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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!

    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.

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    10 Fun 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!

    Enjoy these groundhog homeschool nature study activities about woodchucks, groundhogs, prairie dogs and marmots - whether it is Groundhog Day or not!

    10 Groundhog Homeschool Nature Study Activities

    Have fun learning about these mammals! If you don’t have groundhogs near you, enjoy the alternate nature study activities for mammals.

    Read About Groundhogs in The Handbook of Nature Study

    1. Read pages 229-232 in the Handbook of Nature Study. As you read, highlight or underline some facts you can share with your children. There are observation ideas on page 231 and many of these suggestions are ones that you can continue to make over the next few seasons.

    More Fun Learning About Groundhogs

    Have you ever seen a marmot or a groundhog? Here is a cute video to introduce you to this mammal.

    Read About The Groundhog in The Burgess Animal Book for Children

    Enjoy this supplemental reading in The Burgess Animal Book for Children: Read Stories 7-8. After you read each story, pause and let your child narrate back some facts they learned from the reading.

    This could be as simple as looking at the illustrations on pages 48 and 54 and having them tell you a few things about the woodchuck, the marmot, or the prairie dog.

    Mammals: Groundhog Homeschool Nature Study Activities

    Groundhog Outdoor Hour Nature Study


    Spend 10-15 minutes outdoors on a nature walk. Look for signs of mammals as you walk. Look for tracks, burrows, holes, or scat. If you are able to observe one of this challenge’s featured mammals, be sure to use some of the observation ideas from page 231. Be alert for any opportunity to observe a mammal during your outdoor time. So far we have learned about rabbits and squirrels, but be on the look out for more common mammals like dogs, cats, or horses.

    Don’t have groundhogs near you? More ideas for a mammal nature study in the Ultimate Mammals Homeschool Nature Study Using the Outdoor Hour Challenges.

    Enjoy founder Barb McCoy’s family study of groundhogs and a foggy day walk.

    Groundhog Nature Journaling Activity

    After your outdoor time, if you observed a mammal, you can look it up in the Handbook of Nature Study. For your nature journal you can sketch something you saw during your outdoor time. One additional idea is to compare two animals that we have already studied. You can compare a rabbit and a prairie dog or a squirrel and a prairie dog. Make sketches or make a list of the comparisons. You may also use any of the additional resources for your nature journal.

    Additional Groundhog Resources for Your Homeschool

    Join The Homeschool Nature Study Membership for Year Round Support

    You will find a continuing series on mammals 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!

    Enjoy these groundhog homeschool nature study activities about woodchucks, groundhogs, prairie dogs and marmots - whether it is Groundhog Day or not!

    Written by Outdoor Hour Challenges founder, Barb and updated by Tricia.

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    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.

    More Winter Homeschool Nature Study Resources

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

    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.

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    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

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    First Day of Winter Nature Walk Ideas for Your Homeschool

    Enjoy these first day of winter nature walk ideas for your homeschool! 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! 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.

    Get outside with your family with these first day of winter nature walk ideas for your homeschool! Simple and fun prompts to do together.

    First Day of Winter Nature Walk Ideas for Your Homeschool

    Encourage everyone to use all of their senses on this walk. Here are some winter nature walk ideas:

    • 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.

    Get outside with your family with these first day of winter nature walk ideas for your homeschool! Simple and fun prompts to do together.

    More Winter Homeschool Nature Study Resources

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

    Take Your Homeschool Winter 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.

    Make Memories Together This Winter

    Most importantly, 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. A good nature walk is pleasurable for everyone and allows you and your children to develop a relationship with our Creator.

    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. Sit quietly by the edge of a pond or stream and see what comes along. Breathe the air and enjoy the day.

    There’s a printable in Homeschool Nature Study Membership for the First Day of Winter Nature Walk for you to use as part of this activity. A simple list and a sketch will make a perfect follow up to your outdoor time.

    Get outside with your family with these first day of winter nature walk ideas for your homeschool! Simple and fun prompts to do together.

    Be inspired. Be encouraged. Get outdoors!

    First published by Outdoor Hour Challenge founder, Barb McCoy.

    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.

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    A Winter Tree Study For Your Homeschool

    Enjoy a beautiful winter tree study for your homeschool. Learn about evergreen trees as part of your winter season nature studies and make beautiful memories together this Christmas!

    Enjoy an evergreen winter tree study for your homeschool as part of your winter season nature studies and make beautiful memories together this Christmas!

