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Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
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Subject Topic: What to do when there isn't much nature Post ReplyPost New Topic
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LaMere Academy
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Posted: June 25 2007 at 2:04pm | IP Logged Quote LaMere Academy
around you?
We've recently moved from CT, with many trees in our yard, a garden and many critters...also with large parks in the area--
to FL where we are in a new neighborhood, very small trees and hardly any critters at all, no large parks either.

Now we are near the beach and I did buy a zoo pass, so there are 2 areas for nature study.
However I am really missing just going out the front or back door and having the children make a nature journal entry.
Any suggestions?
Thanks!
~Becky
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lapazfarm
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Posted: June 25 2007 at 3:08pm | IP Logged Quote lapazfarm
Oh, that is a tough move.Brand new subdivisions can be the most barren places!
One thing you can do is try to enhance your own yard to attract nature. Plant flowers, put up a bird feeder and bird bath, or other water features (a little pond if you can afford it is great). Look for specific suggestions online for the Backyard habitat program. All of these things take time to attract nature, but are great nature lessons in themselves.
I don't know what part of FL you are in, but if you can get to fresh water as well as the beach I would try to do that. Rivers, lakes, even canals are great for nature study.

Are there any older walkable neighborhoods in your area?
Look for streets lined with big trees and gardens.

Get an aquarium for your home, and a terrarium, too. Try keeping animals like hermit crabs, snakes, or turtles.

Put out a light at night to attract lots of insects to observe.

I know other ladies here will have lots of good suggestions, too.

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us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
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Veronica's Veil
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Posted: June 26 2007 at 9:47am | IP Logged Quote Veronica's Veil
I just wanted to second Theresa's suggestions! We live in the midwest so probably not as lush as CT but certainly not as sparce as FL...however, we are smack in the middle of the city Our yard is tiny and so are the rest of the yards here. We put up 3 different birdfeeders hung on Shepherds Crooks and added a birdbath we get about 15 different kinds of birds in our backyard now to study and the boys are LOVING it!    

After reading the Secret Garden this Spring the boys wanted to plant some bulbs so I bought them a package of bulbs and together we carved out a very small strip of yard to plant them, they diligently dug and planted 9 bulbs and now assume watering duty and such, this has also provided them with plant study and some insects too!

You are probably already aware of this, but just in case, you can order live insects and habitats to study IN your home from insectlore.com we have grown ladybugs and painted lady butterflies from larvae to adult and have observed an ant colony at work...etc...currently we have live Adult ladybugs in the livingroom in the habitat which the boys are studying and will release this week.

There are many ways to incorporate nature study at home! More than I was ever aware of before! Hope you get some more ideas! God Bless!
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chicken lady
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Posted: June 26 2007 at 9:57am | IP Logged Quote chicken lady
I think the fact that there is not much "nature" is in itself a nature study!

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LaMere Academy
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Posted: June 27 2007 at 4:00pm | IP Logged Quote LaMere Academy
Thanks ladies.
DS 12 did catch a 5 lined skink and his uncle bought him a large tank to keep it in. The next day he caught a southern toad and added him to the collection. Guess what we drew in our nature journals today??
We just came home from the beach and DD 11 found a crab about 9 inches across...dead and in absolutely perfect form. We bought it home to draw and keep.
I guess things will be different here, and we may have to look harder or in different places.
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