The art and heart of homeschooling
We ventured out on a recent wintry afternoon in search of rocks in our own backyard. We didn’t find any right away. We did see a few, red clay covered lumps or stones. Monthly Outdoor Hour Challenges newsletter – a free download for Handbook of Nature Study subscribers. We had peeked at the nature study grid by the back door before we headed out. So
The last days of summer have lingered here in the south as expected. Steamy, humid weather hung on after recent tropical gulf storms. Yet, even so, we’ve noticed the days growing shorter, a few leaves starting to fall. And just when we were getting eager for cooler weather… it came over the weekend with refreshing breezes and gentle rain. Preparing us for fall. If a
“Mama, I need a towel because I did one of the nature prompts,” she calls through the cracked open back door. I look and her feet are covered in clay. I smile. “Make a little mud and walk through it in your bare feet.” ~ August Outdoor Hour Challenge Newsletter Earlier I had printed the Outdoor Hour Challenges nature study grid and placed it in
On a sunny Friday in December we went to visit Mama Ann. Visiting Mama Ann always includes some outdoor time and usually a walk over to the garden. (You can just see Mama Ann’s house through the woods in the photo, above. Her wonderful creek is just between this swing and her house. We know how blessed we are to enjoy Mama Ann, continue to
Here’s a little story about our nature studies over the last week… Insects. When a millipede interrupts math you just might have to open the front door to put it back outside. Capturing the millipede, gently in a paper cup, of course prompts an Eldest Boy to share a comparison list of millipedes vs. centipedes he recently learned from his Apologia Biology text. Opening the
Friday, right before lunch, he calls from the treehouse again. “Come see! Come see! It’s a spider web!” Lil’ Buddy alerts us that the spider moved its web to the top of the slide. I come with my camera and join the gathering. We are struck by the beauty of the web. We just sit and watch. See how the web is attached? See how
