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UK Mum
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| Posted: Feb 07 2008 at 7:36am | IP Logged
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May i ask everyone a question about nature study?
I am a real 'planner'. I really *need* to plan what we are aiming for each month/day, for bible, lang arts, number, but when it gets to nature study, i havent found a method of planning that 'fits'. We have a whole day devoted to nature study (Friday) & we *love* nature study! We tend to go for a walk (we have beautiful woods near our home) do some sketching, painting etc, but that isnt always possible, & we need to be at home (we can go out in the garden, unless the weather is really too wet, which it often is in the UK!)
So, my question is, do you have any suggestions for planning & foucsing our nature study? (I have 2 girls, toddler & 5 yo) We (5 yo & I ) are about to start (today!) a moon journal. I am using this book
http://www.amazon.com/Moon-Journals-Writing-Inquiry-Through/ dp/0435072218/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1202390928 &sr=8-1
my daughter is so very excited! but, if you have any suggestions for planning out nature study for the rest of the year I would be grateful...when we have a 'plan' we do acheive more (although I am happy to change focus if our interest is so lead), & my dd really does love to study nature.
Thank you & Kind Regards
Lynn
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marihalojen
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| Posted: Feb 08 2008 at 8:42am | IP Logged
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Is this the book?
Moon Journals
It sounds fascinating! It is a great concept, track the moon for one cycle freewriting every night...
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~Jennifer
Mother to Mariannna, age 13
The Mari Hal-O-Jen
SSR = Sailing, Snorkling, Reading
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UK Mum
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| Posted: Feb 09 2008 at 2:57am | IP Logged
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Jennifer, it is a great book, with lots of ideas for writing & art activities..& tbh, it has offered a newbie like me a great framework for planning my own nature units :)
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: Feb 09 2008 at 8:42am | IP Logged
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Lynn, one approach you can use is just to plan according to the season.
In spring study the flowers and baby animals, in summer, leaves and insects, in fall fruits and fungus, in winter weather and astronomy, etc.
This is a natural approach for young children because these are the obvious things--those she will be noticing on her own as she learns to observe nature and its changes through the year.
After a cycle or two of seasonal studies, you may want to switch approaches and do more of an in depth study of one habitat--the closer to home the better. Rather than studying the far-off rainforests,which are hard for a little one to relate to (unless she's been there, I don't want to presume...) dig deeper into a study of your own garden or local park. Study everything from the trees to the grass to the worms and bugs and soil. To spice it up, hit all of the natural history museums and nature centers in your area.
Once you have completed a thorough study of your local habitat, choose a totally different one to study (like a seashore or lake) so that you have an opportunity to compare and contrast the flora and fauna at the two sites.
A literature approach to nature study is also a great way to frame your studies. Elizabeth has a fantastic list of nature-related books to help you along.Read a book (such as Pagoo or An Egg is Quiet) and then go in-depth in whatever direction it leads. You have literature an nature studies all in one!
As your child gets older, you may want to use a taxonomic approach, working through all of the kingdoms one group at a time.
Of course, as you mention, always leave room for spontaneity in your nature studies. You don't want to miss what might be a delightful rabbit trail just because it isn't on your schedule, right?
Hope that helps some. 
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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MacBeth
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| Posted: Feb 09 2008 at 11:45am | IP Logged
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I'm glad Theresa weighed in here, because I've been staring at this thread muttering, "planning...nature...study...how?"
Disclaimer: I am not a planner.
Here's the thing, and this explains why I like nature study so much: Every day is different and unexpected.
Take the moon, for a good example of something really consistent and predictable. You can plan a great moon study, check the charts, know where moon will be, make your own calendar, draw your own moon phases and maps...but wait. It's cloudy for a week! Now what? Put off this part of the study until next week? Or you can go with the clouds, and switch the study to weather (and there's always weather  ). Or you can read moon books, or watch a documentary. All of these are great ways of making the best of your nature study time.
