Forest Fun Archives

Posted on March 13, 2020 by Barb — Leave a comment

Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge-Western Tanager Bird Study

Western Tanager Bird Study

Last year was the first time we ever had Western tanagers at our backyard feeders. It was thrilling to see their vibrant color after such a long stretch of winter birds. I invite you to complete this study to prepare for the possible observation of a tanager in your near future.

Here’s an idea to get you started:

YouTube video shows the tanager foraging: Western Tanager. Here’s another video of one enjoying a birdbath: Tanager in the Birdbath.

Please note that I won’t be posting the complete challenge here on the blog, but you will find the detailed challenge in the Forest Fun ebook that’s available both in the Ultimate Naturalist and Journey level memberships. Sign into your account and download the ebook for the details, more links, a coloring page, and notebook pages.

Note: An alternate or additional study this week could be the American Goldfinch or the Baltimore Oriole.

We’re working through the Forest Fun ebook which is a brand new series of nature studies featuring things you might find in the forest. It’s not too late to join us by purchasing an Ultimate Naturalist or Journey level membership.

Topics in this ebook include:

Western Tanager

If you don’t have a membership yet, you can click the graphic above and join today for immediate access to the 25 ebooks and so much more! Remember that all levels, even the Discovery level membership, include access to all of the archived newsletters!

Posted on February 28, 2020 by Barb — Leave a comment

Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge-Rabbitbrush Nature Study

Forest Fun – Rabbitbrush Nature Study

Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge

Our habitat here in Central Oregon is filled with lots of rabbitbrush. Use a field guide or the link below to determine if you have access to rabbitbrush in your neighborhood.

There is a range map found here: USDA rabbitbrush. Look for rabbitbrush in grasslands, open woodlands, dry open areas with sagebrush, among junipers, and at the edges of ponderosa pine forests. Bloom time is from July to October.

Note: If you don’t have rabbitbrush, you can substitute a study of goldenrod this week.

Please note that I will not be posting the complete challenge here on the blog, but you will find the detailed challenge in the Forest Fun ebook that’s available both in the Ultimate Naturalist and Journey level memberships. Sign into your account and download the ebook for the details, more links, a coloring page, and notebook pages.

We are working through the Forest Fun ebook which is a brand new series of nature studies featuring things you might find in the forest. It’s not too late to join us by purchasing an Ultimate Naturalist or Journey level membership.

Topics in this ebook include:

Rabbitbrush

Skunk Cabbage

Azalea

Common Raven

California Quail

Western Tanager

Black Bear

Moose

Porcupine

If you don’t have a membership yet, you can click the graphic above and join today for immediate access to the 24 ebooks and so much more! Remember that all levels, even the Discovery level membership, include access to all of the archived newsletters!

Posted on February 21, 2020 by Barb — Leave a comment

Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge -Moose Nature Study

The moose is one of those animals that many of us never get a chance to see in real life. It’s large body and huge antlers make it a very distinctive and interesting animal for most children to learn about using resources you can find online or at your public library.

Here are just a couple of ideas for a moose nature study to get you started:

¨ For younger children, listen to chapter 36 in the Burgess Animal Book for Children, featuring the moose.

¨ Learn about antlers on this page: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service—Antlers.

You can access the complete challenge by using the lesson in the Forest Fun ebook that is available in both the Ultimate Naturalist and Journey level memberships.

Sign into your account and download the ebook for the details, more links, a coloring page, and notebook pages.

Topics in this ebook include:

Rabbitbrush
Skunk Cabbage
Azalea
Common Raven
California Quail
Western Tanager
Black Bear
Moose
Porcupine

Did you see the brand new ebook that was posted earlier this week?

Topics include:

Bitterbrush
Sagebrush
Greater Sage-grouse
Succulents
Mountain Lion
Coyote
Pocket Gopher
Bristlecone Pine
Elk
Turkey Vulture
Juniper
Snowberry
Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel
River Otter

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

Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge -California Quail Nature Study

California quail are usually seen scurrying along the forest floor in and around brush and shrubs. They quick step along in a group and you can often hear them before you see them. They make such a peculiar sound: Quail pit-pit-pit sound video.

I invite you to learn more about one of my favorite birds!

Choose a resource to use for the California quail. A terrific website for bird information is All About Birds: California Quail. Check your field guide for birds for range maps and images.

Please note that I will not be posting the complete challenge here on the blog but you’ll find the detailed challenge in the Forest Fun ebook that is available both in the Ultimate Naturalist and Journey level memberships. Sign into your account and download the ebook for the details, more links, a coloring page, and notebook pages.

We’re working through the Forest Fun ebook, which is a brand new series of nature studies featuring things you might find in the forest. It’s not too late to join us by purchasing an Ultimate Naturalist or Journey level membership.

Topics in this ebook include:

Rabbitbrush

Skunk Cabbage

Azalea

Common Raven

California Quail

Western Tanager

Black Bear

Moose

Porcupine

Posted on February 7, 2020 by Barb — Leave a comment

Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge Skunk Cabbage Nature Study

You may never have heard of this this week’s subject, skunk cabbage! Our family has encountered it on several hikes that have taken us along creeks and damp places. Keep your eyes on the look out for this rather large, green plant and the tell- tale flower and perhaps even the odor.

