Nature Studies: Discover the Wonders of Creation
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A love of science starts with a sense of wonder. Help your children see the world with new eyes. “If the trees and flowers, the clouds and the wind, all tell wonderful stories to the child, he has sources of happiness of which no power can deprive him.” -From Well-Educated Heart
A heart-based science program begins with Nature Studies for young children. We love the stories on the Libraries of Hope site! These wonderful stories in combination with nature study adventures provide a strong science foundation for children to build upon.
The John Muir Laws website has some wonderful resources about nature journaling. Click here to learn more. |
A few simple supplies are all that is necessary to begin:
The following resources provide great instruction for creating a Nature Study program for your children.
How Nature Study Should Be Taught by Edward Bigelow Handbook of Nature Study Blog: How we use Nature Study Raising Little Shoots: Exploring Nature with Children Create a Nature Journal |
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Books from Claire Walker Leslie are recommended in the video to the right. Here's a link to her books: http://www.clarewalkerleslie.com/books.htm
Lily & Thistle - Living a Creative Life at Home: This blog has some fun and simple ideas for families to enjoy nature journaling.
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Check out this adorable and easy nature journals that you can make with your children. Get the instructions along with some other nature study ideas at the Simply Rachel blog.
Gold Medal, 2016 Foreword INDIES Book Award. A potent combination of art, science, and boundless enthusiasm, the latest art instruction book from John Muir Laws is a how-to guide for becoming a better artist and a more attentive naturalist. In straightforward text complemented by step-by-step illustrations, dozens of exercises lead the hand and mind through creating accurate reproductions of plants and animals as well as landscapes, skies, and more.
Available on Amazon and at other book sellers. How to Teach Nature Journaling by John Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren. Available June 2020. 31 hands-on field activities to connect art, science, math, and critical thinking, while encouraging students and mentors alike to recognize and record the wonder and beauty in the natural world.Expanding on the philosophy and methods of The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling, John Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren have developed an unparalleled and comprehensive guide to using nature journaling as a tool to engage young people with the outdoors. This teacher-friendly book combines curriculum plans, practical advice, and in-the-field experience so that educators of all stripes can bring journaling to their students or families. Full-color illustrations and sample journal pages from notable naturalists and novices show how to put each lesson into practice.
Click here to learn more. |
Nature Study:
Stories, Adventures, and Sketches for the Seasons
Download a free copy of the Nature Study Resource Guide for a list of stories, adventures, and nature notebook ideas to match the seasons.
Stories, Adventures, and Sketches for the Seasons
Download a free copy of the Nature Study Resource Guide for a list of stories, adventures, and nature notebook ideas to match the seasons.
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The Resource Guide may be used year after year for children 4-10. Simply choose and record the stories and experiences used each year to avoid duplication.
Seasonal Nature Study: The Cottage Press also provides some free online nature study resources connected with the seasons. Click here to learn more.
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The following resources are included in the Nature Study Resource Guide
The Forgotten Classics from Libraries of Hope provides a collection of wonderful stories from History, Literature, Art, Music, and Nature.
The Nature Study Resource Guide will focus on books from the Nature, Art and Music Series in the Forgotten Classics Collection. Stories of Nature from the Story Hour Series is also included in the Resource Guide. |
Nature Notebook from The Good and the Beautiful. Help your children explore nature and enjoy writing through notebooks and journals that encourage exploration, imagination, love of nature, and appreciation for God and his wonderful creations.
This 117-page, spiral bound nature notebook is beautifully designed and carefully planned to help children gain an inquisitive and grateful mind as they explore the beauties and wonders of nature. Available from The Good and the Beautiful |
Beginning at age 8, children may be encouraged to begin a more systematic approach to science using Science in the Beginning from Berean Builders. Families may continue to enjoy the stories from the Nature, Art and Music Series while participating in the science experiments from Science in the Beginning.
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My Book House includes several poems and stories about the world of nature. The Resource Guide includes several poems and stories from Books 2-5 from the My Book House Collection. As a general rule, the books progress in level of difficulty. Younger children will enjoy poems from Book 2 while older children may find the poems in Book 5 more appealing.
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If you own the Childcraft Encyclopedia, you may enjoy the stories and poems about nature found in Books 1-3. Childcraft also includes a separate volume for World and Space, The Green Kingdom, and The Animal Kingdom. Stories and poems from Childcraft are included in the Resource Guide
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Engaging Stories to Develop a Child's Sense of Wonder
The Nature, Art, and Music Series available for purchase from Libraries of Hope
January through Mid-March: Rocks, Oceans, and Stars
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Mid-March through May: Animals, Birds, and Insects
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June through August: Plants, Trees, and Gardening
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