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Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science ( Forum Locked)
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Topic: Handbook of Nature Study- Do you use it?

Poll Question: Is the Handbook of Nature Study a valuable resource for you?
Poll Choice	Votes	Poll Statistics
Yes- we use it frequently	2	[11.11%]
Yes- though we don't use it much	9	[50.00%]
We have it but never use it	7	[38.89%]
We used it more when the kids were older/younger	0	[0.00%]
My kids use this as an independent resource	0	[0.00%]
This topic is closed, no new votes accepted

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SeaStar
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Posted: April 29 2011 at 2:53pm \| IP Logged

OK- let's come clean about the Handbook of Nature Study,
It is a CM friendly resource that many people love.

I've had a copy for about 4 years and, honestly, have only looked through it a couple of times. I have looked at the blog that goes with it. I have read the author's bio and am full of admiration for her work.

But... I just don't use it. Why?? Maybe I am looking more for shorter books/living books on nature topics. Frequently I look on line for information. Maybe its sheer largeness overwhelms me.

I am trying to determine if I have given it a fair chance. Did you find you used it more as your children got older? Do they look things up themselves? If you use it, how often do you pull it out?

Looking for opinions and suggestions. Thanks!

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JodieLyn
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Posted: April 29 2011 at 3:17pm \| IP Logged

don't have the book... if it's something you look up types of plants and stuff in.. I did want to mention.. if you're in a different type of area than the book concentrates on for nature.. or you tend to focus on things other than what's in the book.. that even if it's a wonderful book, you won't get the use out of it that someone else might.

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stellamaris
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Posted: April 29 2011 at 3:19pm \| IP Logged

We use it in spurts. If we have an interest in a particular topic, we'll start with the Handbook a lot of times. We also use it as a general reference when someone brings in a spider in a jar or whatever.

I do think with all the online resources today, it is not quite as necessary as it used to be back "in the day".

One book I have used often and like a lot for the younger children (under 10) is Nature Activities for Early Childhood. This has a lot of information about common small animals, insects, salamander, lizards, etc. (no birds), the kinds of things a child might find in his/her yard. It explains what these creatures eat, how to construct habitats for them, and gives general information on body parts, habits, etc. It is very easy to use. I see it is OOP but still available. You certainly do not need a new copy at $50+--Yikes! Get a used $0.01 copy!

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lapazfarm
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Posted: April 29 2011 at 3:25pm \| IP Logged

I have used it on and off through the years, though not as much as we could have. The main problem for me is we've often lived in places with flora and fauna that are just not in the book (Alaska and Fla Keys, for example). I know we used it a lot more when we lived in North Carolina and Gainesville, FL.
The other issue I have with it is the lack of good illustrations, which means the kids are not interested in it at all. It is more like a resource for the parent to use to prepare for an oral lesson. And, not to brag, but I already know most of the stuff in the book offhand so I don't really need the resource.
The main way I have used it is for the poetry. I love that she has a poem to go along with just about anything. Great for finding copywork passages or for quotes to go in nature journals. I also use it as a reminder of things to observe--getting ideas for things to focus on that I might have overlooked, or ways of looking at specimens I might not have thought of. Good for getting out of a rut.
So, there is my 2 cents worth.

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CrunchyMom
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Posted: April 29 2011 at 4:03pm \| IP Logged

We are using it more since we moved to a more rural area with more land. I anticipate using it more as the boys age and are better able to do things like keeping a nature journal a bit more independently as well as this summer as we get start identifying what we have now that everything is waking up ( including mom and the baby, lol).

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JennGM
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Posted: April 29 2011 at 4:12pm \| IP Logged

I use it, have two copies actually, but it's more of a starting point for our nature study or reference point. The downside to the otherwise excellent book is that there are no color illustrations or pictures.

Like Lindsay, I think we'll use it more as the boys get older.

If you're thinking of selling your copy, Melinda, the book is online. Free for download or reading online

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robinhigh
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Posted: April 29 2011 at 4:13pm \| IP Logged

Exactly what Melinda said. Except that we've had the book for ten years.

Grace&Chaos
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Posted: April 29 2011 at 5:42pm \| IP Logged

I have to agree with Jennifer. We use it mainly as a starting point to nature study, but because of the lack of illustrations or good quality pictures it doesn't get as much use as it should

.

My kids have gotten good info from nice living picture books perfect for my younger aged group. I have to admit that my older dd likes its quick to the point reference material and is starting to use it more frequently for her nature study "time slot".

