Tag: Family Outdoor Hour Challenge

Posted on by — Leave a comment

February Homeschool Nature Studies Great for Bird Watching

These February homeschool nature studies are great for bird watching and study. Includes The Backyard Bird Count and more!

These February homeschool nature studies are great for bird watching and study. Includes The Backyard Bird Count and more!

February Homeschool Nature Studies Great for Bird Watching

There are so many ways to enjoy bird watching this month (or any month). Here are some ideas to get you started.

Great Backyard Bird Count Resources: Everything You Need

Are you ready? Enjoy these Great Backyard Bird Count Homeschool Resources as you watch birds in your backyard this February!

What Is The Great Backyard Bird Count?

Each February, for four days, the world comes together for the love of birds. Over these four days we invite people to spend time in their favorite places watching and counting as many birds as they can find and reporting them to us. These observations help scientists better understand global bird populations before one of their annual migrations.

Birdcount.org
Are you ready? Enjoy these Great Backyard Bird Count Homeschool Resources as you watch birds in your backyard this February!

Bird Watching 101: Attracting Birds to Your Yard

Here you will find all sorts of ideas for attracting birds to your yard for homeschool nature study and birdwatching. We love to watch birds and do so on a regular basis without ever leaving our backyard. We can watch from our window or our deck and see usually around 4-5 different kinds of birds each day. At sometimes of the year, we have a lot more than that and it is exciting to see a new kind in the feeders.

Fun Bird Nests and Eggs Activities for Nature Study – Enjoy these fun activities for learning about bird nests and eggs. Includes ideas for getting outside, bird resources and suggestions for follow up activities as well.

Ultimate List of Bird Nature Studies Using the Outdoor Hour Challenges

You can enjoy a simple birds homeschool nature study with these resources we have gathered for you to use in your own backyard. It is such a delight to study and learn about these beautiful creatures! Find the list HERE.

These February homeschool nature studies are great for bird watching and study. Includes The Backyard Bird Count and more!
Photo by Amy Law

Make Bird Feeders and Bird Crafts for Your Backyard Birds

We created these amazing bird feeders in a special winter event with our sister site, You ARE an ARTiST! There are even more bird feeders/crafts you can enjoy in the replay. Find out more in this Winter Tree Homeschool Nature Study!

You might also like:

These are such fun with sayings such as: "Bee Mine", "I'm Nuts for You", "Owl Love You Forever" and "I Love You Deerly". Perfect for exchanging Valentines with friends or for mailing to grandparents!

Send Nature Valentines – Free Printable

These are such fun with sayings such as: “Bee Mine”, “I’m Nuts for You”, “Owl Love You Forever” and “I Love You Deerly”. Perfect for exchanging Valentines with friends or for mailing to grandparents! (Homeschool Nature Study members have these in your Resources course and on your February Nature Study Calendar!)

Get Your Printable Nature Valentines!

Subscribe to get FREE Nature Valentines to print and share.

    We won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.
    homeschool nature journaling
    Photo by Amy Law

    Start the Nature Journal Habit

    Keeping a nature journal and building the homeschool nature journal habit can be a wonderful extension of your outdoor learning time. You will find nature journal ideas for everyone from young children to the homeschool mom!

    You can even start a Calendar of Firsts – such a wonderful habit that will hep your children notice seasonal changes and more.

    Spring Homeschool Nature Study with Music and Art

    Because by the end of February we are all ready for spring! You may even have some early spring bulbs poking through the soil! Take a peek at this Spring Homeschool Nature Study.

    Join The Homeschool Nature Study Membership for Year Round Support

    Can you believe all of these bird resources you will find in membership? You will also find a continuing series on bird nature study, bird watching and attracting birds plus all the Outdoor Hour Challenges for nature study in our Homeschool Nature Study membership. There are 25+ continuing courses with matching Outdoor Hour curriculum that will bring the Handbook of Nature Study to life in your homeschool! In addition, there is an interactive monthly calendar with daily nature study prompt – all at your fingertips!

    Find Out More About Homeschool Nature Study Membership HERE!

    Our family is going to be counting in the Great Backyard Bird Count! Join us! and be sure to share on social media and tag @outdoorhourchallenge on Instagram or Homeschool Nature Study on Facebook with your results too!

    Looking For More Activities For February Homeschooling?

    Groundhog Day Homeschool Nature Study Activities

    Whether it is Groundhog Day or you are just wanting to learn more about these mammals, enjoy these homeschool nature study activities about woodchucks, groundhogs, prairie dogs and marmots!

    These February homeschool nature studies are great for bird watching and study. Includes The Backyard Bird Count and more!

    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.

    Posted on by — Leave a comment

    January Nature Studies Perfect for Winter Homeschooling

    Enjoy January nature studies perfect for winter homeschooling! Make plans to get outside for a brisk nature walk and then to follow up with a nature journal page recording all of the interesting things you found while outside.

    Enjoy January nature studies perfect for winter homeschooling! Make plans to get outside for a brisk nature walk and then to follow up with a nature journal page recording all of the interesting things you found while outside.
    Photo by Amy Law

    January Nature Studies Perfect for Winter Homeschooling

    The best times I can remember with my children are the times we just took it slow and easy, looking for the little things that most people pass by. Turn over a rock and see what’s underneath. Look up in the branches of the trees and see if you can find any birds or other critters. Take a walk and listen to the crunch of the snow. Breathe the air and enjoy the day.

