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Syncletica
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| Posted: Sept 10 2009 at 10:24pm | IP Logged
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I still have not done a nature study with my children. I'm so hesitant b/c of my lack of knowledge. I'm just finally reading CM's Volume 1 and got a few ideas about letting them run around and all that "hullaballoo", then having them go and observe things, coming back to tell you about that. Then she mentions something about a child not deserving to know the name of a tree b/c not enough description was given. Well, I could be given the best description in the world and it wouldn't make a difference! I still don't know what an oak or poplar or maple or aspen tree looks like, as in, I've probably seen all these trees, but could not name them. Has anyone else had this problem? What did you do to remedy it?
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lapazfarm
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I'd say it is never too late to learn! You can learn right alongside your children.
Get yourself some good guides and make it a goal to learn the names of two trees, two shrubs, two wildflowers, two birds, two insects and two spiders that are native to your area. You can make a weekly goal or a monthly goal, or whatever you have time for, but I recommend trying for at least one a week.
As a family you can identify them, sketch them, press leaves and flowers, make a nature notebook, whatever floats your boat.
I guarantee after that time you will catch the nature study bug and want to learn more!
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Bookswithtea
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I am completely nature study challenged.  Rather than diving in, I've tried to just do a little bit more each year, over the past 3 yrs or so. And guides, while I am sure CM would not approve, have helped me to get over my fear. I like the FIAR Nature Study downloads. They have a scavenger hunt on one of the pages and it was less overwhelming to me last fall to plan a field trip and print out the hunt than it was to just go and have no plan. And it helps to have a field guide that is specific to your state. Comstock's book overwhelms me and collects dust, but our birds book that is specific to my state gets a lot more use.
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mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and  due 9/10
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Mimip
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| Posted: Sept 11 2009 at 8:50am | IP Logged
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I am soooo excited and I want to share a great idea for you to start the nature study thing. We too have just started to do Nature Study and yesterday I hit a treasure find.
I went to the used bookstore to trade some books and saw a field guide peeking out of a bookshelf in the corner and had an AH HA moment. I went and stood in front of the bookshelf and realized that they had at least 100 books that could help me study Nature. I picked up some beginning nature guides on birds, flowers and trees. They were all particular to my area (we are really far south so those books about the up north really don't help me much  )
I had found that getting books out of the library to use as reference guides was frustrating because I would have to return them so quickly. (we don't have a large section of these types of books so they get requested by teachers A LOT) Now I have a 10 book collection for under $20!!!!!!
As you can tell I am super excited so maybe this is one way you could start a nature study. Also what helped us was to pick one particular aspect and go with that. For example, for Sept and Oct we are looking at birds. We are reading bird poetry and studying bird behavior, all outside!!! Since we live in a big city, I try to get to the beach or everglades too to change the surrounds a bit. 
HTH!
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In Christ,
Mimi
Wife of 16 years to Tom, Mom of DD'00, DD'02, '04(in heaven) DS'05, DS'08 and DS '12
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Sept 11 2009 at 9:09am | IP Logged
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mimip wrote:
| I had found that getting books out of the library to use as reference guides was frustrating because I would have to return them so quickly. (we don't have a large section of these types of books so they get requested by teachers A LOT) Now I have a 10 book collection for under $20!!!!!! |
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I do this too, Mimi!!! It makes a huge difference having the book needed at hand!! And, it's been such an affordable way for us to collect MANY treasures!!!! Great idea - I'm glad you posted it!!!
I'd just approach nature study with the eyes of a child. No agenda. No plan to identify everything you see. Just allow yourself to experience wonder in nature for a bit. Be in awe of it. Don't feel bad about saying, "I don't know what kind of tree that is, but isn't it majestic!" Make a big deal of just walking around the front gardens. Don't feel like you have to have a "special event" planned. All of nature is special and God never fails to provide some small little treasure for us to see in it.
Then, as you become more comfortable experiencing nature with the children, allow yourself to come home with a small treasure from the day - a leaf, an acorn, a nut, an insect - and spend a little time trying to identify. Allow a few rabbit trails to naturally spring from it. Let it be relaxed.
