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Posted on May 15, 2020 by Barb — Leave a comment

Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge: Snowberry Nature Study

Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge

Snowberry Nature Study

I realize that many of you will not have access to this interesting shrub to examine in person this week. But, you can read all about it and then think of shrubs you have in your local area to compare it to during your outdoor time.

You can look for shrubs with berries, use a field guide to identify that shrub and then make some comparisons to the snowberry.
Then, in the future when you come across a snowberry plant, you will be armed with a little knowledge about what makes this shrub interesting and adapted to its habitat.

Use a field guide or these links to help you learn more about this amazing shrub: Common Snowberry. The images on this page will be helpful in identification: snowberry. Here is a printable: common snowberry.
Here is a range map: snowberry.

Please note that I won’t 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 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

If you would like to purchase a membership, you can use the discount code SPRINGTOGETHER to receive a $10 discount on an Ultimate Naturalist Library membership.

Posted on May 14, 2020 by Barb — Leave a comment

Mammal Nature Study and Journals

Mammal Nature Study and Journals

Do you have some time on your hands these days for a little extra nature study?

Here’s a short of list of the newer Outdoor Hour Challenges you may want to complete that feature some totally awesome mammals. I’m personally working my way through the list in my own study and following up with nature journal pages for each one. I still have a few more to go!

Black Bear Nature Study

Porcupine Nature Study

Moose Nature Study

Elk Nature Study

Coyote Nature Study

Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel Nature Study

Mountain Lion Nature Study

Pocket Gopher Nature Study

River Otter Nature Study

You can click the link below to find all the mammal related nature study ideas here on the Handbook of Nature Study. I invite you to click on over and find something too!

This is the perfect time to purchase an Ultimate Naturalist Library membership using the discount code SPRINGTOGETHER and receive $10 off.

That means you will receive all the benefits of a membership for just $35!

Posted on May 11, 2020 by Barb — Leave a comment

Garden Printables and Newsletters

Garden Printables and Newsletters

Resources in the Archives for a Garden Nature Study Plan

I don’t know about you, but I’m anxious to get my garden going this year. With so much time spent indoors sheltering in place, I’m ready to be out in the garden now that the sun is out and the temperatures are warming up.

I always looked for opportunities to involve my children in the garden and to spark some questions in relation to the activities we were doing together. Learning about seeds and plants isn’t the only thing you can include in your gardening time!

Look for birds that may come to visit, insects hiding in the garden, and perhaps even reptiles or amphibians that may be sheltering there.

If you need some ideas to get started or some printable notebook pages to fill in after your garden time, don’t forget about the resources in the Ultimate Naturalist Library.

Newsletters with Garden Themes:

July 2011 – Sunflower study and notebook page.
September 2011 – Autumn weed study grid. Weed notebook page.
August 2012 – August Garden study grid. Know Your Own Backyard – August Garden notebook page.
May 2013 – Garden Flowers study grid. Flower notebook page. Crop Plants grid study.
June 2013 – Wildflower Study notebook page. Dandelion and aster study ideas. Wildflower and Weed study grid.
October 2013 – Pumpkin Farm notebook page.
May 2014 – Gardening with children ideas. Seasonal Garden Notes notebook page. Garden flowers notebook page and grid study.
September 2014 – Fall flower study ideas. How to dissect a flower.
March 2015 – Poppy coloring page.
June 2015 – Nature study ideas for herbs. Herb Study notebook page. Herb coloring page. Salvia coloring page.
July 2015 – Geranium notebook page.
April 2016 – Garden seeds projects. Garden Seed notebook page. Garden nature study ideas.
May 2016 – Wildflower Study notebook page. Wildflower and Weed study grid.
April 2017 – Trillium notebook page. Wildflower nature study ideas.
May 2017 – 3 Seed Container project. Gardening with kids ideas.

Printables:

Berry and Shrub Notebook Page Set
Farmers Market Scavenger Hunt Printable
Flowers Up Close Printable Grid and Journal
Flower Dissection Notebook Page from Handbook of Nature Study
Garden Notebook Page Set 1: morning glories, marigolds, lilacs, caterpillars, and cabbage whites.
Garden Notebook Page Set 2: cucumbers, kale, cherries, gourds, squash
Garden Seeds Study Notebook Pages
Nyctinasty Notebook Page
Rosemary Herb Study Notebook Page
Seasonal Garden Notes Notebook Page
Seed Comparison Project Notebook Page
Shrub Notebook Page
Advanced Shrub Notebook Page
Shrub Study grid notebook
State Flower Notebook Page
Watermelon Study notebook page

Ebooks:

Garden Flowers and Plants ebook – Topics include: seeds, flower parts, flower pressing, drawing flowers, leaf parts, pollen, seed germination, and weeds.

Crop Plants Notebook Pages ebook – Topics include: clover, bean, corn, cotton, strawberries, pumpkins, and tomatoes.