    Go On a Winter Nature Walk

    Getting outside for a walk in winter may be one of the most refreshing activities you could do with your children. Simple and fun!

    snow experiments for your January homeschool
    Melting snow nature study activity

    Learn About Snow in January

    In this homeschool snow study there is so much to discover! Included is a field guide to snow, experiments like filtering, guidance from the Handbook of Nature Study and more!

    Enjoy January nature studies perfect for winter homeschooling! Make plans to get outside for a brisk nature walk and then to follow up with a nature journal page recording all of the interesting things you found while outside.

    Study Insects In Your January Homeschool

    We are focusing on winter insects in our homeschool nature study outdoor hour challenges. We are using the Winter Wednesday course and Handbook of Nature Study curriculum with our members. You can join our membership at any time. You will find a button at the end of this post that will take you to the signup page.

    When Winter Weather Drives Your Homeschool Nature Studies Indoors

    Taking your winter nature studies indoors when the weather outdoors is proving to be a challenge may be just the thing you need every once in a while. We have a lovely post from the archives to inspire your homeschool nature studies indoors for those days that you can’t face getting outdoors.

    Are you ready? Enjoy these Great Backyard Bird Count Homeschool Resources as you watch birds in your backyard this February!

    January Homeschool Bird Study

    Winter Bird Study for Your Homeschool – Even when the landscape is covered in snow or ice or mud, there are always birds that will come to visit if you create a little bird-friendly habitat with some seeds, suet, and freshwater. You can observe birds right from your window if the weather isn’t friendly. Or, if you have the right conditions, take a bird walk in a nearby wood. Winter is an amazing time to stroll your neighborhood looking for resident or visiting birds.

    January Stopping By the Woods Study and More

    January always brings with it new hope and promises of a fresh start. We are going to kick off our January homeschool nature studies by using Robert Frost’s beautiful poem, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” as a springboard. Explore them here.

    As we move through the month we will be on the hunt for gall dwellers, looking at quartz and learning all about mullein.

    Winter Nature Study Crafts for Kids

    Winter is in full swing so with the plummeting temperatures looming on the horizon let’s take advantage and make these beautiful ice sun catchers! Victoria shares how in the Nature Crafts in our Homeschool Nature Study membership. Find out more about our nature study crafts for kids!

    Winter Homeschool Nature Study with Art and Music Appreciation

    This winter homeschool nature study curriculum contains all the nature study Outdoor Hour Challenges, custom notebook pages for nature study as well as art and music appreciation, and three months’ worth of art and music appreciation.

    Writing this winter homeschool nature study curriculum has helped us appreciate the winter season more than we ever have before. Part of our enthusiasm has come from spending more time outdoors bundled up with our families exploring the winter landscape.

    Enjoy all kinds of January nature studies perfect for winter homeschooling! Get outside for a brisk nature walk and follow up with a nature journal page.
    Outdoor Hour Challenge Winter Tree Silhouettes
    Enjoy all kinds of January nature studies perfect for winter homeschooling! Get outside for a brisk nature walk and follow up with a nature journal page.
    Enjoy all kinds of January nature studies perfect for winter homeschooling! Get outside for a brisk nature walk and follow up with a nature journal page.

    More Winter Homeschool Nature Study Resources

    Here are even more winter nature studies for you to enjoy together:

    Join Homeschool Nature Study Membership For a NEW Outdoor Hour Challenge Each Week!

    Be inspired. Be encouraged. Get outdoors!

    Enjoy all kinds of January nature studies perfect for winter homeschooling! Get outside for a brisk nature walk and follow up with a nature journal page.

    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.

    Posted on by — 3 Comments

    Winter Homeschool Nature Study: Green And Red Challenge

    We decided to repeat last year’s Winter Challenge on a recent hike. This homeschool nature study is perfect for the season.

    Our Winter Homeschool Nature Study

    We had planned on leaving in the early afternoon but it actually started to rain so we postponed it for a few hours. The rain stopped eventually and it was amazing how beautiful everything was as we hiked along the trail.

    The colors were vivid and we noticed a few outstanding things to share.

    Green and Red Homeschool Nature Study

    Green And Red In Nature

    We found some beautiful green moss covering stones and trees. Isn’t so vibrant and bright? It stands out from the winter grey making it hard to pass by. If you come across some moss be sure to encourage your children to take a closer look through a magnifying glass.

    Green and Red Homeschool Nature Study

    Bright red berries on bushes along the way. Red berries add a splash of color to stark and frosty scenes when most of the trees have lost their leaves. They are a vital food source for animals and birds during these ‘hungry’ months. All the berries you see on your walk have grown and developed in autumn.

    Interestingly, studies have shown that birds choose the order they eat the berries carefully to ensure that they have as much food as possible to last the winter.

    Manzanita 2
    Finally, we found some Manzanita wood. Isn’t it just so vividly red after it gets wet?

    Finding green and red in our homeschool nature study was a wonderful way to blend learning with a celebration of the holiday season!

    Green and Red Homeschool Nature Study

    You Are Invited to Join Us!

    Join Us For All New Outdoor Hour Challenges in Homeschool Nature Study Membership!
    Posted on by — Leave a comment

    How To Find The Joy of Nature Study in Your Own Backyard

    How do you find the joy of nature study in your own backyard? Here are some encouragement for easy homeschool nature study right out your back door.

