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Home » Blog » Cultivating Curiosity with Nature Study in Your Homeschool

in Faith & Gratitude· HomeSchooling· Nature Studies· Parenting

Cultivating Curiosity with Nature Study in Your Homeschool

Cultivating curiosity with nature study in your homeschool is simply a delight. It comes naturally with just a bit of practice. Here is how independent nature study went one day in our homeschool.

Cultivating curiosity with nature study in your homeschool is simply a delight. It comes naturally with just a bit of practice.

“Mama, I need a towel because I did one of the nature prompts,” she calls through the cracked open back door. I look and her feet are covered in clay. I smile.

“Make a little mud and walk through it in your bare feet.” ~ August Outdoor Hour Challenge Newsletter

Cultivating Curiosity with Nature Study in Your Homeschool

Earlier I had printed the Outdoor Hour Challenges nature study grid and placed it in the middle of the kitchen table. She saw it after she finished up her math. She was sliding her flip flops on to run out the back door and swing.

“Can I have this all for myself?” she asks. “Sure,” I say. “Have fun.” She takes the paper and a pencil. I watch through the kitchen window while I tuck dishes in the dishwasher.

how to enjoy homeschool nature study in your own backyard

She’s six. And she’s had practice. We’ve noticed nature together for some time now. And for some time now, she’s pointed things out to me. She wants to study nature as part of her day. Curiosity with nature study.

making nature observations

She took the grid and went out in the backyard by herself. I had the pleasure of watching this first grader of mine. And I had a very hard time keeping myself inside. “Sit quietly in the garden for 5 minutes. What did you hear? What did you see?”

Because she made it look like such fun.

Back inside, she circled the things she did. Find three leaves of different shapes.

nature journaling in homeschool

She draws a flower with a spiral. And she tells me all she did. All she heard. She noticed.

nature study close to home

And I listen and smile. “I dug for worms but I didn’t find any,” she says. The rest of the children take notice and start their own curiosity with nature study time. And I am grateful…

  • seeing the delight!
  • mud, Georgia red clay
  • visit with great-grandmother on a Saturday, having a picnic on her screened porch, watching birds on her feeder
  • noticing the last days of summer sorts of things. Only a few hydrangea blossoms, shorter days
  • the sound of the swing set
  • sudden downpours of rain
  • the promise of fall nature study ahead!
  • all the simple nature prompts that remind us to enjoy

A fiery sunset, tiny pansies by the wayside, the sound of raindrops tapping on the roof – what extraordinary delight we find in the simple wonders of life! With wide eyes and full hearts, we may cherish what others often miss. ~ author unknown

Counting the gifts of curiosity through nature study #4113-4126. Published August 2012.

Related

Filed Under: Faith & Gratitude, HomeSchooling, Nature Studies, Parenting Tagged With: 1000 gifts, gratitude, Handbook of Nature Study, outdoor hour challenge

About Hodgepodgemom

Tricia faces a daily dose of chaos homeschooling five children. The biggest lesson she’s learned? At the end of the day – when the dishes are put away and the children are tucked in bed – truly what matters is each child’s relationship with the Lord. Raising children is a God-given privilege and, folks, the time is short.

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Comments

  1. Barb-Harmony Art Mom says

    August 20, 2012 at 8:00 AM

    Made my day….no, probably my whole week. 🙂

    Dear Little Girl,
    So how did it feel to have all that squishy red dirt under your toes? Thank you for letting your mom share your outdoor time with me and everyone else too. You inspire us all.

    Thank you for being such a great example.
    Barb

    Reply
    • Hodgepodgemom says

      August 20, 2012 at 9:19 AM

      She says, “it felt squishy!” – Thank you for inspiring us, Barb. For the joy nature study brings our homeschool.

      Reply
  2. Phyllis at All Things Beautiful says

    August 20, 2012 at 8:44 AM

    Wonderful…..full of wonder.

    Reply
  3. Meredith_in_Aus says

    August 20, 2012 at 9:15 AM

    Hi Tricia

    I think this is my first time commenting on your lovely blog. I’ve been following for a few months now and loving it.

    This was a WONDERFUL and inspiring post. I was wondering where you got the grid from. I popped over to the Outdoor Hour site and poked around for a bit but couldn’t seem to find it. Do I need to buy it? (I’ve been thinking of buying the Outdoor Hour Challenge e-book but haven’t managed to eke out the time to do it.) This grid looks like a nice way to start observing in the backyard.

    Thanks for the great post.

    In Him

    Meredith

    Reply
    • Hodgepodgemom says

      August 20, 2012 at 9:23 AM

      Hi Meredith – I’m so glad you are enjoying Hodgepodge. And thank you for pointing out that I neglected to give a little more detail on that nature study grid. It is available as a free download each month in the Handbook of Nature Study Outdoor Hour newsletter. All you need to do it subscribe and the newsletter is available at the bottom of HBNS blog feed all month. All details here: http://handbookofnaturestudy.blogspot.com/2012/08/handbook-of-nature-study-august-2012.html The grid is a wonderful visual included each month. We really look forward to it!

      Reply
      • Meredith_in_Aus says

        August 20, 2012 at 9:28 AM

        Wow, that was fast! Thanks so much.

        M

        Reply
  4. Nana says

    August 20, 2012 at 11:22 AM

    Glorious, glorious pictures…She is making so many wonderful memories…and the six-year-old is too!!

    Forever,
    N.

    Reply
  5. crafty_cristy says

    August 21, 2012 at 2:15 PM

    This was wonderful. I am planning a post about the OHC grid this month, too. I hope to have it finished in time for the blog carnival.

    Reply
  6. Makita says

    August 31, 2012 at 7:16 PM

    Love her initiative! Kudos!

    Reply

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