| Author | |
JennGM
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702
|
| Posted: Sept 14 2012 at 9:10am | IP Logged
|
 |
|
I'm so excited to see my favorite nature study book is being reprinted! Margot at Hillside Education has undertaken this massive work to reprint the book.
Natural Science Through the Seasons: 100 Teaching Units by James A. Partridge.
It's now available for pre-order, but shipping really soon!
I wrote a bit about it here and Jen Mack wrote a glowing post.
__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SeaStar
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 16 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9068
|
| Posted: Sept 14 2012 at 9:38am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Wow- looks awesome, Jenn.
I have a few questions- does the reprint have color photos?
Also- I am A Handbook of Nature Study drop out  
That book overwhelms me- it is massive, and I don't like that the pictures
are in black and white and at times kind of grainy/fuzzy.
It sounds like I might like this book better-- is there hope for me with this one?
__________________
Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
CrunchyMom
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 03 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6385
|
| Posted: Sept 14 2012 at 10:27am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I pre-ordered, too. I'm a HNS flunky, but I haven't dropped out, yet I am hoping that something with defined units will help me. I'm also excited about the bonus calendar cards to put out with the pre-order 
__________________
Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JennGM
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702
|
| Posted: Sept 14 2012 at 10:51am | IP Logged
|
|
|
It is black and white. Margot has updated some of the photos, but much of it is very well-done line drawings. The best part is the calendar page and the the "Beautify Your Surroundings" and "Science in Action" illustrated by D. Farwell for each month, August to June.
The book isn't as big as Handbook of Nature Study, so not as formidable. It's very different, also. It's not just a nature study book with facts, but little units broken down, with points for different levels (primary and junior, junior and intermediate). Perfect for multiple ages in the family.
It's not handholding. There are a variety of suggestions given on one area. And of course you aren't restricted to using one unit at a time. I used this extensively when I was doing a weather focus.
Here are the chapters/units for September:
1. Exploring Nature
2. Let's Learn to Arrange Flowers
3. Brighten the Schoolroom with Indoor Plants (transplanting, cuttings, caring for plants)
4. Understanding Green Plants
5. Some Birds Go South
6. Summer Homes of Animals
7. Animal Life in the Classroom (Terraari and vivaria--Aquaria)
8. Let's Have a Nature Club
9. The Ways of Moths and Butterlfies
10. Some Growing Nature Calendars
11. Getting to Know the Trees, A Hike
12. Diaries of Trees in Autumn
Hope that helps.
__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JennGM
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702
|
| Posted: Sept 14 2012 at 11:22am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I'd also say the writing is not dry and factual.
__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
pumpkinmom
Forum All-Star
Joined: March 28 2012
Location: Missouri
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1028
|
| Posted: Sept 14 2012 at 12:27pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Ok, two blog post has convinced me I MUST have this book!  If dh has any problems with my decision and I am sending him to you, Jen and Jenn!! 
__________________
Cassie
Homeschooling my little patch of Ds-14 and Ds-10
Tending the Pumpkin Patch
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SallyT
Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 08 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2489
|
| Posted: Sept 14 2012 at 4:07pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Oh, wow. Putting this on my wish list.
Sally
__________________
Castle in the Sea
Abandon Hopefully
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Grace&Chaos
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 07 2010
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1261
|
| Posted: Sept 14 2012 at 8:37pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I'm very excited about the book. I've had a chance to borrow it through university library loan and it is full of ideas to put into use. I was so excited to know you get the calendars on cardstock 
__________________
Blessings,
Jenny
Mom to dds(00,03) and dss(05,06,08,09)
Grace in Loving Chaos
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
margot helene
Forum Pro
Joined: Feb 26 2006
Location: Pennsylvania
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 350
|
| Posted: Sept 15 2012 at 5:08pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
What I like about this book as opposed to HNS is that the activities are arranged by months into units (100 units in the book). They are season specific. Activity suggestions are divided by age groups - great for co-ops and families with a range of ages. You don't have to use all the monthly unit ideas in one month, maybe just pick one to focus on. And that makes nature study both more doable and specific . . . and means you can use the book year after year.