As you become more and more comfortable, bring a few study guides with you as you walk.
Keep your eyes and your heart like a child's. If you enter nature with the eyes of a child, it will no longer feel overwhelming I think, and you'll just be able to enjoy it for the beauty and complexity that is there.
Our first nature guide, and the one I return to again and again and again...is Reader's Digest North American Wildlife - An Illustrated Guide to 2,000 Plants and Animals. There are newer, updated versions, but I linked you to the one we have (which we found for $2 at a used bookstore, btw!) and because it's available aplenty used for 39 cents right now at Amazon! I just have never found anything I like more. The illustrations are lovely, realistic, full color, and I can find specimens in here more often than going to some of my other guides. It's great for propping up and allowing a child to use the illustrations to assist a nature sketch if you tend to do those at home rather than in the field, which we do.
HTH! 
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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Sharyn
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| Posted: Sept 16 2009 at 1:35am | IP Logged
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Syncletica wrote:
| I'm so hesitant b/c of my lack of knowledge. |
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Ah! But this is the fun part, because then you will have the joy of discovering for the first time together. I have found children care little about whether you are some kind of expert, but more about discovering and sharing God's wonders with you. And even experts will have to say 'I don't know' quite often I think, because there is SO much to discover. 'I don't know' is what science is all about; it's the beginning of an adventure!
We have started simply. With the things in our backyard and local area. The things that we see every day and are part of our lives. The birds that like to drink nectar from flowers in our gardens. The insects which live under rocks in our yard. We can see how the seasons affect them,watch their behaviour at our leisure.
So we are doing a 'Bird's in our backyard' journal. Whatever comes into our yard is drawn, the common and scientific names written down. No more than this yet. Mine aren't big writers yet. We are just trying to become familiar with the birds we see.
Other times I will get them to tell me what they saw. I type it into Word, print it and using a stencil put a box for them to draw their observations in.
This goes into a 3 ring binder into plastic sheets. After a years worth of work I will bind them with plastic binding.
Pick a basic starting point. Then add to it over time. Get inspiration from others but don't get discouraged by what they are doing in comparison. Discover the joy of learning about your surroundings. Soon you'll be saying,'look everyone,there's a....'
Or like in my family,'no mum, that's a...'. 
Oh well,the fun is in the learning, we don't need to be perfect.
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Mum to dd (00), ds (03), dd (04), ds (06), one in God's care (08), dd (09), ds (11), one in God's care (13), and ds (13)
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stellamaris
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We have enjoyed these Outdoor Challenges.
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In Christ,
Caroline
Wife to dh 30+ yrs,ds's 83,85,89,dd's 91,95,ds's 01,01,02,grammy to 4
Flowing Streams
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Paula in MN
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We enjoy those, too. Seriously, the best nature book to own is The Handbook of Nature Study. I have linked to a free download.
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Paula
A Catholic Harvest
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Sharyn
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If you have younger children,around 7 years,they may enjoy this series:
One Small Square
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Syncletica
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| Posted: Sept 17 2009 at 10:54pm | IP Logged
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Thanks for all the helpful replies! This is great!
I do have another question now. I had a complete "ummm....uhhhh" moment this morning while talking with another lady. Somehow we were talking about nature stuff and I mentioned that I just finally learned what the poplar tree looks like and 'isn't that ridiculous?' and her response was like, "what's the big deal? It's just a tree." To which I tried to defend Charlotte Mason's method and absolutely nothing came to mind. Replying to my poor attempt, she said something like "Yeah, but these writers probably don't have children at home. That's why they have time to write all this stuff. You're too busy being a mom and all." I know being outdoors is a great thing. You just feel so at peace and closer to God. But what could I have said to defend learning about nature? What would you have said?
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Paula in MN
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Learning about nature IS learning about God, and the order He has created in His universe. I want my children to learn about beauty, and what better place than to start with nature? And you can be busy "being a mom and all" outside as well as inside! I'd rather have my kids be outside breathing the air and feeling the sunshine than inside sitting at a table! Go with your gut and don't worry about what this other lady said!
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Paula
A Catholic Harvest
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4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
Topic: Beginning Nature Studies