    How do you find the joy of nature study in your own backyard? Here are some encouragement for easy homeschool nature study right out your back door.

    The simple truth is that everyone has something special and unique to explore in their own backyard or neighborhood.

    How To Find The Joy of Nature Study in Your Own Backyard

    I always go outside with the expectation that there will be something interesting.

    Sometimes you have to look harder to find it than other times.

    Nature study has made me more of a positive person…I expect to find something outdoors to make me joyful. I expect that there will be something that we can observe and notice.

    How do you find the joy of nature study in your own backyard? Here are some encouragement for easy homeschool nature study right out your back door.
    Wow! Look at the color of this fungi? We think it is called Witches Butter.

    There is just so much to see and learn about, but we need to train our eyes and hearts to be open to the opportunities that arise.

    seeds nature study
    I am amazed by these seeds. As many times as we have hiked down this same path, by this same plant, I have never noticed these really great seeds but there they are.

    Keep your senses open to any opportunities and you may be surprised what you find to be interested in along with your children.

    How do you find the joy of nature study in your own backyard? Here are some encouragement for easy homeschool nature study right out your back door.
    There were lots of fresh critter holes along the trail this week. This one was especially large. We see signs of lots of mammals as we walk and holes are some of the most intriguing signs that we are not alone.

    Tips for Simple Homeschool Nature Study

    I got to thinking about all of the simple things we have nature study in our own backyard that we have noticed over the years.

    • Trees: leaves, bark, twigs, roots, flowers, cones, needles, seeds, pods, nests, birds
    • Patch of weeds: leaves, roots, bugs, flowers perhaps
    • Dirt: worms, gravel, stones, seeds, mud
    • Sky: clouds, sun, moon, stars
    • Air: temperature, wind, smells, breath on a cold morning
    • Birds: flying, pecking, eating, chirping, hopping, shapes and colors, beaks, wings, tails, feet
    • Sounds: wind, frogs, rain, leaves, crickets, bees, fly buzzing, mosquitoes
    • Weather: rain, clouds, temperature, snow, ice, dew, wind
    • Flowers (garden or in a pot): petals, pollen, roots, leaves, stem, fragrance, shapes, colors, seeds
    The ferns are growing right now like crazy. Every day there are more and more to enjoy.

    More For Your Homeschool

    Find out more about homeschool nature study encouragement and prompts in The Joy of Nature Study in Your Homeschool Year.

    If you are not a Homeschool Nature Study member yet, please consider joining to gain the benefit of having a nature study library at your fingertips. There are numerous resources available for you to help create the habit of nature study within your family.

    How do you find the joy of nature study in your own backyard? Here are some encouragement for easy homeschool nature study right out your back door.

    What can you put on your list?

    Above all, have fun and be joyful!

    By Barb McCoy, Outdoor Hour Challenges founder

    Posted on by — Leave a comment

    Simple Ways to Study Nature in Your Homeschool This Winter

    There are so many simple ways to study nature in your homeschool this winter! From nature walks to indoor studies, use this guide as a starting point for making memories together.

    Simple Ways to Study Nature in Your Homeschool This Winter

    There are so many simple ways to study nature in your homeschool this winter! From nature walks to indoor studies, use this guide as a starting point for making memories together.
    Photos by Amy Law

    Take a First Day of Winter Nature Walk

    Getting outside for a walk on the first day of winter may be one of the most refreshing activities you could do with your children. The temperatures drop and we huddle inside more and more, especially on the shortest day of the year!

    “The most obvious work of nature has been the preparation for winter. A wide range of observation should be used to impress the truth: the trees and shrubs have lost their leaves, and stored the provisions for spring in the buds and branches; many softer plants die down to the ground, storing the food in roots, others in bulbs, and still others in tubers. The question may be asked for each plant that comes up for observation – How did it get ready for winter?”

    Nature Study by Months
    There are so many simple ways to study nature in your homeschool this winter! From nature walks to indoor studies, use this guide as a starting point for making memories together.

    1. Take a walk this week and spend a few minutes looking at the plants in your yard and neighborhood. Look for bushes and trees without leaves, stopping to note that these plants are many times not dead but just waiting for spring to begin a new growth cycle. Don’t go into too much detail but allow time for quiet observation.

    2. After your outdoor time, spend a few minutes discussing how plants get ready for winter. You can bring out the following points:

    • Some plants (Annuals) have seeds that survive the winter even when the plant does not.
    • Other plants (Perennials) have roots that survive the winter and start to grow again in the spring.
    • Deciduous trees shed their leaves, conserve food, and have buds that are waiting until spring to open and grow.

    3. Make a nature journal entry recording anything of interest from your outdoor time.

    Alternately, make plans to get outside for a brisk nature walk and then to follow up with a nature journal page recording all of the interesting things you found while outside.

    animal tracks in winter

    Animals in Winter Homeschool Nature Study

    “The same thought should be applied to the animals. Most of the birds have gone south because of the cold, and also because their food is gone; the frogs, turtles, and toads are going to sleep all winter down in the mud or earth below the frost; the caterpillars are waiting in their cocoons for the warm spring sunshine; most of the other insects have laid their eggs for the next season, while a few of them have crawled into warm places to wait; the squirrels have gathered a store of nuts, and will soon be asleep in the old tree-trunks; the cats dogs, horses, and cows have grown a fresh coat of hair and fur. Nothing is forgotten; each is ready in its own best way.”