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Angie Mc
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Posted: April 29 2011 at 6:28pm \| IP Logged

Not one of my older children has taken to this book. I use it for reference sometimes, but it's not my favorite resource either.

It is a lovely book, one that, I wonder, may be more enjoyable for an adult who has a bit more time on their hands, and/or emphasises nature study, and/or enjoys a narrative style. For now, it mostly waits on my shelf...

Love,

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SeaStar
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Posted: April 29 2011 at 8:51pm \| IP Logged

Whew! I feel better. I have tried and tried to figure out why I a not using this book more. I do wish it had colored illustrations.

I had not realized that it had so many poems and quotes.... going back to look into this more. Thanks for the heads up!

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Mackfam
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Posted: May 04 2011 at 8:19am \| IP Logged

I'm late in responding...but we have this book and use it. I suppose I would characterize our use as *regular - intermittent*.

I would agree about the pictures/illustrations. I have always wished they were a little more vibrant.

The introductory chapter on THE TEACHING OF NATURE STUDY is wonderful! This section is fantastic for the middle school student to read independently. If they've been doing nature study all along, they know most of it, but some things continue to develop their own naturalist skills.

Here's a bit from HOW TO USE THIS BOOK which was a help for me:

Quote:

The chief aim of this volume is to encourage investigation rather than to give information.

Here is how we use the book:

:: Older children do sometimes use it independently.

:: I used Post-It tabs to divide up the book so that it is more visually accessible.

:: I have been trying to cover one section at a time as it coordinates with a living book we might be reading.....so....if we're reading Thomas Burgess' The Bird Book for Children, then we study alongside it the section on BIRDS from The Handbook of Nature Study. If we are studying Botany in the spring, I tend to try to follow along as much as possible in PLANTS.

:: We tend to use the book AFTER a nature walk rather than before. While we sometimes read from the lessons in The Handbook of Nature Study because of a coordinating living book we're reading (see above), or because of a pertinent season/event, USUALLY we're reading a lesson AFTER finding something we want to investigate.

:: I always make use of the poetry given in a lesson!! Those selections are so lovely! I either read the poetry aloud for the sheer enjoyment, ask a child to read it aloud, use it for the weekly copywork, or encourage a child to include the poetry in their nature sketchbook under the object they've just sketched.

:: We enjoyed coordinating lessons on FLOWERS with these notebooking pages. The set of notebooking pages includes several pages that coordinate with a specific flower. These really helped deepen the lesson, and add some richness. My creative daughter really enjoyed these, but so did my son. I printed a set of notebooking pages to coordinate with the flower being studied and the notebooking pages gave a *space* for further investigation and observations to land. We grouped our pages in an ongoing notebook (each child had their own) which we kept on our nature shelves.

:: When we find a nature *treasure*, the children generally spend time investigating it with a microscope, hand lens, a field guide, and I open up The Handbook of Nature Study to see if there is a lesson that pertains to the newly found *treasure*.

:: I generally read the leading thought and lesson, and though you're not supposed to read it out loud, I do! I ONLY do this AS the children are investigating an object/treasure/insect/animal/plant independently. They're usually looking under the microscope or they've corralled a small creature/insect in an area and are observing while I'm reading a little aloud. The kids like it when I read a few of the investigation questions at the end of the lesson aloud as they directly investigate. It becomes like a little mystery hunt...Describe the colors and markings on the upper and underside of the frog. How do you think that helps the frog from being observed from above???? From below???

:: Interspersed throughout the book are thoughts from L.H. Bailey on Nature Study. (These are found at the end of some lessons...I think they're indexed in the back, too. They are always in italics) These are helpful and affirming. They encourage forming relationships with nature. Bailey discourages dry information-giving. I think/wonder Ms. Comstock includes these to discourage the use of the book as an information only tome. It should be used as a springboard for investigation as the child uncovers the beauty and order of God's creation for him/herself. In addition to Bailey's thoughts, there are other authors quoted at the end of some lessons. These contain lovely sentiments and ideas. Sometimes, these are from literature and are suitable for copywork, and other times, they offer helps and guidance in nature study in general. Good stuff.

:: It is OK to walk away from this book, or a lesson from this book, with unanswered questions. In fact, I'd say it's not only ok, but GREAT!! Questions invite further exploration!! It means an object or a nature treasure is always open to investigate again later. I am in the habit of asking thoughtful questions out loud with my kids....and not answering them!! It's good for children to see and hear us wondering aloud. Admiring. Observing. We model an awareness of God's awesome creation, His order, our smallness in His creation, and an ability to wonder at the Divine Imagination's gift of creation and how it all works together.

