This year I’ve decided to add Nature Study to our weeks. Not only is it a wonderful way to get the kids outdoors connecting with nature, but I’ll get outside as well.
I chose Exploring Nature with Children as our spine. It contains 48 weeks of themed and guided lessons for a full years’ worth of study. Each week contains a themed nature walk, a themed booklist, references to the Handbook of Nature Study, a piece of art, a poem and activities. It can be used by all ages and is best suited for those that live in the northern hemisphere experiencing all 4 seasons.
I went ahead and purchased extras like a magnifying glass (getting a few more so each child can have their own), field guides and the Nature Anatomy book by Julia Rothman to enhance our study. Each child with have their own nature journal and set of pencils and watercolor paints to capture what they see each week.
If you decide to add Nature Study to your year, consider bringing along a bag or basket so that your children can collect items they find. Think about setting up a small area in your home to display the items so children can visit it often.