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Posted on July 8, 2021 by Barb — Leave a comment

Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge: Cilantro Herb Nature Study

Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge

Cilantro Herb Nature Study

Here we are at the start of another new series of nature study topics! For the next eight weeks, we’ll be studying common herbs that most families have used and may have access to in their gardens. Cilantro is one of my favorite culinary herbs, especially in Mexican food. It’s easy to grow, so look for it at your local garden nursery.

Please note that this week’s challenge for cilantro is found in the sample for this ebook. Your family is welcome to download the sample, use the suggestions for nature study, complete a notebook page for your nature journal, and perhaps even use the coloring page.

Outdoor Hour Challenge-Herb Ebook: Download the cilantro sample here.

Here are some observation ideas from the challenge.

Observe your cilantro plant using all your senses.

· Touch–Describe how the leaves feel? Is the stem stiff or bendable?

· Fragrance–Smell the leaves. Crush a few leaves and note the difference in aroma. Do the flowers have a fragrance?

· Sight-How tall is your plant? Note the shape of the leaves. Do you see any insects on your cilantro plant or flowers?

· Taste-Rinse a few of the leaves and then taste them. It has been described as tasting “bright, lemony, or a little peppery”. What is your description of the taste?

Remember that the rest of the challenge is available to Ultimate and Journey level members here on the Handbook of Nature Study. You will need to sign into your Ultimate or Journey level membership to see the Herb Ebook download.

Included in the new Herb Ebook are eight brand new Outdoor Hour Challenges for you to complete as part of your nature study lessons with your children. These challenges are not based on information in the Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock. You’ll be using internet links and field guides to glean information about each topic.

This 49-page digital ebook has 8 challenges and supplemental activities that will help you learn about some popular and common herbs you can easily grow in your garden.
There are multiple custom notebooking pages for each of the topics. You can choose from simple notebook pages or more advanced notebooking pages.
There are 6 coloring pages.
Sample: Print an ebook sample here: Cilantro Nature Study

Here are the specific topics included in this ebook:

Cilantro
Basil
Bee Balm
Oregano
Dill
Thyme
Sage
Mint

Posted on July 6, 2021 by Barb — Leave a comment

Summer Reminders – Year Long Study 2021

Summer Year Long Study

Reminders

Many families enjoy taking a closer look at a topic over a period of a year, making observations once each season. This simple nature study idea creates an intimacy with the subject that makes lasting impressions.

My sons completed quite a few year long studies of trees. They would pick a tree and then return each season to note the changes. My favorite year long seasonal study was the one we completed using the Queen Anne’s Lace plants in our yard and neighborhood. The beauty of this type of nature study is that your children can pick what they want to observe and then make plans to learn about the subject in each successive season.

I have listed an linked below many of the summer seasonal studies to get you started. You can start now if wish or you can continue a study you have already begun in a previous season. Many of the challenges have free printable notebook pages for you to use in your nature journal!

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 below.

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

Don’t forget there are many more summer nature study ideas in the summer themed ebooks here on the Handbook of Nature Study.

Click the graphic above to see all of the topics you can choose from on the Summer tab.

Use discount code NATURE5 to receive $5 off an Ultimate Naturalist Membership.

Posted on July 1, 2021 by Barb — Leave a comment

July 2021 Nature Study Plans – Outdoor Hour Challenge

July 2021 Nature Study Plans – Outdoor Hour Challenge

This is the month many of my readers have been waiting for! I know that it has been a long time coming, but we are going to finally be working through the series of Outdoor Hour Challenges for herbs!

We have one last wildflower study and then we are off to use our senses to learn about some more familiar herbs grown in our gardens. I think you whole family will enjoy learning about the benefits and uses of the herbs. It is not too late to pick up some of the herbs at your garden nursery and grow a few in pots. You can create your own little herb “lab” for your nature study this summer.

7/2/2021 –Forget-Me-Nots Nature Study (last wildflower challenge)

7/9/2021 – Cilantro Nature Study

7/16/2021 – Basil Nature Study

7/23/2021 – Bee Balm Nature Study

7/30/21 – Oregano Nature Study

New Printables in the Members Library

Butterflies of Summer Notebook Page: What could go better with a study of garden herbs? I think making some butterfly observations would be a perfect complement to your herb study.

My Nature Walk Notebook Page: Use your senses to create some summertime memories this month. Take a nature walk, perhaps in the early morning or the evening. Then create a notebook page for your nature journal using the new page in the Member’s Library.

Click the graphic above to view the complete list of printables available as part of an Ultimate Naturalist Library membership.

Members also have access to the Nature Planner pages in their library. Print out this month’s page and use it to stimulate your weekly nature study time.