    Nature Study by Months

    Ideas to Prepare for Outdoor Study:

    This will be another easy week of nature study that will blend easily with other Outdoor Hour Challenges. Take the opportunity to spend some time outdoors noticing the way that animals prepare for winter. Make this one an investigation!

    You might prepare with a little discussion about the various animals and birds that live in your local area. Some ideas to get you started:

    • migrating or visiting birds
    • squirrels gathering nuts
    • insects in cocoons
    • changes in color of various animals as they prepare for the white of the snow time
    • You can also read this article: Animals in Winter.
    snow homeschool nature study
    Snow Outdoor Hour Challenge included in Homeschool Nature Study membership!

    Get Outside!

    Bundle up and spend fifteen minutes outdoors enjoying the December world. A good nature walk is pleasurable for everyone and allows you and your children to appreciate God’s beautiful creation. The best times I can remember with my children are the times we just took it slow and easy, looking for the little things that most people pass by.

    Look for signs of animals and think about ways they prepare for winter. You can also make bird and animal observations, noting their behavior. How are they staying warm? finding food? sheltering from the weather?

    Encourage everyone to use all of their senses on this walk:

    • Did they see something colorful or unusual?
    • How does the air feel on your skin?
    • Is there a particular fragrance to the air?
    • Can you listen carefully for a minute or two to distinguish any particular sounds?

    Another idea is to ask your children to find differences in the landscape, comparing your neighborhood habitat on this winter day to what they remember about the first day of summer. This is a little harder and you may need to help them get started with a few of your own observations.

    More Outdoor Hour Challenge Ideas:

    • Turn over a rock and see what’s underneath.
    • Look up in the branches of the trees and see if you can find any birds or other critters.
    • Sit quietly by the edge of a pond or stream and see what comes along.
    • Breathe the air and enjoy the day.
    indoor winter nature study ideas for your homeschool

    Follow Up Indoor Winter Nature Study Activities:

    • After your outdoor time allow time for a nature journal entry. Use the notebook page or the journal idea from the December Newsletter to record your observations of anything that your child finds interesting. I also have a December World Notebook Page included Homechool Nature Study Membership or you can use one of the journaling pages included in the free membership sample, below.
    • Maybe this week you could use a different art medium in your journal…many of us get stuck in a rut. Offer colored pencils, thin markers, watercolors, or pastels.

    Paint a Winter Frosty Leaf in Chalk Pastels

    Nana of You ARE an ARTiST offers a sample of her winter art lessons series in You ARE an ARTiST Complete Clubhouse membership. Suggested supplies: dark blue construction paper and leaf chalk pastel colors. Baby wipes or slightly damp paper towel for easy clean up.

    • You could also try offering modeling clay as an alternative to drawing the subject this week and then take a photo of the finished product to include in the nature journal.
    • Additional Link: Animals in Winter lapbook – free printable

    Not all nature study needs to happen outdoors during the winter season! There are so many lovely ideas for you in Taking Your Winter Nature Study Indoors.

    Download from your member’s area

    Wonderful Winter Homeschool Nature Study Topics

    In Homeschool Nature Study membership, each challenge gives you step by step instructions to get started with simple weekly nature study ideas…even in the middle of winter! This may just be what your homeschool week needs to get you through the cold winter days of January, February, and March.

    Each challenge is written for you to complete in your own neighborhood or backyard and you can adapt each challenge to fit your local area with suggestions I offer with each topic. Don’t be discouraged if you look at the list of topics and think you don’t have that particular subject close at hand. I will guide you through finding a replacement to still offer you a weekly dose of nature study.

    The winter homeschool nature study challenges were written for families with children of all ages. In addition to the regular challenge, I have bumped up the nature study for older or more experienced children, complete with their own set of notebooking pages. You will be able to use these studies with your whole family and pull it out from year to year and have a nature study resource for all levels.

    Find Out More About Homeschool Nature Study Membership Today!

    Outdoor Hour Challenges for Winter – Bring the Handbook of Nature Study to Life in Your Homeschool!

    Membership includes all you need for using the Handbook of Nature Study and enjoying learning together as a family. See a sample membership Winter Homeschool Nature Study by signing up with the form, below.

    Membership includes all of this plus MORE!

    • notebook pages and coloring pages
    • Upper Level notebook pages for advanced or experienced students
    • Charlotte Mason style exam questions
    • Complete list of supplies needed
    • Detailed instructions for each challenge, including links and printables
    • Nature journal suggestions
    • Alternate ideas to adapt the challenges to your local area

    Members also enjoy:

    • Bird in Snow video art lesson
    • First Day of Winter Walk and Observations Page
    • December World Notebook Page
    • Winter Weather Observations Journal Page
    • Window Observations Journal Page
    • December Words and Poem Journal Page

    Special Outdoor Hour Challenges

    • Snow Study!
    • Red and Green Outdoor Hour Challenge
    • Moon and Moon Names
    • Study on Magnets and the Compass

    And more challenges from all of the courses pictured above!

    There are so many simple ways to study nature in your homeschool this winter! From nature walks to indoor studies, use this guide as a starting point for making memories together.

    Get Your Free Sample Of Membership: Winter Homeschool Nature Study Download

    Get Your Membership Sample of Winter Homeschool Nature Study!