I added some images of nature journals by real kids, updated references at the end of each unit and added lots of new images. Jen Mackintosh contributed the cover images (both front and back cover). Yeah Jen!!
I only printed 100 calendars (on cardstock) and we'll give them to the first 100 orders. After that, if it seems popular, we could offer them for sale.
I can't wait to hear comments from people when the book ships next week!! Thanks to Jenn for introducing me to this book!! I, too, am very excited about it!!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
AmandaV
Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 27 2009
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 707
|
| Posted: Sept 15 2012 at 5:29pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Margot, thanks for comtributing your input and for this reprint. It sounds great! What about for those of us in the deeper South, with milder Winters and hotter summers? Will we find much to use? We are in South Texas and the price is a little high for my current budget, though, I'm sure the price is worth it!
__________________
Amanda
wife since 6/03, Mom to son 7/04, daughter 2/06, twin sons 6/08 and son 7/11, son 1/2014
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SeaStar
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 16 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9068
|
| Posted: Sept 15 2012 at 5:38pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Well, you sold me. I put in my order... a little early birthday present
__________________
Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MaryM
Board Moderator
Joined: Feb 11 2005
Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13104
|
| Posted: Sept 15 2012 at 5:58pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
margot helene wrote:
Jen Mackintosh contributed the cover images (both front and back cover). Yeah Jen!!
|
|
|
It looks like a Jen Mack photo!
margot helene wrote:
| I only printed 100 calendars (on cardstock) and we'll give them to the first 100 orders. After that, if it seems popular, we could offer them for sale. |
|
|
That is incentive - I'm ordering to try to be in the first 100.
__________________
Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JennGM
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702
|
| Posted: Sept 15 2012 at 7:19pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
AmandaV wrote:
| What about for those of us in the deeper South, with milder Winters and hotter summers? Will we find much to use? We are in South Texas and the price is a little high for my current budget, though, I'm sure the price is worth it! |
|
|
When I first got this book, I was a little dubious that I could apply Canadian seasons to my life. But the book has many things that are found and true in any place that isn't tropical. Your months might be off, as in a shorter winter, longer warm spells. But I remember living in Houston and Shreveport, we still lost leaves on the trees in winter, although fewer trees, since many were pines. But our oaks would turn brown and lose leaves. We had one maple tree on our block that would change colors, and we enjoyed the colors so much!
The autumn and winter focus of the plants, animals, and birds is less prominent, but it's there, and makes you and your children even more observant to find the clues. Now if you're in a place where the birds fly south during the winter, that would be the focus in the chapter on that!
But there are way more things than just the change of seasons. Weather, precipitation, seeds, bulbs, plants, indoor ideas, outdoor gardening, wildflowers, trees and shrubs, weeds, birds, stars.....
Now for where we lived there was always a sliver of a chance of some kind of frozen precipitation once every few years, and so it never was lost on me to learn about the snow and such.
__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JennGM
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702
|
| Posted: Nov 15 2012 at 10:07am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Bumping this. I'm a little late, but I received my copy and the reprint by Hillside is so well done. Natural Science through the Seasons is a wonderful book. There was a typo on the first batch, so you can order a discounted book for $5.00 savings.
This is one of my favorite go-to books for our nature study reference. The fall section is one of my favorites.
__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
AmandaV
Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 27 2009
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 707
|
| Posted: Nov 15 2012 at 10:18am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Margot, I couldn't jump in on the per sale. Any chance you could add a few preview pages? I have HNS and Type lessons ... It sounds better but a preview would really help!
Amanda
__________________
Amanda
wife since 6/03, Mom to son 7/04, daughter 2/06, twin sons 6/08 and son 7/11, son 1/2014
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
margot helene
Forum Pro
Joined: Feb 26 2006
Location: Pennsylvania
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 350
|
| Posted: Nov 17 2012 at 11:09am | IP Logged
|
|
|
AmandaV wrote:
Any chance you could add a few preview pages? I have HNS and Type lessons ... It sounds better but a preview would really help!
Amanda |
|
|
Hi Amanda,
I'll send my email to your PM and then maybe you can email me so I'll have YOUR email and then I can send you some samples. You are reminding me that I need to get samples on the website!!
Margot
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Forum Locked) 
4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
Topic: Nature Science Through the Seasons
