or on the internet?

        Is nature study old-fashioned for your homeschool? Discover how outdoor time and nature study are as fundamental to good learning as you can find.

        Is Nature Study Old-Fashioned for Your Homeschool?

        I think outdoor time and nature study are as fundamental to good learning as you can find. Charlotte Mason agrees.

        “And this is exactly what a child should be doing for the first few years. He should be getting familiar with the real things in his own environment. Some day he will read about things he can’t see; how will he conceive of them without the knowledge of common objects in his experience to relate them to? Some day he will reflect contemplate, reason. What will he have to think about without a file of knowledge collected and stored in his memory?”
        Charlotte Mason, volume 1 page 66

        Is nature study old-fashioned for your homeschool? Discover how outdoor time and nature study are as fundamental to good learning as you can find.

        The Benefits of Nature Study in Your Homeschool

        Is nature study old-fashioned? Nature study is foundational and fundamental to learning. Here you will find more encouragement to include nature study in your homeschool days.

        Homeschool Nature Study in Your Own Yard: Learn What is Closest – In your own backyard, your children will learn to observe, to write about their experiences, to draw their treasures, to be patient, to imagine, and to explore. You don’t need a special textbook or kit to get started.

        5 Getting Started Tips for Nature Study – Nature study should be something that doesn’t seem like work. Allow the child to soak in the nature study opportunities that come your way. 

        Creating a Nature Study Atmosphere: Start with Your Attitude – Creating a homeschool nature study atmosphere does not need to be difficult, dirty, or uncomfortable. In fact, the best nature study is done without much effort and is guided by your child’s interest in topics that come along.

        Is nature study old-fashioned for your homeschool? Discover how outdoor time and nature study are as fundamental to good learning as you can find.

        More Favorite Tips for Encouragement

        Let us help you get started! You will find our FREE Getting Started Outdoor Hour Challenges Guide HERE.

        You can use the ideas in those challenges to get started with a simple nature study time with your children. You can use each challenge as many times as you want.

        Outdoor Hour Challenges for Your Homeschool

        To get each Friday’s homeschool nature study Outdoor Hour Challenge and for access to a continuing series of new nature studies, join us in Homeschool Nature Study Membership. You will have everything you need to bring the Handbook of Nature Study to life in your homeschool.

        With membership, you will have access to Outdoor Hour Challenges curriculum and resources to enrich your homeschool.

        Be inspired! Be encouraged! Get outdoors!

        by Barb, July 2008