“We are all meant to be naturalists, each in his own degree, and it is inexcusable to live in a world so full of the marvels of plant and animal life and to care for none of these things.”
~Charlotte Mason
~Charlotte Mason
Nature Study
Each week, we set aside a few hours in a day to do nature study. I believe this is one of the most important things we do all week! Here are a few reasons why...
1. Nature study allows our children to learn about God as Creator of our world.
2. Nature study cultivates a love for God's creation.
3. Nature study gives our children a firsthand connection and sense experience with our world.
4. Nature study teaches our children to closely observe and pay attention to detail.
5. Nature study prepares our children for more involved and formal science lessons.
Here is how I prepare for nature study...
Before the day of nature study, I choose a focus of study. If possible, I try to match it up with the seasonal celebration that we are doing at the time or are about to do. For example, if we are celebrating butterflies with stories, poems, and songs at home then our nature study might focus on butterflies that week. After I choose our focus, I pick a living science book and handicraft that fit with our focus. One final thing I do to prepare for nature study, is choose the proper location to conduct the study. This could be our backyard or a nearby park depending on our focus.
Here is how we do it...
Focus: Butterflies
1. Nature study allows our children to learn about God as Creator of our world.
2. Nature study cultivates a love for God's creation.
3. Nature study gives our children a firsthand connection and sense experience with our world.
4. Nature study teaches our children to closely observe and pay attention to detail.
5. Nature study prepares our children for more involved and formal science lessons.
Here is how I prepare for nature study...
Before the day of nature study, I choose a focus of study. If possible, I try to match it up with the seasonal celebration that we are doing at the time or are about to do. For example, if we are celebrating butterflies with stories, poems, and songs at home then our nature study might focus on butterflies that week. After I choose our focus, I pick a living science book and handicraft that fit with our focus. One final thing I do to prepare for nature study, is choose the proper location to conduct the study. This could be our backyard or a nearby park depending on our focus.
Here is how we do it...
Focus: Butterflies
- Arrive at chosen location and begin with free play and exploration.
- Come together for the reading aloud of Monarch Butterfly of Aster Way by Elizabeth Ring and Katie Lee.
- Go out and look for butterflies in nature.
- Use a field guide like Smithsonian Handbooks: Butterflies and Moths to identify the butterflies we see.
- Record the butterflies we see in our Nature Study Journals with pictures and words.
- We like to draw pictures with colored pencils and crayons. We also enjoy painting with watercolors.
- We may just label the picture, or we may write more detailed information next to the picture.
- We love using Simply Charlotte Mason's Journaling a Year in Nature.
- Do a handicraft: woven yarn butterflies.
- Enjoy a picnic lunch.
Our Nature Study Essentials
Our Favorite Nature Guides and Handbooks (DK Smithsonian)
