We just finished up on our first read-aloud chapter book of the schoolyear, The Secret Garden!  This book was right up our alley...all about receiving the healing power from getting out in the fresh air and enjoying nature.  I had never read the book before, we ALL enjoyed it immensely.  Now, we are looking forward to renting the movie to watch.

Below are notes from a nature workshop that my friend Cindy and I taught at the CHEK conference this past July.  I thought this might be helpful in aiding those who are trying to include regular nature walk and study time into their home schools.

Are you including regular, consistent nature study in your home school?  Here are some of the reasons I wasn’t:

• not enough time after regular studies
• I’m not sure I see the value to the children’s long-term education
• I can’t check off one of those little boxes on the grade appropriate checklists when we do it
• It’s too cold, too hot, too wet, too dry, too humid, I’m out of shape, I might sweat, I might be cold

If some of you are where I used to be, you’ll really relate with some of those reasons.  After you read an average Nature study article you may say that you’d love to do Nature Study, if there were time, but just how do you make time?  I read article after article and books that all recommended Nature study because kids need to be outdoors, it’s good for them and Nature Study is really fun.  I knew that, but just how was I going to get my children’s educational checklists done and then have time to go and do that!  So, perhaps if your like I was, Nature Study rarely happened.  I viewed Nature Study as being more supplemental to our regular education, and not required.

I’d like to challenge you today, to try to view Nature Study in a different way.  Can you possibly see it as being just as important as Math?  Language Arts?  How about MORE important?  Because guess what, today I certainly do!  Nature Study is now a pivotal launching point for many of our other studies.  

But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you.  Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? – Job 12:7-9

If seeking Him, we will find Him in His Creation.  His fingerprints are all over it!  If we walk into nature with this new vision and ask God to open our eyes, we and our children will find Him and grow from it.  What we gain from getting out into nature is simply priceless!

What are some of the benefits our family is gaining from Nature Study?

• we grow closer in relationship and knowledge of our Creator -  I can’t help but to feel reverence and awe of God as I closely observe things in Nature.  And I’ve been able to notice many symbolisms in Nature to teach us about our lives.
• develop a closer relationship with my children  - Seeing my children’s face light up in excitement as we discover something new and sitting with them to observe, spending time with them just having fun, it’s all wonderful.
• ignites a desire and need to know more about all Creation - Again, my children and I can’t help but to want to know more and discover more as we spend more and more time with His Creation
• cultivates a natural curiosity and love of learning - Because we find it so neat and exciting this drives our natural curiosity to know more which in turn makes learning fun
• provides fresh air and expends energy in children which benefits everyone - We always feel rejuvenated after a Nature Walk or Hunt or just spending time having fun out there
• can be used to teach other subjects - I was overjoyed to find how easy it was to incorporate other subjects using our experiences in Nature. 
• helps to gain focus and attention ability - my highly distractible day-dreaming daughter, and  overly-hyperactive and unfocused son suddenly have gained the ability to focus and pay attention better and not just in Nature Study but in regular studies as well.
• improves discrimination and comparison skills - as we are identifying wildflowers or anything else in Nature it is necessary to be able to notice details and be able to compare things to figure out what it is.
• improves memorization abilities - I am in awe at how much my children are able to memorize in Nature such as the names of things and where we found them, and it helps with other subjects too
• guaranteed to experience and learn more than you could imagine because God is amongst it!  -We can count on this fact because it is His Creation and because He tells us in His Word that we can learn from it, WE WILL LEARN FROM IT!

So, how do I start including more Nature Study time into our home school?