    Subscribe to get FREE Membership Sample of Winter Homeschool Nature Study.

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

      Most importantly, when you get outside for your winter homeschool nature study, take along a good attitude and leave yourself open to whatever the experience brings. Allow your children to direct you to things they find interesting and then share in their excitement.

      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.

      Posted on by — Leave a comment

      September Nature Study Activities: Signs Of Fall

      Are you looking for ideas for some simple fall nature study ideas? Enjoy these ideas and pick those that get you excited to be outdoors this season with your children.

      Enjoy these activities for your September nature study. Get excited to be outdoors this fall with your children!

      photo by Amy Law

      Signs of Fall September Nature Study Activities

      You may wish to make a note in your planner to accomplish several of these ideas for the next few months.

      Some fall signs to look for:

      • Dry grass and weeds
      • Seeds
      • Wildflowers-thistles, goldenrod
      • Birds eating at feeders or flying overhead to migrate
      • Chilly morning temperatures or dew on the grass
      • Fruit ripe on trees
      • Insects or webs
      • Nuts, acorns, or berries
      • Clouds and wind

      “The free open air is the best background for all work in nature study. The conventionalities of the schoolroom fall away. The artificial distance between teacher and pupil disappears, and as friend to friend the group talks. It is this that makes work in nature study at its best so delightful.

      The wealth of material is very great, and the suggestions that come from things in their proper places are much more abounding than those that arise in the artificial conditions of the school room.”

      Excerpt from The Study of Nature – by Samuel Christian Schmucker. 1908.
      September nature study activities with The Handbook of Nature Study Outdoor Hour Challenges

      September Nature Study Plans with the Outdoor Hour Challenges

      Each year we have a new focus with The Handbook of Nature Study curriculum plans. Here is a sampling of topics from this year and others:

      Enjoy Fall Outdoor Hour Challenges with The Handbook of Nature Study

      • Autumn Favorites Outdoor Hour Challenge Curriculum
      • Autumn Curriculum
      • Fall leaf study grid
      • Signs of autumn study
      • Under the fallen leaves autumn fun
      • Fall color walk with printable color cards
      • Swallows and swifts and learning about bird migration
      • Goose
      • Apples and how they grow
      • How to start a field notebook
      • Autumn weather and changes in your own backyard
      Fall Outdoor Hour Challenge Curriculum with The Handbook of Nature Study
      • Pumpkin farm notebook page
      • Bat study
      • The hawk
      • Autumn night sky studies
      • Pigs
      • Bracket fungi and stinkhorns
      • Squirrels
      • Horses
      • Turkey
      • Maple, ash, hemlock, staghorn sumac and oak trees
      • Belted Kingfisher bird study
      • Lizards, anoles and geckos
      • Autumn flowers

      and SO much more!

      Fall Nature Crafts for Homeschool Families

      Autumn is finally upon us with all its rust, orange and golden glory, so it’s the best time to make these pumpkin pixie houses. With yellowing leaves, ripening apples and pumpkins galore, what better way to celebrate the new season than with an adorable new nature craft.

      Enjoy this fabulous new craft for our annual members – led by Victoria Vels! Join Homeschool Nature Study membership today!

      Start a Year Long Nature Study

      For families that are completing yearlong studies as part of their nature study plan, you’ll find ideas for subjects in out Outdoor Hour Challenge Curriculum as well. You can start now in fall and make observations over the next year of your chosen topic. Our family has greatly benefited from following a subject over the course of a complete year, making seasonal observations as we go.

      Here are some ideas from year-long nature study topics we’ve done in the past:

      • Year-Long Big Dipper Study
      • Seasonal Cattail Study
      • Seasonal Milkweed Study
      • Year-Long Pond Study
      • Year-Long Queen Anne’s Lace Study
      • Seasonal Autumn Tree Study
      • Year-Long Tree Study – something different
      • Year-Long Thistle Study
      • Teasel Study – start a year-long teasel study
      • Autumn Weather Study – printable notebook page in membership
      • Year-Long Burdock Study
      fall nature studies

      The Joys of Fall Homeschool Nature Study Activities

      Fall in love with nature study in your homeschool! Here are more ideas for you and your family to enjoy this season.

      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
      • Preschool fall nature studies
      • Advanced studies on the chemistry of leaves
      • Seasonal Favorites: apples, pumpkins, bats, turkeys and more!
      Enjoy these activities for your September nature study. Get excited to be outdoors this fall with your children!

      The Outdoor Hour Challenges Bring The Handbook of Nature Study to Life in Your Homeschool!

      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!

      Explore Homeschool Nature Study Membership Today!

      Be inspired. Be encouraged. Get outdoors!

      Find Nature Study Activities for each month of the year!

      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.

      Posted on by — 1 Comment

      Garden Flowers: Geraniums are the Perfect Beginner’s Flower Study

      When picking garden flowers, geraniums are the perfect beginner’s garden flower study and the red flowers attract hummingbirds too!

      When picking garden flowers, geraniums are the perfect beginner's garden flower study and the red flowers attract hummingbirds too!

      Garden Flowers: Geraniums are the Perfect Beginner’s Flower Study

      Up until now, I have not appreciated the geranium. I usually don’t pick geraniums for my garden but after reading that hummingbirds were attracted to red flowers I decided to give them a try. I picked the reddest variety I could find at Home Depot, brought it home, and potted it right under my hummingbird feeder.