Another example is a birding trip. You may have heard that there are loons or puffins, or a certain type of hawk just waiting to be viewed. You get to the site, and there is not a single one to be seen. Is your day ruined? Not at all. There may be other types of birds, or perhaps a lovely bush is in bloom. Maybe the children have seen some vines and are off to the side of the path examining them (this happens frequently even if the parent's goal is clearly met). I remember the old Growing Without Schooling comment about taking a child to the zoo o see the animals, but the child sits on the ground and watches the ants. Plans change, but the learning goes on.
Another favorite story is that of the naturalist who takes a class on a nature hike, only to have them distracted by a pond (the kids all get wet--not in the plan!). Once out of the water, the boys throw rocks at birds, and ultimately end up with poison ivy. It sounds like a disaster, but this nature walk is full of valuable lessons for both the teacher (double check your expectations) and the students (water is wet, birds don't like flying rocks, and PI makes you miserable).
One of my favorite personal stories took place during a survival course I was teaching. A group of elementary school students were trying to build fires with one match  when an eagle landed on a tree right above them. Some teachers might have ignored the eagle for the sake of the fire-building lesson, but we stopped everything so the students could see this rare bird as it preened and pooped right above the class.
I hope this is not discouraging. I just imagine that nature study can be disappointing and frustrating to a serious planner. But, as I like to say, everything counts in home education,  even the bad days.
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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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Kathryn UK
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| Posted: Feb 09 2008 at 2:07pm | IP Logged
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I tend to pick seasonal themes as Theresa suggested when planning nature study (though I'm more better at planning them than actually carrying them out  ). I find it helpful to have books to hand with plenty of suggestions for simple activities that I can use either to plan in advance or to pick from on the spur of the moment. The books I have used most are :
Round the Year with Enid Blyton - yes, that Enid Blyton. She wrote a number of nature books, and this is a particularly useful one. Out of print, but there are usually copies available on Amazon.
Usborne Naturetrail Ommnibus - has five sections on different topics (birds, trees and so on). Out of print but quite easy to find.
Usborne Book of the Seasons - also out of print, but this
Usborne Activities for All Year Round looks very similar.
I'm sure there are more, but I can't remember them offhand . If I think of them, I'll post again.
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Dh Michael,  Rachel(3/95) Hannah(8/98) Naomi(6/06)  (11/07)
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UK Mum
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| Posted: Feb 09 2008 at 2:25pm | IP Logged
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thank you so much for your advice & great ideas...so, the same question to you both...say, for example, you had decided to study..I dont know...snow...would you research ahead, to gain a background knowledge (not necessary for you, MacBeth, but, you know what i mean?) would you plan activities, or leave it to meander, in a more child-led fashion?
This really is a love of my dd's & I wish to meither squash it, or starve it.
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: Feb 09 2008 at 2:54pm | IP Logged
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UK Mum wrote:
thank you so much for your advice & great ideas...so, the same question to you both...say, for example, you had decided to study..I dont know...snow...would you research ahead, to gain a background knowledge (not necessary for you, MacBeth, but, you know what i mean?) would you plan activities, or leave it to meander, in a more child-led fashion?
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A little of all of it. I'd probably get a book or two (fiction and non-fiction)for us to read together, have an idea or two ready for some activities we could do, and then spend some time in the snow and see where it leads.
UK Mum wrote:
This really is a love of my dd's & I wish to meither squash it, or starve it. |
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That's really the key, isn't it? Not only in nature study, but in all things!
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
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Willa
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One thing that MacBeth mentioned on her web page was visiting the same spot regularly over the course of the year.
check here and scroll down for "mountain day".
The way I've been doing it is choosing an interesting place every year and then letting the kids develop a relationship with it over time. They can bring their sketchbooks, or take photos, or study the local terrain and flora. One year we chose a ridge near our house, another year the local lake.
Another thing she once mentioned is the "one small square" approach where you measure out a small section of your yard or some natural place and try to observe everything you can about it.
Theresa has some ideas for nature study with a relaxed structure on her blog
Nature Study Activities
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Willa
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4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
Topic: Planning Nature Study
