This week we jumped on board with the second assignment of  The Green Hour Challenge, being hosted by Barb at The Heart of Harmony.  This challenge has been so wonderful for us this week because it has encouraged us to get back outside, even admist the cold weather.

We had SUCH a wonderful nature walk today around our backyard.  The assignments this week were:

1.  Read page 15 in the Handbook of Nature Study (The Field Excursion); and pages 23-24 (How to Use This Book).  There is a online version of the handbook now available free here.  My favorite quote from this sections that I read was the following (in relation to the teacher asking too many questions to the students during a nature lesson, and not allowing for enough time for them to be naturally inquisitive):

"To grind out answers to questions about any natural object is not nature-study, it is simply "grind," a form of mental activity which is of greater use when applied to spelling or the mulitiplication table than to the study of nature.  The best teacher will cover the points suggested for observations with a few direct questions."

2.  We were to take a 10-15 minute nature walk and focus on being quiet and listening to the sounds, feeling the feelings, and seeing the sights of nature.  The kids were so excited that Mom was actually outside with them in this snow, they couldn't wait to get going!

Here are pictures of some of the things we observed:

Trickling Creek

Perfect Little Acorn

Turkey Tracks and Squirrel Tracks (right beside each other)

Here is our list of what we observed with our sight:  creek, animal footprints, birds in trees, moss on bank of creek, squirrel in tree, acorn, holes in snow where water was dripping from trees.

Here is our list of what we observed with our hearing:  creek trickling, birds chirping, church bells in the distance (playing "What a Friend we Have in Jesus"), snow crunching, melting snow dripping.

Here is our list of what we observed with our "feelings":  cool still air (40 degrees, no wind), cold wet snow, crunching of snow beneath our feet, and wet soggy twigs.

3)  After our walk we brainstormed words to describe all of the items we observed.  The kids had to list one word describing something they heard:  Drip-drop; two words for something they saw:  pretty bird; and three words to describe something they felt:  crunchy wet snow.

4) Hannah and I decided to complete a nature journal entry for our day.

 Hannah's colored pencil drawing using the descriptive words we brainstormed

Mom's pen and ink with colored pencil accent drawing of an "Old Oak Tree in Winter"

This was such a wonderful teaching experience to have with the kids.  I can't wait for the next assignment!  HAPPY NATURE ADVENTURES!!  And may there be "No Child Left Inside".