• start small and fall in love first (spend a few minutes a day just observing, go out with no other objective except to enjoy what you find) then gradually increase the amount of time you are outdoors, I have a feeling this will come naturally, possibly incorporate journaling and other small objectives - maybe take photos and observe them on your computer with your kids
• prioritize it, don’t treat it as supplemental, look at is as even more important than Math, carve out the time and honor it the same way you would your other subjects
• find specific inspiration (start focusing on something you or your children are interested in such as wildflowers, birds, etc.)
• make it personal, find out names of things by using identification books and websites, you will care so much more when, like a friend, you can call it by name
• incorporate ways to use nature for other subjects (L.A. – write about a nature walk, or something they found outside, use new terms for vocabulary/spelling, Art and Music – draw/paint in a nature journal while listening to inspirational music, etc.)  You will be surprised how easily it can satisfy other subjects, just be open to seeing the opportunities and they will come.
• Mom, get excited!  Be interested! Don’t be afraid to get a little hot or chilly or wet or dirty, I promise you if you let go and be joyful you will enjoy yourself! AND your children WILL follow.  My children have laughed for hours at me for some of the crazy things I do.  Evidently they’ve never seen another Mom pet an earthworm or talk sweet to a little toad, or take off her shoes and squish in the mud!

I just love alliteration, don't you?!

I don't know what the weather's been like in your neck of the woods, but in ours it's been simply delightful!  I can hardly believe it's August with the low humidity and Spring-like temperatures and periodical rain.  Last August we were well on our way to temps close to 100 degrees and a drought!  It's made for some really blessed Nature time in God's creation.  And we've also used this opportunity to do more outside science experiments.

All of the experiments we have done came from  Nature in a Nutshell for Kids, i love dirt, or Wild Science Projects About Earth's Weather.

Sun, Shade and Ground Temperature

-How does the temperature in the sun, in the shade, and underground differ on a Summer day?

First we placed our thermometer on a piece of cardboard and set it in the sun for a few minutes, then we recorded down the temperature which was 90 degrees (the last of the hot days since) onto our Science Journals.

Then we moved the cardboard and thermometer into the shade a waited about five minutes.  And we recorded the temperature again, which was now about 86 degrees.  Did you know that the sun's surface is about 11,000 degrees Fahrenheit.  That's about 2-300 times hotter than the Earth's surface!

Then we wanted to know how the temperature would vary underground.  So we dug a hole and placed the thermometer in it and covered it up with the cardboard.  And waited about 5 minutes.

Then we recorded the temperature, which was a cool 79 degrees.  Then Hannah wanted to experience this in a really "real" way, so she got the idea to bury her hand.  "Ahhh, so cool," she noted outloud.

Our sun is a star and stars are giant balls of hot gas.  Our sun is the closest star to Earth.  It is the perfect distance away, not too close, not too far, just right for us to benefit from the energy it provides.  Placed just right by a just perfect Creator.

 Low Humidity

- Why do you feel coooler when the humidity is low?

On another, much cooler, low humidity and sunny day, we headed out for another nature walk.  This time we wanted to know if the humidity was low, like today, why it felt so much cooler.  So again, first we took the temperature in the sun.  It measured a beautiful 79 degrees.

The air always contains water, even though the water cannot be seen.  Humidity is the measurement of the weight of water in a specific volume of air.  On low humidity days there is lots of room in the air because the amount of water is low.  Because of this, water evaporates much more easily in low humidity because there is room for the air to absorb the water.  And when water evaporates, it takes heat from objects around it which makes it feel much cooler.  I admit this was a bit of a confusing concept for us at first, but we finally grasped onto it.  So, we wanted to see this for ourselves.

We wrapped a wet cloth around the thermometer and placed the other end in a bucket of water to keep the cloth wet.  After just a few moments the thermometer began to come down to 75 degrees.  Cool!

Shadow Watch

- What happens to a shadow after a few minutes?

On yet another sunny day nature walk we brought along a thermometer, a piece of cardboard, an object (we choose a clay pot), and a pencil.  This time we were on a quest to find out if shadows will change shapes or sizes if an object doesn't move.

We placed the cardboard and object down in the sunlight, and drew an outline of where the shadow was.

A shadow is made when an object blocks the light rays falling on it.  The shadow is about the shape of the object that blocks out the light.  In our case our shadow, created by sunlight, was about the shape of the clay pot.  As the earth moves, the angle of the sun's light on the object changes which causes the shadow to change.

After just about 10 minutes we returned to our shadow to find that it indeed had changed.

LAST, but not least...

Chlorophyll Test

- Why is grass green?

