Category Archives for "Nature Study"

Become a Backyard Naturalist

By Holly Giles | Great Outdoors , Nature Study

Become a Backyard Naturalist A naturalist is someone who studies living things in their habitat. Naturalists observes the same thing over time to see how it changes. Backyard naturalists appreciate nature, the life and behavior of plants, animals and other living things. You and your children can become naturalists by observing the changes in nature […]

Nature Morning Time

By Holly Giles | homeschooling , Nature Study

Morning time seems to be a buzz word lately. We have been doing a form of it for eleven years in our home I call table time. Anyway you name it, it is a wonderful way for the family to be together at a specific time of day to read, write or learn about topics […]

Nature Study Made Easy: Wildflowers

By Holly Giles | Great Outdoors , homeschooling , Nature Study

Now is the time to add wildflowers to your homeschooling nature study. Yes, it can be easy! For some reason studying wildflowers seems daunting. Where do you find them and how in the world do you figure out what they are? Start in your yard, or your neighbors. Most of our area does not […]

Nature Study Made Easy with an Egg Carton

By Holly Giles | Boy Crafting , Great Outdoors , handicrafts , homeschooling , Nature Study

Nature study doesn’t have to be hard. It can be as simple as a walk down your street or running around your backyard. A simple way to get outside and look at what is happening in the natural world is a scavenger hunt. Grab an egg carton, 6 colors of paint or markers and do a […]

Strawberry Season and an Easy Canning Recipe

By Holly Giles | Field Trips , homeschooling , Nature Study , Recipes

It is time to get picking again. Grab a basket and head to the nearest u-pick farm for some tasty fun and a math lesson. Strawberries are my favorite fruit to pick. I have loved them since I was a little girl. Maybe it was my grandmother’s short cake that made them so good. Either […]

Simple Gifts: Nature in a Jar

By Holly Giles | handicrafts , homeschooling , Nature Study

This simple craft can lead to many nature study adventures. You never know when excitement over a frog or butterfly will insue! I am always looking for simple projects to keep us at home and enjoying what is around us. Keeping simple jars around ready to fill with wonder is at the heart of nature study. The […]

The Joy of Self Directed Summer Nature Study

By Holly Giles | Boy Crafting , Great Outdoors , homeschooling , Nature Study

We love nature study, but sometimes planning it seems to take the joy out of spontaneous interests in the out-of-doors. Although my boys love a good show from the hawks out back or a new bird that shows up, they can balk at a scheduled time to go sit and draw what they see in nature. (yes, […]

Falconry and Birds of Prey

By Holly Giles | Field Trips , Great Outdoors , homeschooling , Nature Study

Our homeschool co-op visited the Avian Reconditioning Center in Apopka, FL and were treated with a real wildlife show. ARC has been serving the bird of prey community for ten years by Carol and Scott. They have turned their property into a haven for rescue birds and rehabilitation. They work with area officials and clinics […]

Manatee at Blue Spring State Park

By Holly Giles | Field Trips , Great Outdoors , homeschooling , Nature Study

Visiting Blue Spring State Park in Orange City Florida is always a highlight during a Florida winter. Manatee come from all over the country to wait out the cool water temperatures in the spring which is a constant 72 degrees. Our co-op met up one chilly morning recently to see the gentle giants up close. […]

Discover Hontoon Island, A Nature Walk

By Holly Giles | Field Trips , Great Outdoors , homeschooling , Nature Study

The wonderful Florida weather beckons us to be outside! We met up with some friends for a day at Hontoon Island State Park. Come along with us to this hidden Florida gem. Hontoon Island sits along the St. John’s river in Volusia county. It is accessible only by boat. It is a treasure trove of […]

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