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Posted on May 19, 2016 by Barb — 2 Comments

Nature Book Project – The Practical Naturalist

Nature Book Project 2016

This entry includes my Amazon.com affiliate link. I purchased this book with my own money and am providing my personal opinions about this book.

Somehow I missed writing a review for this book in April but I am making up for it this month! The Practical Naturalist published by DK and Audubon is a strikingly visual book. Its image rich content is appealing to all ages and the text is written in a way that concentrates lots of information in short easy to read snippets. (ISBN: 978-0756658991) This entry includes my Amazon.com affiliate link. I purchased this book with my own money and am providing my personal opinions about this book.

The subtitle really explains the foundation of this book: Explore the wonders of the natural world.

It tackles many of the fascinating aspects of the natural world around us, organized by habitat. This book is not like the Handbook of Nature Study which organizes its lessons by specific topics but rather it creates a close up picture of a sampling of the plants and animals that you may encounter in a particular habitat.

Habitats Covered:

Close to Home
Forest
Farm and Field
Scrub land and Heath
Grassland
Mountain and Hillside
Lake, River, and Stream
Coast
Tundra and Ice
Desert

Quick Thoughts on The Practical Naturalist

I tend to like to study things by habitat so I enjoyed the way the material was organized.
The images are large and colorful. There are even some “sideways” two page spreads which are a nice way to present the material.
The vocabulary is rich and creates a basic understanding of more complex biology-themed ideas.
I would consider this a living book because it intersperses text, images, and activities in such a way that the topics come alive for the reader. It would make a great foundation for a natural science or nature study course for children perhaps 10 years old and up. I could see how this book would have been a wonderful read aloud with my younger children as well.
One possible negative about the book is that it will require additional research to thoroughly cover each topic. This is not meant to be a nature encyclopedia.

I think this book is a great addition to a nature study reference library that you will use over the years as the opportunity arises. Nature loving kids would like to have a copy of their own to read and flip through at their leisure. Perhaps in the future I will use this book as a supplement to the Handbook of Nature Study plans!

This book is part of my Nature Book Project for 2016.

Note some of the links below are Amazon.com affiliate links.

January- Discover Nature Close to Home

February-A Place for Birds and A Place for Butterflies

March- A Crow Doesn’t Need A Shadow

April- The Practical Naturalist

May- Break month.

June-Botany in a Day

July- Rockhounding Nevada

August- Break month.

September- The 10 Best of Everything National Parks

October- The Nature Handbook

November- Bringing Nature Home

December- Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling

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Posted on May 16, 2016 by Barb — Leave a comment

Taking a Wildflower Photo Hunt!

We took the most amazing hike last weekend! It actually started off as a fairly rainy day but about noon the clouds started to thin out and we decided to take a chance and head out on a hike.

It is one of our favorite local hikes and we haven’t been down to the river at this spot since last summer. We were rewarded with an amazing display of colorful flowers which just happened to go along with last week’s Outdoor Hour Challenge – Pick a Color.

How about all these purple flowers? Top left is Purple Chinese Houses. Top right is lupine. Bottom left is larkspur. Bottom right is heartleaf millkweed.

Then there are the white and yellow flowers.

Last but not least, the red and pink flowers. Top left is checkermallow. Top right is Twining Brodiaea. The bottom left pink flower is new to us! Purple monkeyflower! Bottom right is a variety of Indian Paintbrush.

What an awesome wildflower day!

In addition we saw:

Chinese Lanterns
Pretty Faces
Mustang Clover
Indian Pinks
Miniature lupine
Yarrow
Goldfields
Wild Cucumber
Buckbrush
Elegant Clarkia
Vetch

It ended up raining on us right when we got down to the river so we had to head back up right away. It was still a terrific hike and we were rewarded for our efforts with a showy display of color.
The printable Wildflower Color Hunt is available during the month of May 2016 in the free newsletter. If you don’t already subscribe to the Handbook of Nature Study, you can do so during the month of May and receive the newsletter download link in your subscription thank you email. All newsletters are available as part of every level of membership here on the Handbook of Nature Study. See the Join Us page for more information on how you can gain access to the Ultimate Naturalist Library of ebooks, newsletters, and exclusive printables.