Just for Fun: Before you begin your study of skunk cabbage, ask your children why they think this plant is called skunk cabbage. Let them guess and throw out ideas. You might even add these ideas to your nature journal page.

Choose your resource for skunk cabbage. This can be an online site like National Wildlife Federation or Wildflower.org.
You can also view the information found at the USDA for skunk cabbage to see its range: (Eastern) skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) and American skunk cabbage (Lysichiton americanus ).

Please note that I will not be posting the complete challenge here on the blog but you’ll find the detailed challenge in the Forest Fun ebook that is available both in the Ultimate Naturalist and Journey level memberships. Sign into your account and download the ebook for the details, more links, a coloring page, and notebook pages.

Topics in this ebook include:

Rabbitbrush

Skunk Cabbage

Azalea

Common Raven

California Quail

Western Tanager

Black Bear

Moose

Porcupine

Posted on January 31, 2020 by Barb — Leave a comment

Brand New Outdoor Hour Challenge: Raven Nature Study

Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge

Forest Fun – Raven Nature Study

Ravens are a common sight to many of us here in North America. This week you can use the link below as well as the challenge in the new Forest Fun ebook to learn what ravens look like, what they sound like, and what their diet includes. Your children should be able to identify the raven by sight and by their sound after you finish your raven nature study time.

Choose a resource to learn more about ravens. A terrific website for bird information is All About Birds: Common Raven.
Ravens are often mistaken for crows so a study of this similar bird might be helpful. Lesson 32 in the Handbook of Nature Study will help you learn more about the crow. In addition, there is an Outdoor Hour Challenge for the crow in the archives: Black Birds.

Please note that I will not be posting the complete challenge here on the blog, but you’ll find the detailed challenge in the Forest Fun ebook that’s available both in the Ultimate Naturalist and Journey level memberships. Sign into your account and download the ebook for the details, more links, and notebook pages.

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

Brand New Outdoor Hour Challenge: Porcupine Nature Study

Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge

Porcupine Nature Study

This week we’re going to be learning about one of the most fascinating animals that you can find living in the forest, the porcupine! Most children have seen photos of porcupines and are curious about the quills of the porcupine. Take this week to use the Forest Fun ebook challenge featuring porcupines to learn more about this animal with your children.

To get a basic description and images for your porcupine study, use an online site like National Wildlife Federation or the San Diego Zoo. More advanced information can be found here: BioKids—Porcupines.

If you are having trouble signing into your account, please email me directly and I will reset your password. We recently had a server crash and our restoration did not update all of the passwords. Email me at harmonyfinearts@yahoo.com.

Posted on August 6, 2019 by Barb — Leave a comment

New Ebook- Forest Fun with New Challenges!

Forest Fun ebook cover graphic — Ultimate and Journey Level members can click this graphic to go directly to the library to download a copy of this new ebook. Make sure you are logged in and if you are having trouble with your password, please leave me a comment or send me a direct email to receive my assistance. Email: harmonyfinearts@yahoo.com

New Ebook is Now Available to Members!

The Forest Fun ebook is now ready for you to download and use with your family. It will be a part of the 2019-2020 plans here on the Handbook of Nature Study. I’m excited to have a new set of challenges to complete along with you!

There are nine brand new Outdoor Hour Challenges for you to complete as part of your nature study lessons with your children. These Challenges are not based on information in the Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock but you will be using internet links and field guides to glean information about each topic.

This 47 page digital ebook has 9 challenges and supplemental activities that will help you learn about some common things you’ll find in a forest, especially the forests of the western United States.
There are multiple custom notebooking pages for each of the topics. You can choose from simple notebook pages or more advanced notebooking pages.
Coloring pages for each topic.
Sample: Print an ebook sample here: Forest Fun ebook sample challenge.

Here are the specific topics included in this ebook:

Rabbitbrush
Skunk Cabbage
Azalea
Common Raven
California Quail
Western Tanager
Black Bear
Moose
Porcupine

How do you get the new Forest Fun ebook?

Members of the Ultimate Naturalist and Journey levels have access to the new ebook in their library. You need to click the “Members Area” button at the top of the website, sign into your account, and the ebook is there to download and save for your family to use when desired.

If you don’t have a membership yet, I’m offering a $5 off discount code that will be good towards your Ultimate Naturalist membership.

Discount Code: OHC10

Tag: Forest Fun

Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge-Western Tanager Bird Study

Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge-Rabbitbrush Nature Study

Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge -Moose Nature Study

You can access the complete challenge by using the lesson in the Forest Fun ebook that is available in both the Ultimate Naturalist and Journey level memberships.

Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge -California Quail Nature Study

Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge Skunk Cabbage Nature Study

Brand New Outdoor Hour Challenge: Raven Nature Study

Brand New Outdoor Hour Challenge: Porcupine Nature Study

New Ebook- Forest Fun with New Challenges!

Outdoor Hour Challenges for families since 2008!

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You can access the complete challenge by using the lesson in the Forest Fun ebook that is available in both the Ultimate Naturalist and Journey level memberships.

Outdoor Hour Challenges for families since 2008!