One day we were reading about how grass and other plants are green because they contain a pigment called chlorophyll.  Chlorophyll is vital to plants, because without it photosynthesis couldn't take place, which is how the plant gets fed.  The kids both wanted to see this green pigment for themselves.  So we decided to do the experiment where you take a piece of paper and put it on the grass and step on it, smudging it into the paper.  When we looked at the paper there was only a very small amount of green on it.  We weren't satisifed with that!  So Hannah came up with a great idea to show chlorophyll, and she wanted to share it with you! 

Don't worry, it washes off with the garden hose!

Summer is such a great time to grab up some materials and get out in the great outdoors for science experiments.  I'm sure when the weather turns cold, we'll be back inside our schoolroom for most experiments, so we're enjoying the gorgeous weather and using it for school as much as possible!

Shhhh.....listen closely, can you hear it?  Can you hear the wind blowing in the old oak?  Listen closer, how about the Mockingbird singing his heart out while sitting on the fence post, can you hear it?  And there's the serenade of the cicadas coming from the treetops, listen.

One of the most enjoyable things for my children and I to do is to just sit and listen to Nature.  Sometimes we hear lots, sometimes we hear a little, but we always hear something.  Through the seasons Nature's soundtrack changes, and it's interesting to observe the differences and take note.  In the Spring, it's the beautiful and uplifting melodies of the songbirds.  In the late Summer, it's the buzzing serenade of the Dog-Day Cicadas.  In the Fall, it's the rustling of leaves being blown about by the wind.  And in the Winter, there's the cracking of a falling branch or the crunching of the snow beneath your feet.

Being "in tune" with Nature creates an appreciation in our hearts for the diversity of God's Creation.  And helps to sharpen our observation skills while lending us peaceful moments.  Depending on the ages of your children, it's not always easy to convince them to listen, at least not for long periods of time.  But even just a few moments at a time are appreciated.  And then there are times that I take my walk, by myself, and just sit for long periods of time listening.  Such as today...

In such a hurried world, it felt so good to just sit and have my senses renewed.  A time when I stopped and thanked my Lord for the blessings in my life.  My kids see this too.

And don't forget that Nature's orchestra plays during the evening too.  Be sure to get outside when the nightlight stars appear and listen to the nocturnal chorus.  Frogs, toads, crickets all love to have an audience...we think it makes them play louder.

Whew!  It's been a very busy week for me.  A few very good friends and I are currently pioneering a brand new home school co-op, set to start the first week of September.   And forming the foundation of any new group certainly takes lots of time and commitment.  We are very excited however, and looking forward to the many families, including ourselves, who will be blessed from this.  We currently have 17 families, and expect to be adding several more very soon!   So, while my life seems to be in fast-forward running motion right now, I'm looking forward to it slowing back down to a more even paced walk.  Ahhh, the life of a cat....

Amongst the busyness, I have a few blog posts in draft form that I'm working on, including Taking Daily Nature Walks, Super Sun Science Experiments, another Simple Backyard Nature post, and some natural recipes I've been wanting to share.  And when life DOES slow back down to a walk's pace, I'd like to start sharing tidbits from my "Listening to the Voice of Truth" talk that I gave at the CHEK Conference.  Seems very appropriate as another schoolyear begins.  We must arm our homeschools with God's Truth.

Have a blessed Friday my friends.

August means sweltering hot temperatures, high humidity, and the buzzing sound of insects everywhere.  And our personal favorite insect sound is the serenade of the Dog Day Cicadas in the woods behind our house.

Ever since the last emergence of the Brood X 17-Year Periodical Cicadas in 2004, Alex has been simply enthralled with them!  When I told him that they would not return for another 17 years, he nearly cried!  But he was relieved when he learned that the Dog-Day Cicadas visit us yearly.  However, he complains that they are a lot harder to catch than the numerous Periodical Cicadas.

Alex loves catching the cicadas, it has become a challenge he has put forth for himself, even hanging a graph on the wall where he keeps track of the amount he catches!  Before this morning, his cicada catching tally was at 6 for this summer, but on our Nature walk today he didn't have any trouble at all catching his seventh.  He found him laying on the ground and it didn't fly away.  Upon a quick inspection he announced that it had a damaged wing.  It was true, the poor thing was unable to fly.  We came to the conclusion that it could have been a bird that had injured him.  Alex was so sweet, he just kept saying, "Oh, poor little guy."