Note these are affiliate links to products I love!

Download a FREE sample of A-Z Animal Notebooking Pages from NotebookingPages.com.

Posted on May 13, 2016 by Barb — Leave a comment

Outdoor Hour Challenge – Wildflower Photo Hunt

Outdoor Hour Challenge
Wildflower Photo Hunt

Printable Activity: Wildflower Photo Hunt
Use the printable list for your photo hunt…plus use the ideas on the page to create a nature journal with the photos when you are finished. If at all possible, let your child take the images!

Printable Wildflower Photo Hunt Activity

Note these are affiliate links to products I love!

Download a FREE sample of A-Z Animal Notebooking Pages from NotebookingPages.com.

Posted on May 6, 2016 by Barb — Leave a comment

Outdoor Hour Challenge – Wildflower Colors

Outdoor Hour Challenge
Wildflower Color Hunt

This week we are going to go on a wildflower color hunt! Use the printable from the May newsletter as a check list as you go on your nature outing with your family. Cross off each color of flower as you find it and take a photo of your favorites for your nature journal.

Wildflower and Weed Color Hunt Printable May 2016 Newsletter — Print your copy from the May 2016 Newsletter or from the member’s archives.

The printable Wildflower Color Hunt is available during the month of May 2016 in the free newsletter. If you don’t already subscribe to the Handbook of Nature Study, you can do so during the month of May and receive the newsletter download link in your subscription thank you email. All newsletters are available as part of every level of membership here on the Handbook of Nature Study. See the Join Us page for more information on how you can gain access to the Ultimate Naturalist Library of ebooks, newsletters, and exclusive printables.

Note these are affiliate links to products I love!

Download a FREE sample of A-Z Animal Notebooking Pages from NotebookingPages.com.

Posted on May 5, 2016 by Barb — Leave a comment

Handbook of Nature Study – May Printables

Take a look at the two new printables available in the Member’s Library for both the Ultimate and Journey level memberships. There is a simple Northern mockingbird notebook page and also a set of notebook and coloring pages for the buttercup and the poppy (4 pages in all). For a complete list of member’s printables, click the button below for a printable list.

Please note that Ultimate Naturalist and Journey level members have access to members only printables each month in addition to the newsletter printables. You will need to log into your account and then go to the “Other Releases” section. You can download a complete list of printables available to members here: Printables Current List May 2016.

Posted on May 1, 2016 by Barb — Leave a comment

Handbook of Nature Study Newsletter – May 2016 Wildflowers

Handbook of Nature Study Newsletter

May 2016 – Wildflower Study

Please read the following explanation outlining how to get this month’s newsletter.

The newsletter link is not in this email but will come separately. There may be a delay in your receiving the email so please don’t email me until the second day of the month if you haven’t received the link on the first. For some reason, some email providers take longer to receive the newsletter email.

If you don’t receive the separate email with the download link, you probably aren’t subscribed to the blog yet. This will take less than a minute to do if you follow the steps below.

If you are a subscriber and you haven’t received your newsletter email yet, check your SPAM inbox. Some subscribers have found the email buried in SPAM inbox.

If you need to subscribe:

You will need to go to the Handbook of Nature Study, look to the top right corner for the box to type in your preferred email address, and then confirm the email that comes to your email inbox.
Once you subscribe, you will receive a thank you email from me with the download link.

This month’s newsletter link will be available only during the month of May so be sure to download it before 5/31/16.

Remember! All of the archived and current newsletters are available as part of the Ultimate Naturalist Library…every level!

Note: If you are following the Ambleside Online’s nature study rotation, this month’s newsletter is perfect for the theme: Garden Flowers and Weeds.

