Nature Study
General Information, Resources, and Links on Nature Study
What is Nature Study?
Teaching Science in a Charlotte Mason way utilizes Narration just like everything else. Children need to tell back what they see and learn. Nature Study is a way to learn science by interacting with the world around them. They can use the habit of careful attention to observe both living and non-living things in the universe. Plants, animals, stars, clouds, weather, rocks, water...all of these things are created by God and very good. Charlotte Mason wanted children to come into a relationship with God's good creation so they knew it well and so they knew Him. As children go on nature walks they can observe these things and then narrate about them through word and picture in their nature notebooks. This is a type of nature journal to help them process and remember what they are learning in their science studies.
Teaching Nature Study at Spread the Feast Co-op:
Nature study at co-op should look something like the photo above. Our whole group will usually be outside on a nature walk for about 30 minutes making observations about a certain, planned topic. This will be led by one mom who will guide the children's observations and present any pertinent introductory information. Then the children will observe and discuss what they are studying. Following this discussion time, we will spend the next 30 minutes narrating about what we learned in our nature notebooks through sketching or Dry-brush painting. This is an independent activity for the most part. If the weather permits we will do our notebook entries on our walk. The students make a drawing of the object being observed as carefully as they can and include every detail they see. They also include the date and name of the object/animal and any descriptions they'd like to included. Sometimes it's also nice to include a poem about what we are studying.
Articles and Resources to help you teach:
Amblesideonline.org:
Here is Ambleside online's info about Nature Study -
These are also some book ideas scheduled on Ambleside's site.
Some discussion to help you get a better grasp of how Nature Study works.
An Article from a 1930 Journal of a CM School - The Charm of Nature Study
Simply Charlotte Mason - http://simplycharlottemason.com:
Here is Simply Charlotte Mason's blog about Nature Study.
SCM - ideas
8 Reasons to do Nature study
Nature Study Success Story
Small Steps: Nature Study Help for Mom
Nature Study Resources
Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock
A Guide to Nature in Winter by Donald W. Stokes
Discover Nature in Winter by Elizabeth P. Lawlor
Discover Nature Around the House by Lawlor
Through Minnesota’s Seasons with Jim Gilbert
Jim Gilbert’s Minnesota Nature Notes
Keeping a Nature Journal by Clare Walker Leslie & Charles E. Roth
Field Guides
The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady by Edith Holden
The Nature Notes of an Edwardian Lady by Holden
Madam How and Lady Why by Charles Kingsley (Purpose to delight children with wonders of the world and encourage them to make their own discoveries)
Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv
Jim Arnosky’s books
Thornton Burgess books for children(bird, animal, flower, seashell)
www.handbookofnaturestudy.blogspot.com
www.squidoo.com/cmnaturestudy
http://simplycharlottemason.com/books/hours-in-the-out-of-doors/
List provided by Karla Taber at Living Education Retreat 2011
Teaching Science in a Charlotte Mason way utilizes Narration just like everything else. Children need to tell back what they see and learn. Nature Study is a way to learn science by interacting with the world around them. They can use the habit of careful attention to observe both living and non-living things in the universe. Plants, animals, stars, clouds, weather, rocks, water...all of these things are created by God and very good. Charlotte Mason wanted children to come into a relationship with God's good creation so they knew it well and so they knew Him. As children go on nature walks they can observe these things and then narrate about them through word and picture in their nature notebooks. This is a type of nature journal to help them process and remember what they are learning in their science studies.
Teaching Nature Study at Spread the Feast Co-op:
Nature study at co-op should look something like the photo above. Our whole group will usually be outside on a nature walk for about 30 minutes making observations about a certain, planned topic. This will be led by one mom who will guide the children's observations and present any pertinent introductory information. Then the children will observe and discuss what they are studying. Following this discussion time, we will spend the next 30 minutes narrating about what we learned in our nature notebooks through sketching or Dry-brush painting. This is an independent activity for the most part. If the weather permits we will do our notebook entries on our walk. The students make a drawing of the object being observed as carefully as they can and include every detail they see. They also include the date and name of the object/animal and any descriptions they'd like to included. Sometimes it's also nice to include a poem about what we are studying.
Articles and Resources to help you teach:
Amblesideonline.org:
Here is Ambleside online's info about Nature Study -
These are also some book ideas scheduled on Ambleside's site.
Some discussion to help you get a better grasp of how Nature Study works.
An Article from a 1930 Journal of a CM School - The Charm of Nature Study
Simply Charlotte Mason - http://simplycharlottemason.com:
Here is Simply Charlotte Mason's blog about Nature Study.
SCM - ideas
8 Reasons to do Nature study
Nature Study Success Story
Small Steps: Nature Study Help for Mom
Nature Study Resources
Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock
A Guide to Nature in Winter by Donald W. Stokes
Discover Nature in Winter by Elizabeth P. Lawlor
Discover Nature Around the House by Lawlor
Through Minnesota’s Seasons with Jim Gilbert
Jim Gilbert’s Minnesota Nature Notes
Keeping a Nature Journal by Clare Walker Leslie & Charles E. Roth
Field Guides
The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady by Edith Holden
The Nature Notes of an Edwardian Lady by Holden
Madam How and Lady Why by Charles Kingsley (Purpose to delight children with wonders of the world and encourage them to make their own discoveries)
Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv
Jim Arnosky’s books
Thornton Burgess books for children(bird, animal, flower, seashell)
www.handbookofnaturestudy.blogspot.com
www.squidoo.com/cmnaturestudy
http://simplycharlottemason.com/books/hours-in-the-out-of-doors/
List provided by Karla Taber at Living Education Retreat 2011
Spring 2016 - Mammals
Fall 2015- Fungi/Mushrooms
Fall 2011
We will be studying Insects, Trees, and Apples for our nature study. The group will go on a nature walk, observe the nature around them, and make an entry in the nature notebook - either a drawing, painting, or description and maybe a poem or quote about the object they choose to enter.
Fall 2015- Fungi/Mushrooms
Fall 2011
We will be studying Insects, Trees, and Apples for our nature study. The group will go on a nature walk, observe the nature around them, and make an entry in the nature notebook - either a drawing, painting, or description and maybe a poem or quote about the object they choose to enter.
Insects - Week 1 & 2
Pollinators - Bees and Butterflies
God's Design - Everything Has a purpose.
Pests - Japanese Beetles, mosquitoes, ticks ( or possibly Ants and Anthill observations)
The Fall of Man and Creation - toil, pain, pestilence
Apples - Week 3
Visit apple orchard, pick apples, talk about pollination and growth of fruit, observe parts of tree and fruit. Make Applesauce for Handicraft.
Trees - Week 4, 5, & 6
Fall Leaves/ Deciduous, Leaf prints
Conifers/Pine cones
Tree Structure - How trees grow
Conifers/Pine cones
Tree Structure - How trees grow
