Tuesday, March 11, 2008 - Green Hour Challenge #1
I've been very inspired to get more nature study into our school week. We haven't been very faithful in this area and this was just what I needed. (Notice all the nature posts lately)
We finally got started on the challenges found at The Heart of Harmony blog.
First, we had reading homework! Handbook of Nature Study. It is something that I'm supposed to be reading for school this year anyway but it is such a big book that I didn't even know how to tackle it. Another great plus of this challenge.
Then we were to get out in nature, together, and just explore.
We went out to my Uncle's home. He has a couple of acres of land so it was perfect. Perfect but cold. We found so many interesting things!
There were quite a few deer trails across the yard. I was surprised that he knew that this was a deer without me even telling him!
There were also a lot of cat tracks. After I told him what to look for, he spotted a lot. We even followed quite a few trails. One led us across the road to another field, that is where we left it.
I learned a fascinating fact on another blog but can't remember which one. Cats put their back legs in the same spot that their front feet were in. It almost makes their tracks look like one continuous line of feet. I had never heard that before and noticed it right away as soon as it was pointed out to me. This was the best of the cat tracks because of the snow. They were mostly long lines of dots.
Then we went off on a rabbit trail.
We followed one until it disappeared and we weren't sure where it went.
Warning. This next picture may gross some of our more sensitive viewers. View at your own risk.
I don't know if it is a boy's fascination with all things gross, but then again, this mama was pretty interested in our next find. Along one of the deer trails was this pile of droppings!
We found quite a few more dropping piles.
The next track is one of the things that we are going to explore further. (Part of our assignment) I thought right away that it was a raccoon, but Cameron thinks it can be an opossum. That didn't even cross my mind. WTG son!
We've actually taken two different nature walks. So we found some VERY interesting tracks on day two.
The very interesting "Mama" tracks. Notice how this creature walks with the toes pointed out. I never noticed that before. Does this creature waddle? I hope not. I would like to think that the out turned toes are evidence of previous years of ballet experience.
The next tracks are easy to distinguish from the Mama tracks. They are somewhat smaller, do not have the graceful ballet toes and show a lack of picking up the foot completly. Something of which he is hounded on often. Notice the skid marks behind the print before this wonderful creature actually sets his foot down.
Here Cameron is under a LARGE evergreen. All the little bumps are hoof prints from the deer. He found it interesting that there wasn't much snow under the tree.
We found other things in the snow.
Cameron's find. He says it is a mushroom. This is one of the things that we are going to investigate further.
Even though it has been cold and we still have snow, there are signs of spring.
Dog wood buds
Moss
We thoroughly enjoyed our time outside, despite the cold.
Comments
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 - Such a great beginning!
Posted by HarmonyArtMom
I love all the animal tracks you found. We have been studying mammals all winter and these would have been perfect practice for us to identify.
So many interesting things, great job on this challenge. I look forward to reading more in the future.
Thanks for the link and the comment,
Barb-Harmony Art Mom
Wednesday, March 12, 2008 - fun and educational!!!
Posted by kympossible
Great nature walk stories and pictures! Good job on identifying all the tracks and getting such clear pictures of all of them. I had to LOL at the 'Mama' tracks.
Blessings,
Kym
Friday, March 14, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
I think camo is right about the tracks being oppossum. Talk to you to night, the woman behind the truth behind the lies behind the bush behind the trees. =)
Saturday, March 15, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Heather
My girls would have loved find the deer poop too. LOL Great write-up and great pictures. Have fun with your nature studies. We're studying the solar system at the moment. Ugh. NOT my favorite thing to study.
Sunday, March 23, 2008 - You are finding some great nature finds.
Posted by REInvestor
And you are great at getting the pics to go with them. Now that it is warming up we need to get out more.
About 2 weeks ago we made a trip to Middle Creek Wildlife Area and saw the snow geese. I never posted about it but I got some pics too. Maybe I still will.