      When we were deciding on a garden flower to study this month as part of the suggestions in the Outdoor Hour Challenge, I skimmed the list of garden flowers in the Handbook of Nature Study.

      When picking garden flowers, geraniums are the perfect beginner's garden flower study and the red flowers attract hummingbirds too!

      One flower we have not observed closely and added to our nature journal is the geranium. I turned over to the pages to read about this common flower and I was dazzled by all that we could learn by taking a few minutes to follow the suggested lesson activities. (Lesson 163 in the Handbook of Nature Study)

      When picking garden flowers, geraniums are the perfect beginner's garden flower study and the red flowers attract hummingbirds too!
      1. We observed the leaves, touching them and enjoying the fuzzy texture. Mr. B said that they were thick and stiff and I would agree with that. What a great shape the leaves are and I decided right away that was going to be the focus of my nature journal entry.

      5 14 11 Geranium In a Pot Red
      2. We looked at the petals as suggested in the lesson, noticing that all the five petals are not the same shape and size. Anna Botsford Comstock says that this flower is the perfect beginners flower since you can observe and name all the parts easily.

      “The geranium’s blossom is so simple that it is of special value as a subject for a beginning lesson in teaching the parts of a flower; and its leaves and stems may likewise be used for the first lessons in plant structure.”
      Handbook of Nature Study, page 585

      5 14 11 Geranium Stem Buds and Flowers
      3. We read about the nectar tube and took a closer look at it after reading how the structure works.

      “No other flower shows a prettier plan for guiding insects to the hidden sweets, and in none is there a more obvious and easily seen well of nectar. It extends almost the whole length of the flower stalk…”
      Handbook of Nature Study page 586

      This garden flowers: geraniums lesson was only a few minutes long on a sunny morning out on our back deck but what a lot of information we now have about this common garden plant. I love learning more about my own backyard.

      Geranium Notebook Page and Coloring Page

      Each person can pick a different design for their nature journal entry. I used the coloring page and the lined page with boxes for sketching and a photo. I was thinking that the coloring page is something you could make yourself using the Fill In The Circle idea.

      Geranium Nature Study Outdoor Hour Challenge in Homeschool Nature Study Membership

      Homeschool Nature Study Members enjoy an in-depth study of geraniums, including:

      • Video: Types of Geraniums
      • Video: How to Grow Geraniums
      • Handbook of Nature Study references and suggestions
      • Outdoor Hour Time: Visiting the garden nursery and Garden Nursery Field Trip Mini Book
      • Spring Walk: Observing a geranium up close or another spring flower
      • Attracting hummingbirds
      • Nature Journaling suggestions and follow up time
      • Video: Advanced studies on propagating geraniums
      Members: Go To Your Geranium Outdoor Hour Challenge!

      More Garden Flower Nature Studies and Suggestions

      Can you tell I am going for lots of color this year? Can you tell I am going for lots of color this year?

      5 14 11 Lantana in a Pot

      Lantana for the bees and butterflies.

      5 14 11 Petunias Pink

      Petunias (Lesson 162 in the Handbook of Nature Study)

      5 14 11 Pansies and Alyssum

      Pansies (Lesson 152 in the Handbook of Nature Study)

      5 14 11 Gerbera Daisies Orange

      Gerbera daisies

      You can grow a lot of different flowers in pots even if you only have a small space. I encourage you to give it a try and then complete some of the garden flower Outdoor Hour Challenges. Keep your study simple by choosing just a few of the ideas in each lesson, building on what you already know.

      I hope you are taking advantage of the warmer, drier weather to get out into your own backyard. I look forward to seeing your nature study adventures!

      More Spring Nature Study Activities

      Here are some more dandelion resources to enjoy!

      • Discover a Dandelion Nature Study – Though you may consider the dandelion a weed, there is so much to discover in this dandelion wildflower nature study for your homeschool. This is simple and delightful learning in your own backyard!
      • Dandelions Outdoor Hour – I’ve always viewed dandelions as either a childhood delight or a nuisance. They tend to spread so quickly in a yard you are trying to keep free of weeds. But their seeds are also so much fun to blow and spread. A joy to watch catch the wind!
      Geranium Art Lesson - Our sister website has a beautiful geranium art lesson by Nana to enjoy! Ultimate members have access to it!
      • Geranium Art Lesson – Our sister website has a beautiful geranium art lesson by Nana to enjoy! Ultimate members have access to it!
      • How to Draw a Dandelion Art Lesson – One of the icons of warm weather is the dandelion. Have you ever studied the detail of this beautiful creation? Oh there are so many ways you could paint it! This dandelion chalk pastel art tutorial is inspired by a photo I took last spring.
      • Take Along Nature Guides for Homeschool – I’m always looking for appealing books to help us out in our nature study to help spark my kids’ interest in all things outdoors.  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.
      Getting Started nature study close to home

      Get your FREE Getting Started: Nature Study Close to Home (includes three challenges!)

      Homeschool Nature Study Membership for Year Round Support

      Can you believe all of these spring homeschool resources you will find in membership? You will also find a continuing homeschool nature study series plus all the Outdoor Hour Challenges for nature study in our Homeschool Nature Study membership. There are 25+ continuing courses with matching Outdoor Hour curriculum that will bring the Handbook of Nature Study to life in your homeschool! In addition, there is an interactive monthly calendar with daily nature study prompt – all at your fingertips!

