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ahappyheart
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| Posted: Feb 12 2008 at 10:52am | IP Logged
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I want to do nature journal more regularly. Once a week would be good, but I tell you it is so hard for me to come up with topics to draw and write about. I have this book called The Big Book of Knowledge, it's a child like encyclopedia and it has some interesting easy to understand information like the parts of the earth, parts of a tree etc. . . I was thinking of using it as a base or spine for what to draw and talk about each week for nature study. Does anyone have any other books they could recommend to me about nature journaling and topics to draw and discover? I have the CLP nature readers and we have read some of those. We live in the desert and Anna Comstock's book just doesn't work for us.
Susan Marie
editing to add: My children are ds10, dd9 and dd7
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~Rachel~
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Charlotte Mason was not a big one for PLANNED journalling like this.
Her ideal was that you provide your kids with OPPORTUNITIES to diary.
My suggestion would be to start by making one yourself.
THEN make opportunities. Get a bird feeder. Do the backyard birdcount. Put your data in the diary.
Draw some of the birds.
Read about them.
Add in a few poems about them. I am pretty sure both your girls will take this up easily.
Your son you may have to suggest he make a bird nest box or something  which he can take a photo of for the diary.
Any good nature book, field guide and encyclopaedia can then be used... for information on something you have seen or that you want to see.
There is also Nature's Garden magazine,
And several books online here under Nature and Nature Stories.
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SuzanneG
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Susan Marie:
There are some books and blogs mentioned in this thread:
nature blogs by city moms
MacBeth's blog is great if you haven't visited already.
And, maybe checking out some books from the library on nature in your area (desert) would be helpful for you to look at and then leave for your kids to look at. It would give you ideas of things to watch for and talk about.
dh and I love to look at the catalogue supplement for Acorn Naturalists. I typed in "desert" in their search engine and got this list. Maybe your library has some of the ones that look interesting.
When you're embarking on something new like this, I think it does actually make sense to "plan it in"....or else it just gets forgotten. As it becomes more habitual and a part of everyday life, then the more natural opportunities will be there.
I second Rachel's recommendation about backyard birds...they are THE BEST! Maybe some "living books" about them too.....Burgess Bird book?
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Leonie
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I think that Ambleside Online has some ideas on weekly and seasonal topics for nature study - here it is. Some topics may not suit your situation, so feel free to skip around.
I kno this is not a book resource but there are links to other sites for more info on nature topics.
HTH!
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Leonie in Sydney
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lapazfarm
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I think your idea of the Big Book of Knowledge sounds good. Anything that will give you some sort of sense of direction is a good thing, even if you don't end up following it.
As for desert ecosystems, that is one area with which I am not too familiar, unfortunately. I do like the series of books called One Small Square. They are very engaging and thorough, and have them for just about every habitat type. Here is a link to the desert one.
cactus desert
As for books about nature journaling in general, the Clair Walker Leslie books are far and away the best thing out there.Very inspiring and lots of great tips about not only drawing, but things to look for through the seasons.
Hope that helps!
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Cay Gibson
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I love the One Small Square books. Really do! 
And perhaps a good starting point would be reading the FIAR selection "Roxaboxen" and doing the FIAR activities. If you don't have the FIAR manual, their online files will get you going:
http://www.fiarhq.com/~gbprnhrz/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=2 (Just click on "search" and type in Roxaboxen). Great desert rabbit trails to follow with that book.
If it's any help, the Comstock book has never worked for us either. I've tried and tried to work it and even refuse to part with it. But it is bulky and black and white and just doesn't get our attention. Perhaps we would "know" more if we read through it with each nature discovery but I certainly don't think we'd appreciate nature as much as we do.
Oh, and MacBeth's site is hands-down the best place to check online for nature study. 
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SuzanneG
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What about posting in the Picture Book Discoveries Forum .......to see if anyone knows of any picture books that take place in the desert or are specifically about the desert?