Contents of this edition of the newsletter include:

This month the newsletter focuses on a study of wildflowers. I have written an article sharing how to get started with an early spring wildflower study project.
Contributions from Outdoor Hour Challenge participants- Heather Woodie from Blog She Wrote. Heather is a wealth of information about so many aspects of nature study and I know you will enjoy her submission on wildflower study.
May Nature Study Planning Page with field trip ideas, nature photo ideas, and a special 15 minute challenge for parents.
As a bonus this month, I have included a fresh Wildflower and Weed Study Grid and a Wildflower Color Hunt printable for you to use with your family.
Wildflower Study printable notebook page which can be used as a nature journal topper as well.

Resources for your Nature Library: I have started to build a nature library store on Amazon that will feature by category my favorite nature study books and resources. Take a look and see if there is anything you would like to put on your wish list for your family’s nature study library: Handbook of Nature Study Nature Library Suggestions on Amazon.com. Note this is my affiliate store to items I personally recommend and have read or seen in person.

Need help getting started with your nature study using the Handbook of Nature Study? Check out the fresh “Getting Started” page here on the website!

You may also wish to purchase a set of wildflower, weed, and garden flower notebooking pages from NotebookingPages.com. This set includes every flower in the Handbook of Nature Study and will be a set you can use for many years to come. Please note I am an affiliate for NotebookingPages.com and have used this product with my family and highly recommend them to you!

Use code discount5 to save $5 on any purchase $10 or more from the NotebookingPages.com Shop. (This does not include membership purchases.)

Posted on April 29, 2016 by Barb — Leave a comment

Outdoor Hour Challenge – Growing Beans

Outdoor Hour Challenge
Growing Beans
Archive Post

Have you ever used green bean seeds and plants for your nature study? This is a wonderful way to share the complete growing cycle. With your children start your study with the bean seeds, then the plants, then the flowers, then the beans, back to the seed again!

Bean Nature Study – Seed Germination from the archives!

I also want to share a link to one of my gardening entries from 2009 that I think will inspire newbies to gardening. Take a look at this entry and find some encouragement to start even a small garden:

Gardening Doesn’t Need to be Complicated

If you are a member here on the Handbook of Nature Study, you will find this archive challenge in the Crop Plants Challenges ebook. In the book, you will find a custom notebook page to use with your green bean study.

SAMPLE

Posted on April 26, 2016 by Barb — Leave a comment

Garden Planning and April Recap -In Progress

This is such a gorgeous colorful time of year in the garden. I thought I would do a little update on my Garden Planning nature journal page and share how my April 2016 recap page is coming along.

At least this is the plan as of today…I know when the actual planting time comes I will probably adjust a bit but this gives my husband an idea of what irrigation I will need for him to set in up in each box. The one box is labeled as the “herb box” which it used to be in the past but now it is just a regular box…it will probably always be known as the herb box.

I’ve left some blank space for recording experiences as we finish up the month. I find that keeping the page going during the month is the best way to assure that it will actually get done. I used some watercolor pencils, gel pens, and a ruler to create my page.

Are you working on your garden seeds challenge? Take a few minutes and get it started! Are you going to create a monthly recap page? Here is the link to the Once a Month Nature Journal Project idea post.

Make sure you click over to NotebookingPages.com to enter their ONE DAY giveaway today! 9 AM to 9 PM CST

Debra is giving away 24 memberships today and everyone gets a FREE notebooking pages sampler.

Please note that I am an affiliate for NotebookingPages.com and highly recommend this product after years of using it with my own family.

Posted on April 18, 2016 by Barb — 2 Comments

Cabrillo National Monument – Tips and Images

Cabrillo National Monument
San Diego, California

On our February trip to Southern California we had the opportunity to spend an afternoon at Cabrillo National Monument which is right in San Diego.

In the image above you can see from the peninsula where the park is located that you are just across the water from the city of San Diego. It was a gorgeous day with lots of sunshine which inspired us to walk up to the lighthouse from the visitor center.

