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Home » Blog » Deliberate Delight – Nature Study

in Habits for a Happy Mom· Habits for Happy Kids· Habits for life· Homeschool Habits

Deliberate Delight – Nature Study

“Make this summer a time to learn a little something new about your world. Finding time for these challenges will help this summer be one that your child will not only learn something new but make special seasonal memories for a lifetime.” – Barbara McCoy

Lightening bugs. Frogs. Raccoons. Owls. Mosquitoes. Ants. Trees. Weather. Even bats.

That’s what we’ve studied this summer. Just about once a week, we deliberately studied nature. But really. The children and I didn’t think of it as study. It was our summer fun. To take notice right when everything is growing, blooming and croaking.

Back in the winter, I was inspired by Angie to begin Outdoor Hour Challenges. She and her boys just have such a great time! Compared to her family and many others we are new to this.

We started small. About one, maybe two studies a month. Just simple studies of daily things in our own backyard.

We got into a routine. Kerri had mentioned she and her family do just ‘one more thing’ together after lunch. So I took that idea. Whenever the fancy struck, I gathered our field guides. I put them in a pile in the middle of the kitchen table. While the children ate lunch I read the excerpt from the Handbook of Nature Study.  We’d push back, leave the lunch dishes and forge out into… the backyard!

With practice, it became easy. When we first started I didn’t even have the suggested text, I just pulled from what we had. See, I’ve always loved nature. Oh, I really love birds.

Gardening. It’s in my blood. Fair-skinned, hate-to-sweat girl that I am. And, oh, the wonderful things I’ve learned myself. Not only about God’s creation but about simply spending this precious time with my children. This. This is what was lacking in our day-to-day. In our homeschool.

I’m not sure why I originally found it difficult to add nature study in on top of what we were already doing. Maybe it was the busyness of a growing family, needs of toddlers and the fumbling of fractions.

This answer sort of came about on its own. By just stepping outside. By practicing. Seeing what we might need.  Figuring out which weekday is easier. Or when the weather might be better. And throwing in a bit of spontaneity. Plus mixing in the encouragement of the Handbook of Nature Study community – all the other families enjoying the same type discoveries. Of course, topped off by the gentle nudges and examples by blog owner and hostess, Barb-Harmony Art Mom.

Before we knew it these studies found their way into our routine once a week. “What are we studying this week Mama?” I rolled in our science text along with our topic.

All of the challenges are offered free of charge but ebooks are available for purchase. Notebook pages all ready. Challenges in a pdf. Print it so you are ready to go. The summer… stretched ahead and we had only to enjoy nature.

“Where do you get these pages? the eldest asked. I explained. “How do you know how to pull out that storybook to go with it? How did you know that there is a close up photo of a lightening bug in that book?” Practice. Using and enjoying what we have. Finding out what works.

Now, all our science texts, field guides, binoculars, nature notebooks and journals are housed in a bookcase. Right next to the kitchen table. So it’s easy. Easy to go outside, leave the rest for later. Easy to grab what we need and step out the back door.

And even easier to delight.

Oh, and I haven’t even mentioned how nature studies led to art…

I encourage you to make a deliberate habit to delight. Simple studies, right in your own backyard, will enrich your lives more than you know.

There’s still more than a month worth of summer studies to join in on. Then fall… always new or past studies to jump in on. Click Handbook of Nature Study.

Interested in more? Click over to any of our nature studies at Hodgepodge.

Harmony Art Mom also hosts the weekly Sketch Tuesday. (Another habit we’ve started! 🙂 )

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6 Comments

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. Jenny says

    August 10, 2010 at 1:25 PM

    A giant grasshopper jumped on the window near our couch last night as I was reading our current read-aloud. I allowed Andrew to focus on that more than listen to the book. I thought I would help him get a closer look by opening the shade…stupid me…he jumped off. I was bummed but not him. I think after reading your post we will go outside and see if we can find him today. I bought a Texas insects book at Costco hoping to find a pic of a bug we found a few weeks ago..no luck…either some variation or non-native. Thanks for the encouragement.

    Reply
  2. Kerri says

    August 11, 2010 at 8:08 AM

    This is wonderful! We are planning to do much more deliberate nature study this year and will probably be using Barb’s nature studies.

    Reply
  3. See Jamie blog says

    August 17, 2010 at 9:42 PM

    Love this. Last year we slacked off our nature studies and I really missed it. This year, I’m making a point to get back into it and finally make it a real habit.

    Reply
  4. Lizzie says

    August 17, 2010 at 10:08 PM

    Lovely!

    Reply
  5. Gina says

    August 18, 2010 at 2:53 PM

    I’m just starting out on this homeschool adventure and wondering how to “fit it all in”. Your post was a breath of fresh air and the encouragement I needed!
    Gina

    Reply
  6. Tricia says

    August 18, 2010 at 3:35 PM

    Nature study truly is what was lacking in our learning. It’s amazing what all we can incorporate into our nature studies – for the entire age range from 12 down to 2. The Outdoor Hour Challenges are such a blessing – and have helped open my eyes not only to all we can learn but the simple and easy ways of doing it.

    Reply

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