If you would like access to all of the resources listed above, as well the abundance of downloadable products available, you can purchase an Ultimate Naturalist Library membership here on the Handbook of Nature Study.

Use the discount code INITTOGETHER to get $10 off the Ultimate Naturalist Library membership.

Your membership will be valid for one year from the date of purchase and will give you access to every single resource available now and those that will be added to the Library during your membership year!

Posted on May 8, 2020 by Barb — Leave a comment

Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge: Bitterbrush Nature Study

Our family currently lives in a bitterbrush habitat in Central Oregon. Each spring as the leaves unfold, we are amazed at the shrub’s ability to spring back from its winter deadness. It only needs a bit of coaxing from April sunshine and warm temperatures and once again it fills the spaces beneath the pines and blossoms with its butter yellow flowers.

If you watch closely, you’ll see insects, birds, and even a few mammals come to visit the bitterbrush. The bitterbrush provides shelter to the small scurrying creatures that inhabit this landscape. The bitterbrush plant is a vital part of the ecosystem here in the high desert region of Oregon.

Use these ideas to get you started with your bitterbrush study:

Choose your resource for learning about bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata). You can use one of the resources listed on page 5 of the High Desert ebook. Or, if you would prefer, look for resources at your public library, perhaps a field guide for wildflowers or shrubs.
In addition, look up these online resources for facts and a range map: USDA Forest Service or USDA printable.
You can watch a YouTube video featuring bitterbrush here: https://youtu.be/XS_zwxx9z0E

Note that an alternate study this week could be done for rabbitbrush (found in the Forest Fun ebook).

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’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

Use discount code SPRINGTOGETHER for $10 off an Ultimate Naturalist Library Membership.

Posted on May 6, 2020 by Barb — Leave a comment

Wild for Wildflowers Nature Study

Wild for Wildflowers Nature Study Printable

-From the Newsletter Archives

For many of us, spring is a time to look for wildflowers. The world comes alive with color and it beckons us to get outside and walk a local trail. I invite you to download, print, and use the ideas in the printable I’m sharing below, Wild for Wildflowers.

As suggested in the printable, take time to identify even just one wildflower this month. Make it a topic of your nature journal. Or, use one of the many ideas in the chart to deepen your wildflower knowledge in a way that sounds fun for your family.

Download: Wild For Wildflowers

This printable is from the June 2013 Newsletter found in the archives here on the Handbook of Nature Study. If you have access to the newsletters, you can download and read the complete edition that features even more ideas for wildflower study.

The newsletter archives are available in every level of membership here on the Handbook of Nature Study.

Use the discount code SPRINGTOGETHER to receive $10 off an Ultimate Naturalist Library membership.

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

New Printables for Members – Iridescence and Stripes and Spots

Now available in the Ultimate and Journey level memberships:

1. Iridescence in Nature Notebook Page– This is such a fascinating topic! Do some research about the benefits of iridescence in nature and then create a notebook page with your notes and sketches.

2. Stripes and Spots in Nature Notebook Page – We all know animals, birds, and insects that have stripes and spots. Use a reference of your choice to discover their usefulness and then complete the notebook page as a follow up.

(See the end of this post for more information on how you can become a member.)

Note: If you have any subjects you would like me to create nature notebook pages for, please let me know in a comment here on the blog or in an email: harmonyfinearts@yahoo.com

Print a complete list of printables available in the Ultimate and Journey level memberships by clicking the button above.

Use the discount code SPRINGTOGETHER for $10 off 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.

Posted on May 1, 2020 by Barb — Leave a comment

Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge Big Sagebrush Nature Study

The sagebrush habitat is filled with interesting plants and animals, least of which is this week’s subject, the big sagebrush. Looking out over a sea of sagebrush gives the impression of it being an empty, dry wasteland. But upon closer inspection, it becomes a richly interconnected collection of living things all coexisting in a harsh landscape. Sagebrush is the thread that holds it all together.

You may wish to view my picks for resources to learn about the sagebrush habitat in this entry: High Desert Resources.

Use these ideas to get you started with your sagebrush study:

Choose your resource for learning about big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata). You can use one of the resources listed on page 5 of the High Desert ebook. Or if you prefer, look for resources at your public library, perhaps a field guide for wildflowers or shrubs.
In addition, look up these online resources for facts and a range map: USDA Forest Service or USDA printable.

Note that an alternate study this week could be done for rabbitbrush (found in the Forest Fun ebook).

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

Use the discount code SPRINGTOGETHER to receive $10 off an Ultimate Naturalist Library membership!

Posted on April 27, 2020 by Barb — Leave a comment

Our Early Spring Wildflowers

Last month I posted an entry discussing the emergence of spring wildflowers…the early ones. Read that entry here: Wildflower Succession and Ephemerals.

I’ve been on the lookout for our early spring wildflowers and the list is rather short so far.