This is a gigantic statue of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo the explorer for whom this park is named. The view from this spot out onto the water with the many ships and sailboats was amazing.

The lighthouse was open the day we were there and they had it set up to show what life was like back when the lighthouse was in operation. The historical information was interesting and helped us gain an understanding of how lighthouse life would have been.

Walking out onto the point beyond the lighthouse, we were able to view the ocean for migrating whales. No whales on this day but this a prime spot to watch for these awesome creatures. There was a shelter around the point so you would be protected from weather or wind if you needed. On the day we visited, there was no need because it was picture postcard perfect. I can’t help but be disappointed that we didn’t spot any whales but you can’t have everything.

The highlight of the visit was our time spent at the tidepools at Cabrillo National Monument. We had checked the low tide time on the tide tables before visiting and then again at the visitor center to make sure we hit it just right. The low tide allows you access to places covered in water at other times. We saw many tidepool creatures, including an octopus!!! The hike down to the water was a little slippery and rocky so I would highly recommend some sort of water shoe or sandals.

There were people with jeans and sneakers on but they were having a hard time wading through the water to see the best of the tidepools. There were quite a few people in the tidepools, including some park rangers, but it never felt crowded. I highly recommend this activity when you visit if you can time it right.
Here are a few treasures we found (and left) during our wading expedition in the tidepool area.

This is the biggest intact shell I have ever found in my life. It was gorgeous and as much as I wanted to take it home with me….I left it for someone else to discover and enjoy. I have this amazing image to remind me of the excitement of pulling it up from the sandy area around the tidepool.

Additional Tips:

There is a $10 entrance fee.
There are very strict hours for the park so make sure to check before you drive out there – Park Hours.
As noted before, wear appropriate clothing and footwear
There are restrooms at the visitor center and down at the tidepool parking lot.
Tidepool visit: Learn ahead of time what you can touch and what you can’t and leave it all there. Prepare ahead of time. The tidepools might be hard for very young children but I would say 5 and up.
The historic exhibits at the visitor center are small but interesting.
There is a small gift shop at the visitor center.
You can easily see everything in a couple of hours.
Other attractions near-by: San Diego Zoo, Sea World, Legoland, Balboa Park, Coronado.

You can read more of my national park entries by following these links:

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Redwoods National Park (California)
Channel Islands National Park(California)
Death Valley National Park(California)
Crater Lake National Park (Oregon)
Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)
Hot Springs National Park (Arkansas)
Mammoth Cave National Park (Kentucky)
Great Basin National Park (Nevada)
Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona)
Lassen Volcanic National Park (California)
Joshua Tree National Park (California)
Saguaro National Park (Arizona)
Point Reyes National Seashore (California)
Muir Woods National Monument (California)
Zion National Park (Utah)
Weir Farm National Historic Site (Connecticut)
Pinnacles National Park (California)
Paterson Great Falls National Historic Site (New Jersey)
Morristown National Historical Park (New Jersey)
Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (New Jersey)

Posted on April 15, 2016 by Barb — Leave a comment

Handbook of Nature Study Members Printables List

Each month I add printables to the Ultimate and Journey level memberships here on the Handbook of Nature Study. In doing some revamping of the website, I thought it might be helpful to keep a current list of printables available in the library for you to use as a reference.

Click the button above or use the button on the website sidebar to always keep up with the current printables available along with the ebooks and newsletters in the various levels of membership.

Ultimate Naturalist Library- Current Contents

17 ebooks!
60 newsletters in the archive
51 printables including notebook pages, planning pages, nature grid studies, coloring pages, and nature walk ideas

Current members only need to access their membership library by clicking the “members area” on the website to find this wealth of nature study goodness.

If you are not yet a member, you can join us at any time and your library access will immediately activate when you purchase a membership.

Handbook of Nature Study Members Only Printables List

Handbook of Nature Study Newsletter

May 2016 – Wildflower Study

Outdoor Hour Challenges for families since 2008!