Nature Study in Your Homeschool - Tips and Tricks

I am not an outdoors type of person. Sure, I like being outside (specifically the BEACH), but I'm not a camper, hiker, or sportswoman. 

In five years of homeschooling, however, I have seen that nature study is one of the best time investments you can make in your homeschool.

Not only does it foster a love and appreciation for God's creation, but it also is a wonderful way for a family to spend time together. No matter what kind of day we are having, a nature walk seems to make it all better.

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Look What the UPS Man Brought Me!

My own copy of Handbook of Nature Study arrived today! Is it wrong to want to make everyone fend for themselves for dinner, ignore baths and storytime and just sit and read myself? If there's one thing I have realized in the past two years it is how little I know! Homeschooling is a humbling experience, and one I am so grateful to have.

A friend of mine whom I admire very much loaned me her copy of A Pocketful of Pinecones. I have loved every minute of this sweet book, and it is inspiring me to be a better mother and seeker of knowledge - specifically knowledge of our natural world. Handbook of Nature Study was mentioned so many times throughout the book, so I invested in my own copy. What a treasure.

Have you read these books? Do you use a nature study guide that you particularly love? I'm trying to learn as much as possible, so please share with me!

Linking up today with A Bokros Kind of Life and Hip Homeschool Moms.

Homeschooling: A Family Affair

I hear stories of homeschooling parents whose extended families aren't always supportive of their endeavors. I consider our family so fortunate to be blessed with grandparents and aunts and uncles who support our journey and take a part in our homeschooling. I am even amazed at how, while some of them live far from us, they make an effort to help. I appreciate this so much, because sometimes homeschooling feels like a marathon, and it's nice to have your family cheering you on.

Normally the homeschool teacher is our house is me - on certain special occasions it might be my husband. I love the times when my children are learning from people other than me, especially if these people happen to be family. Last night was just such a time, and while I didn't plan it, I think my children learned a lot!

They learn how to behave at a nice dinner. Life isn't always peanut butter and jellies sitting at the kitchen table, is it? Oooooh, is my darling daughter putting her fist up to her brother's face? Surely not.

They learn about math. Believe it or not, as I was helping my father-in-law pick wine for dinner it turned into a mini math lesson (review of our 12s times tables and addition and subtraction)- this is just one of the places he keeps wine in his house.

Since my daughter loves her new pink digital camera, she learns a lot about photography -- and the interesting wall hangings in the pool table area of the basement.

They learn about things in grandaddy's yard - after dinner I sent them out with a plastic bag and asked them each to find 10 interesting things in the yard. A little nature study, right? As I was out with them it was also just a quiet time for us to have conversation, which is a cool thing to do with a five and eight year old!

It doesn't look like the figs are quite ready to pick yet, either.

After the treasures from outside had been spread on the table,

Aunt Julie showed Anna that the branch from the Tulip Poplar tree makes a great set of antlers!

And, what night would be complete without a game of "Steal the Pack"?

One of the real benefits of homeschooling is that it changes the way your family looks at every situation. Every moment is an opportunity for us to learn - and while yesterday didn't get marked on our attendance sheet towards the required 180 days of school required by the state, I know we were learning!

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