    The Beauty of The Season With Evergreen Trees

    As we approach Christmas, one of the evergreen trees, the spruce, becomes an important symbol in our Christmas celebrations and winter traditions.

    But just why have evergreen trees, be they spruce, pine or fir, become such an intrinsic part of Christmas? What are all of the types of Christmas trees? A little peek through time reveals some interesting facts about this winter tree.

    A Christmas Tree for The Animals event! Enjoy an evergreen winter tree study for your homeschool as part of your winter season nature studies and make beautiful memories together this Christmas!

    A Christmas Tree for the Animals – An Event for the Whole Family!

    Receive the full Spruce Tree study filled with fun learning by Outdoor Hour Challenge hostess, Shirley Vels. Sign up for our special Christmas Tree for the Animals Event! Spruce Tree Nature Study included!

    • Sign up below and receive the replay of this wonderful holiday event!


    Sign Up To Attend Live or for Replay

    Get access to attend live and to enjoy the replay of the event – Plus accompanying resources

      Plus a wonderful tutorial on decorating an outdoor tree for the animals, a craft creating an outdoor ornament for your tree, O Christmas Tree hymn study and accompanying composer study too! Joyful Art, Nature and Music for Your Christmas Homeschool

      Winter Tree Nature Study For Kids

      There are so many ways to enjoy a winter tree study with your family. Here are a few options you can use for your homeschool:

      Enjoy an evergreen winter tree study for your homeschool as part of your winter season nature studies and make beautiful memories together this Christmas!

      Pine Trees and Pine Cones

      Let’s jump into exploring pine trees and pine cones in nature! This homeschool nature study has everything you need to start learning about pine trees and pine cones. This Outdoor Hour Challenge is based on the Winter Wednesday curriculum which is available to our members but you can follow along regardless using this post as a bit of a guide. In the Winter Wednesday curriculum you will have access to notebooking pages and a host more ideas and links.

      Hemlock Tree

      This dense and graceful tree with its drooping branches of soft needles casts such a heavy shadow that not much can live beneath it. This is a Homeschool Nature Study membership tree study and is also available the Autumn Outdoor Hour Challenge curriculum.

      Winter Tree Silhouettes

      We are going to be on the lookout for interesting winter tree silhouettes in our own yard and neighbourhood.

      Winter Tree Twigs

      A fun Homeschool Nature Study membership Outdoor Hour Challenge that includes forcing blooms from a winter tree twig.

      Enjoy an evergreen winter tree study for your homeschool as part of your winter season nature studies and make beautiful memories together this Christmas!

      Winter Tree Study

      Use these simple suggestions from The Handbook of Nature Study and spend a few minutes outside or observing a winter tree or evergreen through a window.

      My Tree is a Living World

      What a fun way to learn about the trees for each season. Such a simple homeschool nature study with beautiful results. This printable for members is a fun way to observe then record all of the living things you observe in your tree.

      Red and Green Homeschool Nature Study

      Red and Green Outdoor Hour Challenge – this is a fun way to notice red and green in nature. Get started with these ideas.

      Enjoy an evergreen winter tree study for your homeschool as part of your winter season nature studies and make beautiful memories together this Christmas!

      Additional Resources For Winter Nature Study

      In Homeschool Nature Study membership, you can also find a study of the Hemlock Tree in the Autumn course and Evergreens in My Yard study and journal page in the Trees course. Each season includes a new tree study.

      Here are a few more resources you will love:

      Winter is such a wonderful time for homeschool nature study! Won’t you join us? In Homeschool Nature Study membership, each challenge gives you step by step instructions to get started with simple weekly nature study ideas whatever season you are in! This may just be what your homeschool week needs.

      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.

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      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.

      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.

      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!

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        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.

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        Celebrate National Hiking Day in Your Homeschool

        Just in case you’re looking for another excuse to get outside in your homeschool. . .we’ve got a good one for you! National Take a Hike Day is on November 17 each year!

        What is National Take a Hike Day?

        People from all over the United States will be hitting the hiking trails around the country on that day. Hiking used to be a way of life. . .hunting for food or water. . .or just exploring. Today, many families live in cities or suburbs, and have to make an effort to get out in nature; and it’s totally worth it. If you do, you won’t be alone. In 2013, thirty-four million people got out to hike!

        Just in case you're looking for another excuse to get outside in your homeschool. . .we've got a good one for you! National Take a Hike Day.

