Nature study has been a joy to embark upon as a family! When we first started with nature study, though, we didn’t really know what to do. We just walked outside and looked around trying to discover whatever was in our backyard. Eventually, I came across The Nature Connection workbook, which included explanations of scientific concepts, tips for drawing (plants, animals, landscapes, and other observations), scavenger hunts, and several fascinating ways to capture what we were finding on our nature walks. One thing we discovered was that a scavenger hunt/checklist can open our eyes to look more closely at the world around us. Three years ago, we used this in our homeschool community to provide a catalyst for discovery. The students folded the sheet in half and attached them to small clipboards as they searched the grounds for nature treasures. The students recorded drawings from their science projects/nature walks into simple nature journals made of computer paper with a cardstock cover. (They even sketched and labeled their crayfish in their homemade journals!) Thinking back, I realized that I’ve never shared our nature walk checklist because I thought it might be too simple for others to find valuable. Yet… it’s such a fun way to explore nature.
Here’s hoping that this will be a catalyst for getting your family or community outside to enjoy nature!