Spring is a wonderful beginning, so take advantage of the opportunity and season with this guide to spring nature study in your homeschool.
Getting outside with our children can be the sanity saving activity we all need. As spring approaches, have you considered adding a little nature study into your weekly routine? I’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.
Guide to Spring Nature Study in Your Homeschool
Here are some ideas from year-long nature study topics that we have hosted with the Outdoor Hour Challenge. All of these are available in Homeschool Nature Study Membership.
- Spring Weather Observations
- Spring Splendor Walk – spring nature walk scavenger hunt
- Signs of Spring – Outdoor Hour Challenge
- Spring Bird Observations
- Seasonal Cattail Study
- Seasonal Milkweed Study
- Year-Long Pond Study
- Year-Long Queen Anne’s Lace Study
- Burdock Study – start a year-long study
You may wish to start a new year-long study this spring using some of the ideas above.
The key is to make a regular habit of getting outside and taking note of things that interest your family. You can even enjoy spring nature study in your homeschool with multiple ages.
Spring is a fantastic time to start a season of nature study. Please see the offerings listed below along with their specific topics. Consider working through a course in our membership or you can pick and choose subjects from any of the courses. Without a lot of extra effort, you can customize your spring nature study by picking your favorite topics from any of the courses listed. Or you can follow the wonderful Nature Study Plan that your Outdoor Hour Challenge hostess, Shirley Ann Vels, has put together for you. There is a brand new Outdoor Hour Challenge for our members each Friday!
Spring With Handbook of Nature Study Curriculum
Did you know this course also contains art and music appreciation? Here is a sampling of the Outdoor Hour Challenges you will find.
- Spring Peepers
- Jack in the Pulpit
- Yellow Ladies Slipper/Yellow Adder’s Tongue
- Trillium
- Bluets
- May Apple
- Newt
- Petunias
- Geranium
- Nasturtiums
- Black Swallowtail
- Crayfish
- Mountain Laurel
More Nature Study Outdoor Hour Challenges – Spring Splendor Handbook of Nature Study Curriculum
- Spring Splendor Walk
- Buds, Catkins, and Blossoms
- Spring Birds – Robin
- Spring Wildflowers – Buttercups and Poppies
- Spring Mammal – Goats
- Spring Tree – Dogwood
- Ferns
- Vines – Sweet Pea, Dodder, or Hedge Bindweed
- Garden Snails
- Blue Flag Iris
Spring Series Course and Outdoor Hour Challenges for Your Homeschool
- Signs of Spring-Bonus challenge
- Maple Tree Observation Sheet
- #1 Year-Long Tree Study
- #2 Spring Weather Observations
- #3 Spring Bird Study
- #4 Spring Wildflower Study-Dandelions
- #5 Spring Cattail Observations
- #6 Apple Tree Study
- #7 Cats
- #8 Snakes
- #9 Earthworms
- #10 Ants
The Garden Flower and Plant Course and Handbook of Nature Study Curriculum for Homeschool
- #12 Focus on Garden Flowers – Seeds
- #13 Garden Flowers – Flower Parts
- #14 Garden Flowers – Pressing Flowers
- #15 Garden Flowers – How To Draw A Flower
- #16 Garden Flowers – Sunflowers
- #17 Garden Flowers – Collecting Leaves
- #18 Garden Flowers – Pollen
- #19 Garden Flowers – Seeds and Germination
- #29 Sunflowers
- #30 Weeds and Seeds
How To Create a Spring Nature Table
Spring is slowly making itself known in our barren gardens, so let’s celebrate this new life by setting up a spring nature table. Pull out your favourite nature study books, clear some space on a table and gather together your collected nature items.
Creating a nature table is very simple and allows so much room for creativity as you are able to add whatever you want to it. You could switch it up weekly inline with what you are studying that week or dedicate it to each season and fill it as we progress through the months. The possibilities are truly endless!
Members will find this lesson in the Spring Course in Homeschool Nature Study Membership.
Spring Homeschool Nature Study with Art
A fun way to expand your homeschool nature studies is with art! You will love this Spring Art Celebration with a theme of All Things Bright and Beautiful, All Creatures Great and Small. Our sister site has a host of lovely spring art activities for you!
Spring Nature Study With Art and Music Appreciation
You will have a complete plan at your fingertips for your spring nature study, art appreciation, and music study. You will need to have the Handbook of Nature Study in order to complete the nature study challenges. All of the art prints are included in the ebook and there are links to viewing them online as well. There are three featured composers and their music are offered on one CD: Classical Music Start-Up Kit Volume Two. You can choose to purchase this CD for convenience or use the online links to listen to the music suggested in the music appreciation plans. We have aimed to keep these challenges and studies as simple as possible with very few additional resources needed.
Won’t you join us for spring nature study?