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JSchaaf
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| Posted: Nov 23 2007 at 11:15am | IP Logged
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What do you do when it's just TOO COLD to go on nature walks? What are some other options for nature study in the winter months? I have a block of time carved out for "Nature Walks/Nature Study" (two hours one afternoon a week) and I really want to preserve that time for nature study.
Thanks!
Jennifer
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Mary K
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| Posted: Nov 23 2007 at 2:51pm | IP Logged
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hi,
are there any nature centers with a building nearby? what about collecting nature things now for a cold day? a dvd/movie could also be used of things we aren't likely to see. i'm thinking of animals in their natural habitat, the ocean, outer space.
how about giving each child a window to look out of and sketch what they see.
mary-ny
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MaryM
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| Posted: Nov 23 2007 at 3:21pm | IP Logged
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This winter and climate is going to be a little different for you than in the recent past, huh, Jennifer? But honestly, I know it's really been cold the past couple of days - it will get nice again as well. Our winters are a lot of sunny and pleasant mixed in with the cold snaps and snow. Often it's 60 and sunny in January! Probably most weeks you can do your outdoor nature study, and just think of the great nature study you can do with snow and ice that you haven't had the chance to do in the south.
These past threads had some great ideas - both indoor and outdoor.
When the weather outside is frightful
Ideas for indoor nature study?
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Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
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happymama
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| Posted: Nov 24 2007 at 11:28am | IP Logged
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it's been too cold to go outside here for my youngest 2, but I still bundle the oldest one up & let him go out in the snow. We've been learning animal tracks - I draw them & label them, and he uses tracing paper to trace them. So when he's out in the snow, he pays a lot of attention to tracks he sees - animal, human, automotive, whatever.
Just recently started letting him look around the kid's national geographic website - lots of nature info. there.
certainly, our nature time will be more limited during the winters. I keep the daily/weekly schedules quite flexible, so if a warmer day pops up we can take advantage of it. Here's hoping Cabin Fever doesn't set in TOO much this year!
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anniemm
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| Posted: Dec 03 2007 at 1:15am | IP Logged
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My husband's supervisor who has lived in Denver for a while suggested going to YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park if you are up for a field trip sometime. He said they have some sort of nature building where there are all sorts of activities. I haven't found any info on it online, but if I do, I'll link it!
I hope you are well, Jennifer!
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MacBeth
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| Posted: Dec 03 2007 at 8:41am | IP Logged
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Jennifer, I know how it feels to be outside in the cold with kids who would rather be inside! I once had a group of high school students out on the beach in January, and we finally dug a shelter between some dunes to keep warm and complete the study. Ugh! And you know that teens NEVER wear hats (unless they are making a fashion statement)!
Anyway, for elementary kids, I have found Discover Nature in Winter to be both inspiring and informative. It's a great book of wintry nature ideas.
Other bits and pieces:
Keep bird feeders close to the window for observation.
Keep a terrarium.
Watch things rot (in a small container).
Keep a compost pile...
More ideas on my Winter page, of course... 
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God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
MacBeth's Blog 
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ShawnaB
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I printed Dawn's Nature Study List for DecemberI love it! Thanks Dawn.
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Dawn
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| Posted: Dec 11 2007 at 6:37am | IP Logged
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Thank you so much, Shawna! I'm glad that list was helpful to you. 
I wanted to mention a neat and quick winter science experiment we did yesterday. I found the idea here. Since we were in the middle of an ice storm, I thought it would be fun - and it was!
Jennifer, we do a lot of window nature study in the winter. For instance, it was too nasty out yesterday to bring the boys out to the icicles, but we reached out the windows and felt them! 
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JSchaaf
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| Posted: Dec 18 2007 at 4:17pm | IP Logged
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MaryM wrote:
| This winter and climate is going to be a little different for you than in the recent past, huh, Jennifer? |
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I'm loving it-but going a little stir crazy on the really cold days. Michael still has that thin Central American blood and doesn't tolerate cold at all. If it's above 32 we try and get outside but that hasn't happened much the last 2-3 weeks!
Thanks, everyone, for all the nature study ideas. I've realized that "nature study" does not need to equal "nature walk"!
Thanks again! (and keep the ideas coming!)