If you would like to have access to the member’s printables and the newsletter archive, I invite you to join with an Ultimate Naturalist Library membership. Your membership will be valid for one year from the date of purchase. Click the graphic above to see the many benefits of an Ultimate Naturalist Library membership.

Posted on June 25, 2021 by Barb — Leave a comment

Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge: Indian Paintbrush Wildflower Nature Study

Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge

Indian Paintbrush Wildflower Nature Study

There are so many species of paintbrush that you’ll need to look in your local field guide to see which ones you may have in your region. Most paintbrushes bloom between May and September, often in large clusters with other flowers. They are easily identified by the brightly colored spike at the top of the stem, looking much like the end of a paintbrush.

Take a look at this page for paintbrush information: USDA Paintbrush.
Use this link to paintbrush found in the eastern United States: Castilleja coccinea. Here’s a link to paintbrush in the western region: Castilleja miniata.

If you have a membership here on the Handbook of Nature Study, you’ll find the complete challenge with images, more links to resources and videos, journaling ideas, a notebook page, and ideas for studying flowers in the figwort family. You’ll need to sign into your Ultimate or Journey level membership to see the book download. See the sample below to see what is included in each Outdoor Hour Challenge.

Outdoor Hour Challenge Wildflower 3 Covermaker — Ebook includes nature study lessons for common silverweed, fireweed, salsify, Indian paintbrush, and forget-me-nots.

Here’s a sample from the Wildflower ebook: Outdoor Hour Challenge Wildflower Ebook #3.

To purchase an Ultimate Naturalist Library membership, click on over to the Join Us page at any time.

Posted on June 25, 2021 by Barb — Leave a comment

Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge: Forget-Me-Nots Wildflower Nature Study

Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge

Forget-Me-Nots Wildflower Nature Study

We’ve reached the end of the third wildflower series of Outdoor Hour Challenges here on the Handbook of Nature Study. I sure have enjoyed taking a few minutes each week to learn about these common wildflowers. Next week, we start the herb series of challenges with the study of cilantro!

But this week, take a few minutes to read about and view some images of forget-me-nots in preparation for a wildflower study of a sweet little flower many of you have in your local area. Our yard has quite a few small patches of these blue beauties. It took me a few years to realize that these were actually forget-me-nots!

Where should you look?

Look up the range map on USDA: Forget-Me-Not Range and also the Woodland Forget-Me-Not range. Check to see if you have forget-me-nots in your local area.
Look for forget-me-nots in meadows, stream banks, and shrub-steppe habitats with aspens. Normal blooming time is from May to August.

Remember that the complete challenge with videos, printables, and careful observation suggestions is available to Ultimate and Journey level members here on the Handbook of Nature Study. You will need to sign into your Ultimate or Journey level membership to see the book download.

Here’s a sample from the Wildflower ebook: Outdoor Hour Challenge Wildflower Ebook #3.

To purchase an Ultimate Naturalist Library membership, click on over to the Join Us page at any time.

Posted on June 23, 2021 by Barb — Leave a comment

Forbs and Pocket Gophers

Forbs and Pocket Gophers

I love it when I’m researching and learning about one topic and it leads me to another interesting topic. This often happens with nature study when an answer to a question just makes you curious about something else.

I’ve been reading about pocket gophers because we have many that live and are active in the habitat behind our house here in Central Oregon. Their holes are everywhere! (If you’re interested in learning about pocket gophers, there’s an Outdoor Hour Challenge in the High Desert ebook that will help you get started.) We’ve been wondering just what they eat and it turns out their diet includes “forbs”.

I had no idea what a “forb” was, so we decided to research the term.

Forb:

“A forb or phorb is an herbaceous flowering plant that is not a graminoid (grass, sedge, or rush). The term is used in biology and in vegetation ecology, especially in relation to grasslands and understory.”

-From Wikipedia

Basically, most wildflowers are forbs. Grass is not a forb.

A pocket gopher’s diet consists mainly of forbs, eaten from the roots and pulled down into their tunnels. Most pocket gophers do not venture too far from their tunnel entrances to look for vegetation to eat.

So my dear readers, follow those “rabbit trails” when you are researching a topic. You never know what gem you will discover. I learned a new term to use in my nature study.

Posted on June 18, 2021 by Barb — Leave a comment

Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge: Salsify Wildflower Nature Study

Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge

Salsify Wildflower Nature Study

When I first saw salsify, I thought it was a giant dandelion. Upon closer examination, I realized the leaves and flowers are quite different. Here in the U.S., there are 2 plants that are called salsify:

Salsify or oyster plant (tragopogon porrifolius) which has a white root and purple flowers.

Salsify or goat’s beard (tragopogon dubius) which has a black root and yellow flowers.

Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Look for salsify along roadsides, vacant lots, pastures, and disturbed areas. Normal blooming time is from May to September.
This should be a fairly easy flower to spot if it’s blooming. It looks like a really large dandelion, purple or yellow depending on where you live. The seed head is also a larger version of the dandelion.

If you have a membership here on the Handbook of Nature Study, you’ll find the complete challenge with images, more links to resources and videos, journaling ideas, a notebook page, and ideas for studying flowers in the aster family. You’ll need to sign into your Ultimate or Journey level membership to see the book download.

Here’s a sample from the Wildflower ebook: Outdoor Hour Challenge Wildflower Ebook #3.

To purchase an Ultimate Naturalist Library membership, you can click on over to the Join Us page at any time.

Posted on June 16, 2021 by Barb — Leave a comment

Summer Nature Study – Super Easy!

Summer nature study is easy when you have a bundle of Outdoor Hour Challenge summer ebooks at your fingertips. Pick the topics that interest your family the most and then get started with the activities, videos, and follow up notebook pages.

Nature study can be easy and fun if you have access to the Outdoor Hour Challenges.

Currently there are 3 summer themed ebooks to choose from:

Summer Nature Study Continues

More Nature Study – Summer

Summer Nature Study – Using Your Senses

Members can sign into their membership, scroll down to find the ebook of choice, and then download and use the nature study lessons.

It’s as easy as that! I love that families can immediately jump on any interest that presents itself during your summer adventures. When you observe a butterfly, follow up with the lesson on butterflies. In our family, if we came home from an adventure and we had a question, I pulled out the Handbook of Nature Study and did an internet search. Well, the Outdoor Hour Challenge is based on just that process. But, I’ve done all the legwork for you.

You can click the graphic above and see the dozens of nature study opportunities that you can make happen in your family.

If you’re new to the Outdoor Hour Challenge, you can find all three of the ebooks in the Ultimate Naturalist Library membership. (See below for a discount code to use with your purchase!)

Use the discount code SUMMERfor5 for $5 off your Ultimate Naturalist Library membership. Code is valid until 6/30/2021.

Posted on June 11, 2021 by Barb — Leave a comment

Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge: Fireweed Wildflower Nature Study

Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge

Fireweed Wildflower Nature Study

Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium) gets its name from its ability to quickly populate a recently burned out or disturbed area. It’s hard to believe how this wildflower springs to life after a devastating wildfire, but it does so among the ashes!

Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Look for pink spires of flowers on top of tall leafy stems with narrow willow-like leaves. See the images in this ebook and in the links below. Here’s a nice YouTube video for you to watch: Fireweed.
Look up the range map on USDA: Fireweed Range. Check to see if you have fireweed in your local area. Use the printable fact sheet from the USDA to learn all you can about this common wildflower: Fireweed Plant Guide.

If you have a membership here on the Handbook of Nature Study, you’ll find the complete challenge with images, more links to resources and videos, journaling ideas, a notebook page, and ideas for studying flowers in the evening primrose family. You’ll need to sign into your Ultimate or Journey level membership to see the book download.

Here’s a sample from the Wildflower ebook: Outdoor Hour Challenge Wildflower Set 3 Sample

To purchase an Ultimate Naturalist Library membership, you can click on over to the Join Us page at any time.

Posted on June 4, 2021 by Barb — Leave a comment

Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge: Silverweed Wildflower Nature Study

Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge

Silverweed Wildflower Nature Study

We’re starting the new Outdoor Hour Challenge series of wildflowers with the common silverweed. This plant is in the rose family and many of us in North America will be able to spot it after a simple study of its characteristics and an image or two. Thankfully, the silverweed has a very distinctive leaf pattern which helps us distinguish it from other small yellow flowered wildflowers.

Here are a few ideas to get you started. If you have a membership here on the Handbook of Nature Study, you’ll find the complete challenge with images, more links to resources and videos, journaling ideas, a notebook page, and ideas for studying flowers in the rose family. You’ll need to sign into your Ultimate or Journey level membership to see the book download.

Look for common silverweed in sandy habitats along stream banks, shorelines, and meadows. It is low growing and there are mats of flat rosettes with creeping red colored runners. Another identifying feature is the leaves that have up to 20 leaflets with smaller ones mixed in among the larger ones. There is a single golden yellow flower on a leafless stalk.
The usual bloom time ranges from May to August.

Here’s a sample from the Wildflower ebook: OHC Wildflower Set 3 Sample

To purchase an Ultimate Naturalist Library membership, you can click on over to the Join Us page at any time.

Summer Year Long Study

Reminders

Start by clicking the link to the archived entry below.

Use discount code NATURE5 to receive $5 off an Ultimate Naturalist Membership.

Summer Nature Study – Super Easy!

Outdoor Hour Challenges for families since 2008!