      Find Out More About Homeschool Nature Study Membership HERE!

      Be inspired. Be encouraged. Get outdoors!

      Outdoor Hour Challenge by founder, Barbara McCoy, May 2011. Updated by Tricia April 2025. 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. She and her husband, Steve, are also publishers of Unit Studies by Amanda Bennett.

      Posted on by — Leave a comment

      Hibernation: A Winter Nature Study

      Do you wonder what animals, birds and insects do in the winter? This hibernation winter nature study helps answer those questions and features a hibernating or migrating printable!

      Wonder what animals, birds and insects do in the winter? This hibernation winter nature study helps answer those questions and features a hibernating or migrating printable!

      Hibernation Winter Homeschool Nature Study: Outdoor Hour Challenge

      Mammals in general tend to be shy of humans. In the winter, it is even more difficult to observe mammals. Outdoor Hour Challenge founder, Barb McCoy, suggests the following:

      1. Read chapter nine in Discover Nature in Winter. The chapter suggests looking for signs of mammals instead like tracks and scat. Highlight ideas for your family to try this week while you are outdoors and looking for mammals.

      2. Our family is going to review the chart showing different animal tracks on page 182 and 183. We might try sketching some of the tracks into our nature journal as a reference for future outdoor time. In our area, we often come across animal scat as we hike and we are going to familiarize ourselves with the various kinds of scat by studying the illustrations in this chapter.

      Wonder what animals, birds and insects do in the winter? This hibernation winter nature study helps answer those questions and features a hibernating or migrating printable!

      For families wanting to participate that do not have the Discover Winter in Nature book, I will list a few simple nature study ideas that you can try with your family.

      • Keep a record of animal tracks you have observed in the snow or mud. Record your findings in your nature journal along with a drawing, the date, the weather, the time of day, and the type of animal if you have identified it at this time.
      • Compare a dog’s and a cat’s footprints in the snow or mud.
      • Research an animal that hibernates and record what you learn in your nature notebook. You can also sketch your animal and what its tracks look like.
      Go on an animal tracks hunt! Wonder what animals, birds and insects do in the winter? This hibernation winter nature study helps answer those questions and features a hibernating or migrating printable!

      More Winter Activities for Your Homeschool

      There are still so many nature studies to enjoy in winter!

      • Here is a link that will help you out with animal tracks: Animal Tracks at Beartracker (I think this is a fantastic online resource for nature study!)

      And more wintry ideas here:

      Winter Nature Studies For Homeschool Nature Study Members

      There are three winter nature study courses filled with Outdoor Hour Challenges for your family! Here are some featured studies:

      Migrating or hibernating printable in homeschool nature study membership

      A fun Hibernating or Migrating sorting study and printable by Stef Layton!

      …Most of the birds have gone south because of the cold, and also because their food is gone; the frogs, turtles, and toads are going to sleep all winter down in the mud or earth below the frost; the caterpillars are waiting in their cocoons for the warm spring sunshine; most of the other insects have laid their eggs for the next season, while a few of them have crawled into warm places to wait; the squirrels have gathered a store of nuts, and will soon be asleep in the old tree-trunks; the cats dogs, horses, and cows have grown a fresh coat of hair and fur. Nothing is forgotten; each is ready in its own best way.”Nature Study by Months

      Find OUt More About Homeschool Nature Study Membership With Access to ALL Studies!

      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.

      Posted on by — Leave a comment

      The Best Winter Nature Books for Cozy Homeschooling

      These are the best winter nature books for cozy homeschooling days. Includes winter nature study suggestions you can do through your window – or for a quick and refreshing outdoor time.

      These are the best winter nature books for cozy homeschooling days. Includes winter nature study suggestions you can do through your window – or for a quick and refreshing outdoor time.

      These are the best winter nature books for cozy homeschooling days. Includes winter nature study suggestions you can do through your window – or for a quick and refreshing outdoor time.

      We think the very best winter nature book is our favorite Handbook of Nature Study! There are so many topics to enjoy and to help get you outside for even 15 minutes. The Handbook of Nature Study book by Anna Botsford Comstock is a staple in the Outdoor Hour Challenges we share. This is a wonderful reference guide for you, the homeschool teacher to use. We show you how!

      Another good reference winter nature book is Discover Nature in Winter. Several of our winter Outdoor Hour Challenges use this book as a guide. You will love it! Some of the topics match the Handbook of Nature Study and include:

      • Winter wildlife: birds, insects, squirrels, deer
      • Underfoot: snowpack, animal tracks, seeds and fruits, winter weeds
      • Overhead: cedars, birch trees, the zodiac, constellations

      “Determine the wind chill factor, observe winter constellations, make a snow gauge, identify winter weeds, find overwintering insects, go bird watching… you will uncover the fascinating world that emerges as the temperature drops outside.” – Elizabeth Lawlor

      The Best Winter Nature Books for Cozy Homeschooling

      20 Winter Snow Books to Embrace the Snow – It’s time to settle in for the cold months of winter. It’s a great time to snuggle with with some winter snow picture books (and activities) to celebrate this beautiful time of year.

      A Winter Homeschool Snowflake Study with Snowflake Bentley – Snowflake Bentley is definitely a favorite winter nature book!