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MaryM
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This is my favorite nature studyish book on deserts. America's Deserts. Very informative and I love the illustrations. They lend themselves to encouraging sketching, I believe.
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Mary M. in Denver
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~Rachel~
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| Posted: Feb 14 2008 at 12:24pm | IP Logged
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 Sorry if it appeared I was yelling... I certainly was not trying to do so. 
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Mary G
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MaryM wrote:
| This is my favorite nature studyish book on deserts. America's Deserts. Very informative and I love the illustrations. They lend themselves to encouraging sketching, I believe. |
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Just had to share, that I just was reading the thread on Valentine's Day, saw MaryM's post and immeidately read "desserts" and couldn't figure out how a book on American desserts would be a nature journaly book  maybe I need more chocolate (or not!)
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ahappyheart
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Rachel,
Thank you for note. I so appreciate it. I don't know why I just took your caps as yelling and felt so discouraged. I love reading and learning about Charlotte Mason, but it feels like I am failing at it. I want to be the kind of person that you are, (I checked out your blog) and find fascination with nature and draw lovely pictures, but so far I'm not. The mainlesson links are wonderful, I have them bookmarked. Thank you again for your kind note.
Suzanne,
The Acorn Naturalists are wonderful ! I made myself a folder on my bookmarks for nature journal and plopped that site in first thing. I love their little nature books for pennies and did myself a search with desert as my topic and oh was excited to see all the wonderful looking books. Thank you for sharing this site.
I didn't know about Macbeth's blog and I've added that to my bookmarks and the city one to check out later. I have a valentine sheet cake in the oven and of course laundry is in the basket to be folded. I'm glad you think it's okay to plan nature journal at first too, I think I better. Yesterday we did the earth's parts (crust, mantel, inner and outer core), it was fine, at least it got done.
Leonie,
Thank you too for showing me the AO notes and resources on Nature Journal. I didn't know about them and I added those to my bookmarks in my new folder. I'm determined to get this nature journal subject going in my house. I see you are in Sydney, I imagine your backyard is similar to mine here in Az. at least I imagine it so when I see pictures from around your way.
Theresa,
Bless you, thanks for the reassurance about the Book of Knowlege, sometimes it is just nice to know it's okay to just do something even though it's not recommended on important book lists and that was my feeling with this, something is a good start. Thank you for your private note too, I was crying at the outpouring of responses here, it was just so sweet of all of you. I think this is a nice place and I'm going to come around and hang out because I'm sure, very sure it's important to share and build relationships with other home schooling moms. Thank you.
Cay,
Thank you. It is nice to know that Comstock wasn't a good fit for you all either. I get upset with myself for not liking how some of the great to everyone else books go with my group. It's an isolating thing to home school and on top of that to feel like you don't fit into any one group of online curriculum users, you know. I love reading your blog and Catholic Mosiac is awesome. Every time I place a book order I try to collect more and more of your recommendations. Thanks for reminding me about Roxaboxen too, I have the book and should gather it and the others on deserts to help me with this nature journal desire.
Thank you Mary G and Mary M, for the American Deserts book, it looks
really really good! !
Mary G that is too funny about the desserts and desert.
Anyway thank you all very much.
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MarilynW
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Hi Susan Marie
I am not a "natural" nature journaler (pun not intended!!) - with hyperemesis last year followed by new baby - i took the easy way out - and bought my 3 older kids (11, 8 and 8)My Nature Journal- the kids love them and they are a good starting point. We also have Michelle Quigley's notebooks for free journalling/sketching.
I never took to the Comstock book. We use the Small Square books, Crinkleroots guides, Petersons Field Guides, Usborne Spotters and North American Wildlife.
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MarilynW
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OOps - I just noticed that you live in the desert - maybe My Nature Journal will not work. 
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mandmsmom2001
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My suggestion too is not well suited for the desert but a favorite resource here. Perhaps the summer part could be used in the desert: The Kids' Nature Book by susan Milord (I Can! Kids Publication). It has an activity for every day of the year and is great when I just need to toss them outside! It has indoor projects as well.
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