Jennifer
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Dec 19 2007 at 8:05am | IP Logged
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Jennifer,
Found some great ideas here I hadn't thought of for our winter study - thanks for starting this thread! We're in Alabama, so we don't have as much really wintry weather as some of you - but it does get COLD!
Like Dawn and others, we do most of our nature study through windows. This is a great time for bird observation and identification. Different birds come around in the winter here, and it's just lovely to watch them. Also, a good set of binoculars lets us view from the windows how some of the trees waaaay in the back have changed, some producing berries, etc. Setting up a bird feeding area outside the windows is great - a heated birdbath, feeder with peanuts for the bluejays, suet, birdfeed. We have even lured some very large crows up to the kitchen window with bread scraps!
Thanks again for starting this - I'm loving all the great ideas for boosting our wintry nature studies!
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stacykay
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Here is an activity we enjoy in the winter, but it is an outdoor one:
- on one of those days which aren't too arctic in temps.: the zoo. We try to go a couple of times in the winter, because we have found the animals to be much more active than during the hot summers. The tigers and lions are all very animated, even roar, which can be both thrilling and frightening at the same time.
We have a great polar bear and seal exhibit at the Detroit Zoo, which ties in nicely with polar study. We also have lots of penguins for the southern pole.
I watch the weather for the days when it may be gray, but not frigid, for these outings. Also, I bring lots of blankets and thermos of hot cocoa for warming up afterwards on the drive home.
Also:
-we have a nature center located at our local park system. They have a GREAT instructor and the boys love listening to his tales. Many homeschool programs are offered there. Call your local county park service and see what they have!
-planetarium visits, which offer great ideas for the winter night sky.
-musuem of natural history. We usually go on a Sunday afternoon. The boys enjoy checking out the native animal exhibit, and can sketch the stuffed  wildlife! Our museum is small, at the U of MI. You may live near a bigger and better one!
Those are just a few ideas.
God Bless,
Stacy in MI
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Mary Chris
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I love the zoo in winter! Great idea. We don't have polar bears or penguins at the National Zoo though.
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missionfamily
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Rock and mineral sorting and polishing is a good winter activity. We have a collection from the kids two cave visits this summer. We sorted them earlier in the year, but will take them out again soon for some polishing and maybe do some sorting based on different characteristics to learn more about what we have. I bought a display box at Hobby Lobby 50% off so we can create a nice labeled display when we're done.
Also, you can play with ice inside...bring your snow in to play or experiment with ice...our poor Louisiana babes, I go get an ice chest full of ice from Sonic, dump it on the lawn, put gloves on them and let them sculpt away.
Also, use your Christmas tree for nature study..identify it, study conifers, evergreens. Is grown locally, if not where did it come from? What other kinds of trees are used as Christmas trees? What are signs your tree needs water? What happens after you water it? What creatures would live in your tree in the wild? Color pictures of them and make ornaments.
Have fun!
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stacykay
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I really like the rock idea! We are going to be studying volcanos after we get back to school, so geology is a natural tie in. Our rock tumbler has been gathering dust, but I saw refill sets at the lobby store! Thanks for the inspiration!
God Bless,
Stacy in MI
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Tina P.
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MacBeth wrote:
| Anyway, for elementary kids, I have found Discover Nature in Winter to be both inspiring and informative. It's a great book of wintry nature ideas. |
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How do you use this, MacBeth? We have the weather book and it flies right over my kids' heads! What am I doing wrong? Help?
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MacBeth
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| Posted: Jan 18 2008 at 10:31am | IP Logged
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Hey Tina!
I use these for ideas and reference. Now that the kids are older, I hand them over, but when the kids are younger, these are for me for reference.
Before studying the topic, I review the pages, and if a teachable moment comes up, I'll drop a bit of the information on the kids. Let's say we are studying frogs, and I am using the Sundown book. I'll review the information, and if we find a tree frog while on a night hike, I'll recall the information (or have the book handy) and show the kids the difference between the toes of a tree frog and other frogs. I would never read the entire chapter to the kids and expect them to "get it" right away.
The way to make it meaningful is to make it real, to realize when the information is needed (that teachable moment), and to have it on hand mentally, or know where your reference books are. That's where these books come in handy, but it does take a while to find the balance between too much information (when the eyes of your kids glaze over  ) and when the information is just enough to tickle their interest. Always leave them wanting more.
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MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
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4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
Topic: Nature Study in Winter
