One Child Policy Homeschool - This Week's Nature Study -- Scrambled Egg Tree

October 12, 2007 - This Week's Nature Study -- Scrambled Egg Tree

This week, we focused on plants in our apartment complex, particularly the cassia surattensis. I found some plant books locally, and although I can't read much of the Chinese, I can look for the pictures that match our plant and search the Latin name on the Internet.

These trees have been in full bloom for at least two months now. They are beautiful! This tree is also called the scrambled egg tree. What a terrible name!

Our journals of this tree and bloom:
first Sprite's

Then mine

Sprite wanted to sketch this tiny manmade waterfall in our apartment complex. Here it is.

And we enjoyed watching this butterfly drinking nectar.

We would have enjoyed watching insects drinking nectar at these round, white blooms except that there were so many huge wasps buzzing around. Sprite was terrified. I was a bit leery. They were zooming around like crazy which seemed strange for such a cold day. I tried to capture (on camera) the lovely wasps, but they wouldn't sit still long enough for me to get in position. Then they would buzz around my head. I finally gave up.

CM (Charlotte Mason) nature study is really so painless. Just wander around, find something to observe and document it somehow. You can take it as far as you like with research afterwards. Right now my goals are simply to foster an interest, love, and appreciation of nature in Sprite. As the months and years go on, I hope to go deeper with her. We are very shallow in our nature study right now. But I feel that it's appropriate for an eight year old with only two months of nature study under her belt. Sometimes I look at the nature study of others and think that ours is such a pitiful attempt. But that's silly. Everyone must start somewhere. And this is where we are.

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Comments

October 12, 2007 - loving it

Posted by ClagettsFLStyle

I am so loving seeing all these great drawings and nature studies you and your dd have done. The pictures are so beautiful and so are the drawings. What a great opportunity.

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October 12, 2007 - I think you're doing great!

Posted by ReviewsbyHeidi

I've really been enjoying how you document your nature studies on your blog~ I love seeing your drawings and pictures~ keep up the good work~ you're an inspiration to me!
Heidi

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October 12, 2007 - What?

Posted by hrlabonte

"Sometimes I look at the nature study of others and think that ours is such a pitiful attempt."

How could you possibly think that?!?! I am completely blown away when I see what you two do!

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October 13, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by drewsfamilytx

I think y'all are doing a fabulous job on your nature study! Much better than at my house where it is virtually nonexistent. We observe but don't document anything.

I'm enjoying learning about the nature that surrounds your part of the world. As to the scrambled egg tree, perhaps the beauty of it got lost in the translation?

Or maybe not...

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October 13, 2007 - Gentle and simple

Posted by HarmonyArtMom

I love your nature study. I think the point is that you are actually *doing* it. I think we all get overwhelmed and see the many options there are to completing nature study and then get bogged down. I say go slow and steady.....gently learning all that is around you outside your own door.

Barb-Harmony Art Mom

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October 13, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by jenn4him

You are doing an inspiring job, really. Looking from the outside in, I see a mom who loves her daughter and wants to share a love for creation with her. How lovely!
Jenn

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October 13, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by socalval