I am new to this forum and feel blessed to have 'stumbled' upon it. My kids are almost 5, 2, and 4 months and we are planning to homeschool them, but live in a community with very few other homeschoolers (let alone homeschoolers drawn to a CM philosophy!). I have read the Early Years book and found it so immensely helpful and freeing! However, one thing that I am having a really hard time implementing is Nature Study. I have read lots of different resources on nature study and love the idea of it, but am having a really hard time actually making it happen for us. I grew up as a 'city girl' so it doesn't really come naturally to me (no pun intended!) And a lot of the ideas that I've come across seem like they would really be better for children a little bit older than mine (I have read the "hours in the out of doors" book and am aware of the 'handbook of nature study' blog). We do try to notice interesting things when we are out for walks, and my 5yo has a nice little collection of leaves and pinecones and rocks she's picked up, but that's about the extent of what is happening here. All my good intentions of finding out the names of things or starting a nature journal never seem to happen. However, during this coming year I'd really like to establish nature study as a good habit in our homeschool, before we get into the more intense academic work when she starts Gr. 1. (Right now I am teaching her to read and we also do some very gentle math and handwriting work, and reading aloud lots of good books - plan to continue that through 'kindergarten' for the coming year.) So, I guess what I am wondering is for those of you with little ones (or those of you with bigger ones who were once upon a time little ones!): can you give me some ideas of what nature study actually looked like in your family with preschoolers? I think that might help me more than just reading the various 'published' resources that I've read. (BTW - we live overseas in a tropical location, and don't really have much seasonal variation - so a lot of the seasonal ideas I've seen wouldn't really work out too well for us either.) Thanks so much!
Nature Study with Little Ones - Ideas?
(12 posts) (9 voices)-
Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
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I think at this age, 5 and under, just being outside and observant is the most important thing. If you really want to start journaling, a low pressure way might be to just enter one line, even on a calendar maybe, "Today, I saw ..." every time you go out for a walk.
There is a blog called Hearts and Trees that has a free download of some nature study scavenger hunt sheets - even though they are seasonal, there is a lot about them that isn't - find something wet, find something rough, etc. I have used these with my own kids, visiting kids, and my girl scout troop and have yet to find any kid who didn't respond to the fun of a "treasure hunt"
Good luck - and just keep enjoying the out of doors with your kids.
Posted 1 year ago # Report Post -
Iamasahm
MemberGem that site sounds wonderful for the treasure hunts. Could you post the link? Thanks Misty
I have a couple that are 4 and under and I agree just being outside and getting excited for anything is what makes nature come alive to them. Even if when they see it you go "ummm what's so cool about that" (In your head of course) as you outwardly go "wow what is it? what color is it? where did you find it?" That's how I get my kids the little ones that is to love out doors. Misty
Posted 1 year ago # Report Post -
Sanveann
MemberI agree with Lamasahm ... my guys are also little (3 and 1 1/2), and they just like noticing things: "Look! A fly!" (Whooohooo, right?!) My oldest is always bringing me pebbles, which he dubs "little baby rocks" :)
Yesterday at the park, we saw a feather (from a crow, maybe?) and looked for acorns. That was just at a regular park with a playground ... at the big county park with nature trails we visited earlier this week, we talked about some of the wildflowers we saw, played drums on a stump (that was the 3yo's idea), looked for fish in the river, and talked about the water skimmers we saw.
If you're not really familiar with some of the bugs, birds, flowers, trees, etc. that you guys see in your area, it might be worth it to get some nature guides so you guys can look up some of the things you find.
Posted 1 year ago # Report Post -
The nature scavenger hunts are here - look in the sidebar under "My Free Downloads"
http://heartsandtrees.blogspot.com/
Here is the direct link to the summer one
http://www.scribd.com/doc/27340420/Summer-Nature-Walk-Worksheet
I am sure many have seen this site before, but these sheets are so good it is worth referring moms to over and over. The site owner is the daughter of Barb - The Harmony Art Mom, who runs everybody's favorite nature study blog, The Handbook Of Nature Study http://handbookofnaturestudy.blogspot.com/
Posted 1 year ago # Report Post -
Esby
MemberGiven the young age of your children, I would simply focus on being outside with them, modeling how to be observant, avoid a lot of "teaching" and let the kids make a connection to whatever interest them. Now ,it might be that at first what interests them is to run past everything and play around. That's fine for playtime, but you want to get them into the habit of noticing life around them. The best way to do this is to model it yourself. Stop and point out an interesting plant or bug or rock whatever. You don't need to know everything (or anything) about your findings. Simply observing, noticing, wondering is good enough. You can look up plants and animals in a guidebook or website, or ask other people who have the knowledge. It's okay to learn slowly, and be confident that observational skills and sense of wonder are good goals.
I wouldn't have your kids start nature journals just yet, unless they are asking to. But this is a perfect time to start one yourself, or start one as a group. Again, modeling nature studies in these early years and getting into the habit of observation will pay off later. Also, young kids love to make collections, so let them gather what they can and continue your enjoyment of your nature walks at home.
A Sense of Wonder by Rachel Carson is a great book to encourage parents with young kids to bring them into nature....without doing much more than being there.
Posted 1 year ago # Report Post -
quietwatersmommy
MemberI love the idea of the Scavenger Hunt, Gem.
Is anyone else having trouble downloading the Summer Scavenger Hunt? All I see when I click the link is a small square in the lower right hand corner that's a place to draw a picture. There is no list of things to find.
Nanci
Posted 1 year ago # Report Post -
Nanci, I couldn't download it either and I've emailed Amanda, the site owner, about it. I can see the whole form, but not print or download it. If I hear back from her, I'll post here.
Christie
Posted 1 year ago # Report Post -
Thanks for the ideas ladies. Seems like once again perhaps I am making things more complicated for myself and really 'keeping it simple' is probably the best way to go! I would like to check out those scavenger hunt sheets - sounds like something along those lines might help me to 'keep it simple' but at the same time hold my hand enough to actually get us going with it - but I too had trouble downloading them, so if anyone gets any answers about that please let me know.
Posted 1 year ago # Report Post -
nerakr
MemberHere's what worked for me to download the scavenger hunt sheets: I have the Click 2 Zap bookmark. (goggle it and then follow the instructions for downloading). I was able to get rid of the junk and print only the worksheets. Oh, and I emailed them to myself first.
HTH,
Karen
Posted 1 year ago # Report Post -
Wow, sorry everyone is having trouble with the sheets. When I click on the link, I see the whole scribd (that is the host, I guess) page with the sheet on the left and a zillion buttons and stuff to the right. There is a button for download - that is what I push and I choose "pdf" and save to my computer once it downloads. Then I print one out whenever I feel like it.
Once you figure it out initially, I think it will work for you. It is a little complicated, now that I am trying it again LOL.
BTW I have also bought a few downloads from her - the clouds in art study was especially good, sort of nature and picture study in one.
Hope it works for everyone!
Posted 1 year ago # Report Post -
Some of the ideas we've posted on the links and tips page for Hours in the Out-of-Doors might apply to little ones. Here's the link: http://simplycharlottemason.com/books/hours-in-the-out-of-doors/links-tips/
Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
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