:: The book springboards other rabbit trails and happy investigations and we jump from there...
___________________________________________

If you have this book, Melinda, and your kids are still quite young, why not try to get to know it a little better? It IS a big book, and that does make it seem not quite as useful or accessible.

Simple ideas for easing into The Handbook of Nature Study

** Try to tab the book with post-its or something so it's easier to reference.

** Really look through the Table of Contents and get to know it - what makes most sense to look through right now? PLANTS? ANIMALS? EARTH? SKY?

** Read through Part 1::The Teaching of Nature Study. This section alone is very helpful to me.

** Perhaps while the kids are young and you're getting to know this book, just set a goal of conveying the LEADING THOUGHT of any given lesson. These are always super short and fairly easy to digest. If they kids are interested in investigating more, great - keep rolling with some questions that prompt investigating.

** Go outside to your front gardens once/week (or no further than 5 minutes in any direction from your front door) -- bring The Handbook of Nature Study and sit down. Challenge the kids to spend 5 - 10 min. finding a new nature treasure to investigate. If the kids can bring it to you, great. If they can't, go to the object.

See if you can find something about the found object/treasure in The Handbook of Nature Study.

If not - fine. This WILL happen - don't be discouraged! The goal here is just to get to know the book. Investigate on your own (which = wonder aloud, ask questions together...none of which HAVE to be answered. You can learn so much just by asking questions and observing closely.)

If you can find the object in The Handbook...,

Read the leading thought.
Ask some questions. Let the kids ask some questions.
If the kids are investigating on their own, read through the lesson quietly. Offer bits that seem interesting if it is a natural fit. Don't worry if the kids seem dis-engaged as you skim the lesson and offer little observations from the lesson, they AREN'T dis-engaged!!! But, be careful not to step into the boredom zone either!
Read the poem aloud if you like.

While it may be that this tool takes a little more effort to get to know, the habit of opening it and referring to it can yield some wonderful little nuggets of knowledge that we've been grateful to learn about together. I do think this book/tool can be used, possibly in a limited/abbreviated way, at any age, but in reflecting, we've probably used it most consistently with children from about 4th grade and above (but that's not hard and fast...some children will be super interested/naturalist oriented at a much younger age and be eager for the guidance and bits of inspiration/information found in this book). Hope this helps!

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JennGM
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Posted: May 04 2011 at 8:42am \| IP Logged

Great and helpful post, Jen, as usual.

Mackfam wrote:

The introductory chapter on THE TEACHING OF NATURE STUDY is wonderful! This section is fantastic for the middle school student to read independently. If they've been doing nature study all along, they know most of it, but some things continue to develop their own naturalist skills.

I almost had talked about that when I posted. I read through that this year and it really made sense. It's a chapter to read and reread. Changed my whole thinking on how to use the book and also how to approach nature study in general.

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stellamaris
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Posted: May 04 2011 at 9:48am \| IP Logged

I have to add a link to the Handbook of Nature Study blog, which has so many wonderful ideas and free resources.

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Grace&Chaos
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Posted: May 04 2011 at 10:03am \| IP Logged

Jen, thanks for sharing how you use this great resource.

Like I mentioned my oldest dd seems to reach for it with much more frequency lately. You've given me some thoughts on how to guide her in its use.

I do find it interesting and exciting how that designated Nature Study time slot creates budding naturalists

.

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AmandaV
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Posted: May 04 2011 at 11:11am \| IP Logged

Jen, I'll have to read your very helpful post more closely when I have more time.. thanks as usual!

My biggest problem is I have so much to learn. My dad was an eagle scout (is) and always tried to point out nature to us, but I was either not interested or too busy to absorb much - activities, school, etc. So I have spent so much time looking at the first lesson on flowers to get a general working knowledge so that I can nonchalantly use the correct wording with my children when we are out, as suggested by the author. But I just can't seem to get confident enough and then forget the terms when out and about. Maybe if we tried to use it altogether after a nature walk.. but usually there is a bit of chaos with a 6, 5 and 2 2-year olds running in the house. Excuses, I know..

Of course another problem is not getting out on walks enough. Another mom problem.

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Posted: May 04 2011 at 6:07pm \| IP Logged

What a great topic...

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SeaStar
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Posted: May 04 2011 at 7:40pm \| IP Logged

knowloveserve wrote:

What a great topic...

Ellie- I visited your new blog- love it! What a great idea

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