We took this opportunity to study and observe him well.  And Alex was kind enough to give us a little information about his cicada in this video.  Before you watch it, I must explain the ending a bit.  Along with the cicadas, we've also been having lots of other buzzing insects flying around our back yard, including some really large horsefly looking ones, that will buzz right by your face.  Alex, oddly enough is terrified of these things and runs to the house at the sight/sound of them!  So prepare to giggle too!  Also, take note of the amazing cicada sound in the background!

We know he is a male by the round eardrums located towards the bottom of his abdomen.

After having this up close view of one today, it inspired Alex is do a Nature journal entry on the life cycle of the cicada.  His new cicada friend stayed right near him the whole time.

Also, we were fortunate enough to find a cicada nymph shell on the ground.  Do you see the slit where the cicada emerged from?

Alex doesn't really like to read, unless of course it's about something he's very interested in...like....cicadas!

Here are two excellent books that have great information about cicadas.  We especially recommend Cicada Sing-Song, by Densey Clyne.  Alex has worn this book out reading it!  This book gave me a whole new appreciation for these odd-looking, BUT fascinating creatures.

Here are some great websites:

Cicada Life Cycle

Cicada Videos

Cicada FAQ

Cicada Coloring Sheet

 Red Canna, by Georgia O'Keeffe

This past week, Hannah and I came up with a creative way to do picture study and also get in a little creative writing at the same time.  You know how I love to combine lessons, right?!!

I handed Hannah a few books featuring artwork by Georgia O'Keeffe, our featured artist this month, and had her look through them in another room.  Then she secretely picked out her favorite painting, she chose Red Canna as you see above.  However, she kept this a secret from me.  I then told her to independently study her chosen artwork for several minutes and write up a short, but vivid description of the painting.  And Mom was going to have to guess which one was her favorite just from her description.  Here is what she wrote up for me:

"The colors were so wonderfully put together.  Beautiful purples and red were so wonderfully put in a burst of color.  Waves pour out with color.  Splashing on a canvas is a flower with grace and beauty.  Oils shine red, orange, yellow, white and purples."

Then she handed me her description and the book from which she chose it.  Her description was so beautifully written and very accurate, I was able to find her favorite painting in just a few minutes!  And I quickly agreed with her that Ms. O'Keeffe's Red Canna painting is truly breaktaking in beauty.

After our wonderful experience of hatching and raising toads, we were so thrilled that a couple of days ago Alex was able to find a medium sized American Toad in our yard.  I handed him some instructions on how to make an American Toad habitat that I found HERE.  He did a fantastic job of putting his new pet's home together!

 Do you see our camouflaged toad?

(he's in the upper left corner!)

He used our 2.5 gallon aquarium that has a screen cover.  This will suffice for now, but if we decide to keep our new pet for very long, we'll definitely need a bigger aquarium.  Perhaps it's because we had such a great experience raising the toad tadpoles, but I have to admit, the little fella has really grown on me!  He's very sweet!  We didn't get a photo of it, but can you believe he loves to have his tummy rubbed?  Alex has put him to sleep a couple of times doing this.  Too funny!

 Do you see the glands behind where his eyes are?

 Those secrete a poison onto his attackers.

We have to be very careful to keep him away from our cat and dog.

And wash our hands every time after handling him.

In the next photo he's taking a dip in his pool for a drink!  Did you know that toads drink through their skin?  And did you know that unlike frogs they really aren't that great of swimmers, and don't prefer the water.  They will only get in there for certain reasons, one of which is to drink.

Even though their feet aren't the greatest for swimming, their talent lies in the fact that they are excellent at digging with their little claws (frogs feet are more web-like for swimming).  And digging down deep to hide is what our little toad friend loves to do!

You'll have to look pretty hard to see him!

(Only his little head is sticking out, to the right of the moss)

Gabby has been so amazed with him.  She just sits and stares for the longest time at him, watching his every move.

And here is the neatest highlight of our experiences so far with him.  He has a preference for roly-poly bugs for dinner.  Take a look at this!!!  Cool!!