Nature Study Week 2: The Moon

One of my goals for 2017 was to be more intentional about Nature Study for the four youngest children (5,7,9, and 11).  I want to do Nature Study once a week around a specific theme.  I remembered a friend mentioning a resource she bought at the beginning of the school year and after taking a look at it decided this might be what I needed to help make sure I actually get it done.  I bought Exploring Nature With Children , an ebook with 48 nature study ideas, a poem to go along with your theme, the name of a piece of art work to look up, books, and extension activities.  She also lists coordinating pages from Handbook of Nature Study if you have that book and are interested in looking up more information.



Our week 1 Nature Study was on the winter sky, and it was a bit challenging!

Week 2 was on the moon.

We did this nature study in a couple of different parts.  During our school day, we talked about the moon and the different phases of the moon. We read the recommended poem on the moon and looked at the recommended piece of art.

We could not draw the moon until it was out of course.  So that evening the children went out and drew the moon in their nature journals.  I kind of thought they would make small sketches of what the moon looked like over a period of several days, but they did larger sketches of what the moon looked like in the sky.  They went back out the next night and did another drawing for their nature journals.

Happy Homeschooling!