      A Robert Frost Style Winter Nature Study for Your Homeschool – You can enjoy a Robert Frost Style winter nature study for your homeschool! Frost’s poem, Stopping By The Woods on a Snowy Evening can be a jumping off point. Enjoy these ideas for your snowy adventure.

      Favorite Nature Books for Your Homeschool Nature Studies – This collection of nature books I’m sharing with you not only includes many of our favorites, but many favorites of other Curriculum Choice Authors.

      North American Wildlife – One of my all-time favorite books for nature study. This colorful edition will keep the interest of children of all ages.

      Last Child in the Woods – Encouragement for Parents – A book can transform your thinking completely or it can validate what you have experienced in your own life.  Some books do both, like Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv. This is a must read book for all homeschool families who are endeavoring to expose their children to the natural world on a regular basis.

      Writing About Nature – The Writing About Nature book will help a wide range of writers who find their passion for nature moves them to document in words the creatures, plants, rhythms and cycles experienced in the great outdoors.

      One Small Square Illustrated Nature Books – The One Small Square books by Donald Silver uses the space of a three-dimensional square to explore the Earth’s habitats. (You could choose the arctic tundra book for winter!)

      More Tips for Your Nature Books

      A Homeschool Mom’s Best Tips for Organizing Your Nature Library – Using good nature study reference books and literature will be a huge help in nudging along the seeds of a love nature in your child. To help you find what you need when you need it, these are our best tips for organizing your nature library. As the seasons and years pass, they will dig deep into your nature library and become familiar with so many things.

      The Ultimate List of Preschool Nature Study Books – While nothing beats experiencing nature first-hand, preschool nature study books are a vital component of our preschool nature studies. We have used both fiction and non-fiction books to introduce a topic, supplement a topic and study a topic in-depth.

      More Winter Homeschooling

      Taking Your Winter Nature Study Indoors – Taking your winter nature studies indoors when the weather outdoors is proving to be a challenge may be just the thing you need every once in a while. We have a lovely post from the archives to inspire your homeschool nature studies indoors for those days that you can’t face getting outdoors.

      The Winter Homeschool – In our own home, we have often found winter to be a time to cherish as we enjoy the slower pace of life. We build a fire to keep warm, make sure we have lots of hot chocolate and marshmallows and embrace all that this season has to offer us – winter nature walks, cuddle-up read-aloud times, more time for winter crafts and tackling some fun seasonal unit studies. Here are some things we have done in our own homeschool to capitalize on the winter weather.

      Winter Learning in Homeschool Nature Study Membership

      It is always fun to sit nearby a window and watch to see what you can see outside! This journal page is included in the Winter course in Homeschool Nature Study membership.

      Outdoor Hour Challenge Winter Tree Silhouettes
      Find Out More About Homeschool Nature Study Membership With Access to ALL Studies!

      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.

      Posted on by — Leave a comment

      Pumpkin Homeschool Activities and Fun Facts

      Grab your pumpkin chocolate chip bread and enjoy this Pumpkin Nature Study and Fun Facts! Pumpkins are gourds, a crop plant with a fleshy large fruit, hard skin, and tendril growing vines.

      facts about pumpkins

      Pumpkin Homeschool Study Fun Facts

      Did you know …

      • The word “pumpkin” is from the Greek word “Pepon”, which means “large melon”. 
      • The largest pumpkin ever grown weighed 1,140 pounds.
      • Each pumpkin contains around 500 seeds.
      • Native Americans used pumpkin seeds for food and medicine, and flattened strips of pumpkin to make mats.
      • Pumpkins are very healthy to incorporate into your diet. They are high in fiber, vitamin A, vitamin B, potassium, protein, and iron. Pumpkins contain no cholesterol or saturated fat.
      • Most pumpkin crops are processed into canned pumpkin or canned pie mix.
      • Atlantic Giants are the largest overall species of pumpkin. They can grow as much as 50 pounds per day! 
      • The first Jack-of-the-Lantern was not made from a pumpkin but an Irish Turnip.

      Pumpkin Patch Tips

      Pumpkins are in season from mid September through November.  Typically planted in June, pumpkins are harvested before the first frost. Looking for the perfect pumpkin? Here are a few tips that have helped us get a great gourd.

      A good pumpkin should be firm and solid, without any soft spots or sunken areas. A dry, shriveled stem indicates that the pumpkin has been stored for a long time. A dull or discolored area on the top of the pumpkin indicates frost damage. A pumpkin that feels heavy for its size probably has a thick skin.

      Parts of a Pumpkin Activity Sheet

      Younger students will enjoy the Parts of a Pumpkin Activity Sheet. Homeschool Nature Study Members can find this free worksheet in their Member Dashboard.

      pumpkin activity sheet

      Join Homeschool Nature Study! We offer a multitude of science activities, hands-on learning ideas, seasonal nature studies, crafts, free resources for all ages – join the #outdoorhourchallenge community and enhance your homeschool science lessons!

      Stef Layton Bio

      Stef started homeschooling her boys in 2008. She quickly adopted a hands-on learning homeschool style and graduated her oldest tactile learner in 2021. Then she started the Hands-On Learning column in Homeschooling Today magazine. The Laytons currently reside in the foothills of Colorado where Stef also teaches yoga. The family loves to hike trails, stand-up paddle board, and chase sunsets. Stef shares travel and homeschool tips on IG at @LaytonAdventures.