Dandelions – The dandelions in our yard and down by the river are very short. They don’t grow very tall at all and I assume that’s because of our cold temperatures. They are still such a happy sight after the winter grays and browns.

Tiny White Flowers – The pasture behind our house has lots of miniature blooming white flowers. I’ve tried in the past to identify them, but so far I’ve had no success. If you don’t look closely, you’ll actually miss them, they are so very small.

We took a drive on a long, dirt forestry road this week and we spotted the green Manzanita blooming already. The insects were buzzing around all of the pink flowers dangling from the branches.

Those three flowering plants are really the only ones I’ve observed so far.

As I look at my records for the past two years, I notice that the bushes bloom before the wildflowers here in Central Oregon.

But, there are plenty of signs of flowers that are coming. From our recent wanderings, we’ve noted the promise of a few more flowers.

There are thousands of wild purple irises beginning to sprout their green flat leaves. We see them everywhere on our daily walks and they promise to bring beautiful flowers in the near future.

The bitter brush is starting to leaf out and it will soon be loaded with small, yellow flowers.

The wild wax currant bushes are also leafing out with their bloom time following closely behind the leaves.

I realized this week how anxious I am for some wildflower beauty in my life. With our short growing season, the flowers bloom consecutively all summer long and end with a flourish of golden rabbitbrush color in the fall.

Learning the bloom patterns of the natives in my neighborhood is a project I really enjoy.

Have you noticed any wildflowers blooming yet?

Posted on April 24, 2020 by Barb — Leave a comment

Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge: River Otters

River otters are a favorite animal around our house and this week’s nature study is going to introduce you to this active and entertaining animal. We frequently see them along our local river and are amazed at how fast they can swim! Check your local resources (nature centers, aquariums, or zoos) for a place to view river otters on your next field trip.

In the meantime, use the information in the Outdoor Hour Challenge to learn more about river otters and follow up with a nature journal page. I’ve listed a few activities below to get you started, but please remember that members have access to the full and complete challenge in the High Desert ebook.

Here are a few ideas to get you started with a river otter nature study:

Here are some YouTube videos to watch: North American River Otter and (warning: intense and a little violent) River Otter vs. Coyote.
For younger children, listen to chapter 25 in the Burgess Animal Book for Children, featuring the otter.

Please note that I won’t be posting the complete challenge here on the blog, but you will find the detailed challenge in the High Desert ebook that’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.

Alternate study: Outdoor Hour Challenge-Beavers

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

Please use the discount code INITTOGETHER to receive $10 off an Ultimate Naturalist Membership

Posted on April 22, 2020 by Barb — 3 Comments

3 Seeds Container Project – From the Archives

In the June 2017 edition of the Handbook of Nature Study newsletter, I shared a fun and easy garden project for children.

HNS Newsletter June 2017 cover — Download a copy of the June 2017 newsletter from any level of membership here on the Handbook of Nature Study

In this activity, you plant 3 different kinds of seeds in a container as a way of comparing different seeds and the plants that grow from those seeds.

The instructions for this activity suggest that you grow sunflowers, corn, and beans since these will give you a variety of results to compare and contrast. But, if you have 3 different seeds of any kind, you can still complete this project.

Activity Observation Ideas

· Draw your seeds before you plant them. Make them actual size and color to match the seed.

· Write down with your words a comparison for your seeds; including size, color, shape, texture, etc.

· Create a journal page to record your seed’s growth progress. Make observations every day and record any changes you notice.

· You can plant your seeds in a container or right into your garden boxes or beds. Make a map of where in your garden you planted your seeds for future reference.

· If your seeds grow to maturity, show your children the crops that come from the plants. If possible, show them the seeds so they can begin to understand the cycle of seed-plant-fruit-seed. Eat the fruits of your labor if possible or buy some at the store and enjoy! Have your children draw the seed, plant, and mature fruits. Then, have them record how they tasted.

Note: If you have an Ultimate Naturalist Membership on the Handbook of Nature Study website, you have a new Seed Comparison notebook page you can download and use with this activity.

If you would like to purchase a membership, you can use the discount code SPRINGTOGETHER to receive a $10 discount on an Ultimate Naturalist Library membership.

That means you will receive all the benefits of a membership for just $35!

Use the discount code INITTOGETHER to get $10 off the Ultimate Naturalist Library membership.

Use discount code SPRINGTOGETHER for $10 off an Ultimate Naturalist Library Membership.

Download: Wild For Wildflowers

Print a complete list of printables available in the Ultimate and Journey level memberships by clicking the button above.

Use the discount code SPRINGTOGETHER for $10 off an Ultimate Naturalist Library membership!

Use the discount code SPRINGTOGETHER to receive $10 off an Ultimate Naturalist Library membership!

Have you noticed any wildflowers blooming yet?

Outdoor Hour Challenges for families since 2008!