Nature Study in Our Homeschool~Relaxed, Fun, and Educational

We have been doing some description or another of Nature Study for many years, long before we were officially homeschooling.  I have always had an interest in Nature, and knew that I would pass it down to my children. 

If we give our children regular opportunities to get in touch with God’s creation, a habit is formed which will be a source of delight throughout their lives. ~ Karen Andreola, Charlotte Mason Companion

For our family this is more to Nature Study then drawing and writing.  For some of our children drawing or writing, would take all the joy out of God’s creation.  They wouldn’t be able to learn as much either.  We have modified your typical nature study to suit the needs of our children, much like we have done with nearly all our curriculum.

For Nature Study, I find it far more important to teach them about what they observe.  This helps them better understand the wonder of God’s creation.

Why the Viceroy Butterfly is marked like a Monarch?

Why some animals are capable of changing color to blend in with their changing surroundings?

Why the Buckeye has wings that look like eyeballs?

Many of these questions would be swept under the rug by requiring drawing and writing for our children as part of their nature study at this point.  One of our children really struggles with written work.  I want Nature Study to be fun for him. 

To simplify our Nature Study, we take lots of pictures.  Our oldest is learning about digital photography, and enjoys it.   

One way, I use our photography of our Nature Studies is on my blog.  I host Nature Study Tuesday, a weekly meme in hopes of gathering bits of nature each week from around the world.

I also have tons of books about animals, trees, plants, weather, and so forth.  My children can often be found looking through these books in hopes of learning more about the latest piece of Nature they have found.

Take a look at what other members of TOSCrew have to say about their Nature Studies.