        Who Started National Hike Day?

        National Take a Hike Day was started by the American Hiking Society. Their hope was to get people out in nature together again!

        President Lyndon B. Johnson was a big part of our current system of hiking trails. In 1965, he established the National Trails System Act that has doubled the number of trails in America. We now have around 60,000 miles of trails to explore!

        Just in case you're looking for another excuse to get outside in your homeschool. . .we've got a good one for you! National Take a Hike Day.

        Celebrate National Hike Day with Homeschool Nature Study!

        Mark your calendars for a November 17 hike! It makes an amazing way to spend time together as a family, gives more opportunity for nature study, and creates memories to last a lifetime. So, grab your hiking boots or shoes, water, snacks, kids, and maybe even a pocket field guide. This series is a great one.

        National Hiking Day In Your Homeschool

        Don’t know where to start? State Parks usually have some beautiful, well marked trails. . .and depending on the state, are often free to enter. If you’re looking for something very close to home, you can search on AllTrails for trails local to you. They have a free app you can download to your phone that is very helpful for finding hiking locations, and an interactive map that will show you exactly where you are on the trail once you get there!

        Are you new to hiking? Here a few suggestions of things to take. Snacks, first aid items, insect repellent, sunscreen and/or hats, plenty of water for each person, a trail map, pepper spray, a camera, happy spirits and maybe a hiking song to sing along the way 😉

        waterfall

        More Ideas for Family Nature Study

        Here are a few more ideas to inspire you to get outdoors!

        Just in case you're looking for another excuse to get outside in your homeschool. . .we've got a good one for you! National Take a Hike Day.

        Join Us For Homeschool Nature Study

        We’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.

        We make it easy with resources you can use at your own pace and on your own schedule. Or, you may choose to follow our annual nature study plans closely and have everything at your fingertips.

        Be inspired. Be encouraged. Get outdoors!

        -by Amy Law

        Amy Law is wife to Jeremy, and mom to three. They homeschool using Charlotte Mason’s principles, and love to spend lots of time in nature! You can often find them hiking the beautiful trails of their beloved Tennessee hills, while Amy attempts to capture the beauty of it all with her camera lens.

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        The Ultimate Guide of Fun Apple and Pumpkin Nature Study Ideas for Your Homeschool

        When the air turns cooler and the leaves start to change color, it is always fun to learn more about apples and pumpkins! Enjoy this ultimate guide of fun apple and pumpkin nature study ideas for your homeschool.

        When the air turns cooler and the leaves start to change color, it is always fun to learn more about apples and pumpkins! Enjoy this ultimate guide of fun apple and pumpkin nature study ideas for your homeschool.

        5 Apple Homeschool Nature Study Ideas

        All things apple – what a fun, fall topic to learn about!

        “The apple is a nutritious fruit, wholesome and easily digested. The varieties of apple differ in shape, size, color, texture, and flavor. A perfect apple has no bruise upon it and no wormholes in it. “

        Handbook of Nature Study, page 669
        • Compare the outside of the apples: color, size, stems, blemishes.
        • Compare the skins: thickness, texture.
        • Compare cut apples: core size, seeds, shape, flavor, crispness
        • Visit an apple farm and view apples on trees (and sample doughnuts and apple pies!)
        • Have a picnic under an apple tree!
        visit an apple orchard for your homeschool nature study

        For even more ideas plus a FULL Outdoor Hour Challenge on apples, join Homeschool Nature Study membership!

        More Apple Nature Study Fun

        Here are a few more fun apple study ideas!

        visit a pumpkin farm for your homeschool nature study!

        5 Pumpkin Homeschool Nature Study Ideas

        Get started with your pumpkin nature study with these simple ideas:

        • Sketch or describe the pumpkin leaf.
        • Thump your pumpkin and describe the sound.
        • Observe the creases on the outside of the pumpkin.
        • Can you tell which way your pumpkin sat on the ground when it was growing?
        • Cut your pumpkin open and view the seeds. Sketch the arrangement in your journal.
        Enjoy this ultimate guide of fun apple and pumpkin nature study ideas for your homeschool. Perfect for all ages.

        More Pumpkin Nature Studies Perfect for Homeschool

        For 10 more ideas plus a FULL Outdoor Hour Challenge on Pumpkins, a Pumpkin Farm Notebook page and more, join Homeschool Nature Study membership!

        Enjoy this ultimate guide of fun apple and pumpkin nature study ideas for your homeschool. Perfect for all ages.

