Nature Walk

These are from back in early October, but you don't mind that, right?  Just some pictures of us getting out for a Nature Walk, i.e. a walk.  ;)


We went to a cool little area nearby that has trails through the woods and some bridges over a stream. I did urge the kids to observe what they saw, heard, smelled and felt as we walked, but also let them just enjoy being out in nature.

I appreciate this article entitled "The Love and Lure of Nature Walks." The author mentions 7 benefits to get out into nature with your kids:

1. Gaining observational and life skills, as well as actually experiencing school lessons so that they become relevant
2. Understanding the connectedness of life 
3. Experiencing camaraderie, intimacy, and the joy of making rich family ties
4. Developing a quiet heart . . . one that can actually be still now and then, and one that can find benefits from moments of solitude
5. Becoming aware of stewardship and conservation
6. Creating a rich avenue for worship
7. Learning that nothing in nature is “common.” 

Watching geese land in a pond

Moses brought binoculars for better observation

On the bridge

Stream with a train trestle going over. A train came when we were under it!

Little birds in bushes

Baby tagging along

sleepy!

sassy pants

miss grace

Outdoor Hour Nature Study - Tree Study Grid

This year for the first time I've really started to implement nature study and nature walks into our week. Nature Study is definitely an important part of a Charlotte Mason education. I have a great ebook from Simply Charlotte Mason titled "Hours in the Out-of-Doors: A Charlotte Mason Nature Study Handbook" that has been really helpful, but what has helped me most to get outside and really dive into nature study has been the Handbook of Nature Study Blog.

Many homeschoolers are familiar with Anna Comstock's classic Handbook of Nature Study (in fact, the copy I'm using is the same my mother used to teach me and my siblings!) but because it's such a large, comprehensive book, it can be a little overwhelming to use. Enter the Handbook of Nature Study blog and the monthly Outdoor Hour Challenges! When you sign up for her newsletter, you'll get 4 "challenges" a month, along with page references for HNS, extra printables, and ideas to implement your nature study. Super awesome helpful!

We've done a few of the Outdoor Hour Challenges through September and October, but this is the first one I've managed to blog about. I'm adding a link to the Outdoor Hour Challenge carnival as well so you can check out how other homeschoolers have used this great resource.

On this day we were using the Tree Study Grid on our walk to the park. (You can see a picture or the Tree Study Grid here. It has a bunch of different fun things to do when you're out on your nature walks that all have to do with trees. You can get your own by signing up for the newsletter.)

One of the activities was to find a tree with needles. Here Judah (age 4 1/2) is making a sketch in his nature notebook.

Most of the trees around here are already pretty bare.

"Measure the distance around three trees." Check!

Judah sketching. We were supposed to compare the front & back of a leaf.

Grace's sketch.

Moses' sketch.

Benjamin doesn't sketch - he gets to swing.

The kids were also supposed to take pictures of the different parts of a tree. Here's some roots!

Roots

Trunk

Trunk & Branches

Branches

Leaves

Grace & Lucy

A few of the remaining trees with leaves

When we got home, a jump in the leaf pile was in order!

Miss C in the leaves

This was a fun Outdoor Hour Challenge - there were some other things on the grid as well that I didn't get pictures of, like reading a library book on trees, learning about a tree close to your house, and observing birds in trees. The grid is easy to bring with you on walks and check off throughout the week! 

Linking to the Outdoor Hour Challenge.