        Favorite Pumpkin Recipes to Enjoy

        Handbook of Nature Study website founder Barb McCoy shares these favorites!

        Tricia’s Easy Pumpkin Recipes:

        When the air turns cooler and the leaves start to change color, it is always fun to learn more about apples and pumpkins! Enjoy this ultimate guide of fun apple and pumpkin nature study ideas for your homeschool.

        More Fall Homeschool Nature Study Fun!

        Keep the apple and pumpkin nature study fun going with these resources for all ages:

        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.

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        Homeschool Fall Leaf Study And Activities (perfect for all ages)

        To celebrate the first day of fall or autumnal equinox, we invite you on a fall leaf study in your homeschool! There are leaf nature studies to fill an entire week!

        To celebrate the first day of fall or autumnal equinox, we invite you on a fall leaf tour in your homeschool! There are leaf nature studies to fill an entire week!

        Celebrate The First Day of Fall

        Here is a fun idea for the first day of fall and your fall leaf tour!

        To celebrate the first day of fall or autumnal equinox, we invite you on a fall leaf tour in your homeschool! There are leaf nature studies to fill an entire week!

        Homeschool Fall Leaf Study And Activities

        This study is designed to be completed with what you have around you. As the leaves turn, head outside, notice fall colors and collect some different colored leaves.

        Compare Leaves from Two Different Trees

        • Leaf shape and leaf margins.
        • Leaf arrangement on the stem.
        • Leaf color, texture, and size. (You can measure if you wish.)
        • Come back in from your walk and follow up with a journal page.

        Take a Fall Color Walk For Your Nature Study

        To continue your fall leaf tour, take a fall color walk! We also start to take more hikes now that the afternoons are a bit cooler. We have our favorite trails and try to get outside every day to see what we can find of interest.

        Read in the Handbook of Nature Study page 14, “The Field Excursion”. The reason I want you to read this section is so you have a better understanding of how to prepare you children for a short outdoor excursion with a purpose. Let them know ahead of time the reason you are going outdoors, have them gather their supplies, and then make the excursion outside to look for fall colors.

        With our Printable Autumn Series Field Notebook included in membership, you can enjoy these studies and journal pages:

        • Seasonal tree study
        • Goldenrod
        • Oaks & acorns
        • Fall bird study
        • Squirrels
        • Mushrooms
        • Pumpkins
        • Field Notebook List

        Fall Color Challenge Activity: Match Leaf Color to Your Art Supplies

        A more detailed advanced study for upper level students is included in membership. Here is a peek at what you can enjoy as you continue your fall leaf tour.

        Collect a variety of colorful leaves and bring them inside. Have fun matching the colors of the leaves to your colored pencils, chalk pastels, crayons or other art supplies. You might want to sketch your leaves in your nature journal.

        Watercolor pencils on the left and regular colored pencils on the right.

        Fall Homeschool Nature Study Ideas

        Track Weather in Your Homeschool

        Autumn seems to be a season that many of us look forward to and in my part of the world we welcome the cooler temperatures and the crisp morning air. We begin to see a few days of wet weather and one activity that seems to make its way into my nature journal is to keep track of that cooler wet weather.

        To celebrate the first day of fall or autumnal equinox, we invite you on a fall leaf tour in your homeschool! There are leaf nature studies to fill an entire week!

        Simple Fall Homeschool Nature Study Ideas with Apples, Pumpkins and Pears

        Our Homeschool Nature Study members enjoy these wonderful challenges!

        • Apple Challenge – Simple nature study featuring apples and the Handbook of Nature Study.
        • Pumpkins – Study your pumpkins and then eat them too!
        • Pear Challenge – Yummy nature study featuring pears and the Handbook of Nature Study with advanced study options too.
        To celebrate the first day of fall or autumnal equinox, we invite you on a fall leaf tour in your homeschool! There are leaf nature studies to fill an entire week!

        Autumn Series with the Handbook of Nature Study: Outdoor Hour Challenge Curriculum

        There are so many fall favorites for you to explore over the next months!

        Members also enjoy access to:

        • NEW, weekly Outdoor Hour Challenges to bring the Handbook of Nature Study to life in your homeschool!
        • the annual nature study plans
        • matching courses with materials and journaling pages
        • interactive calendar with daily nature study prompts
        • Nature Journaling course
        • and MUCH more!

        More Fall Nature Study for Your Homeschool

        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.