Hello! Welcome to my nature blog! I am a homeschool mom to 2 boys, Prince Caspian (PC) is 11 and Little One (LO) is 5. I am new to nature studies and honestly, I tend to be more of an armchair naturalist, but I really want to change. I am hoping this blog will hold me accountable as I lead my darling children in celebrating God's Creation. I hope you will join us on that journey. Please come again! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NatureNotes/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:15:00 -0600 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:15:00 -0600 Nature walks are fun and educational.  They help your child develop observation skills needed for science and other areas of your child's life.  Here are a few things that you should consider taking with you on a nature walk. 1. Backpack- to put it all in. 2. Sketch pad or nature journal- to make drawings and notes of what you see. 3. Art pencils- to do your sketching with. 4. Colored pencils if you like to add a bit of color. 5. binoculars- to see birds and other far away animals 6. magnifying glass- to look at small items close up like bugs or the vein in a leaf. 7. Field Guides- just a a couple on what areas you want to focus on that day.  Carrying a lot of field guides will make your pack too heavy. 8. Baggies- for collecting things- just make sure you are allowed too.  Some parks don't want items carried off.  Also keep it to a minimal- it may be some creatures home you are taking. 9.First Aid kit!  Make sure you have stuff for both scraps/ cuts and bug bites.  Being out in nature, both will probably happen at some point. If you want to learn more about Nature Studies with Children, please check out this link: http://www.squidoo.com/naturestudywithchildren Here are a few more articles you may be interested in: How to Go on Nature Walks with Children How to Make a Nature Journal with Children http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NatureNotes/745061/ Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:15:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NatureNotes/745061/ Well, I did get a few blooms in my itty bitty garden spot. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NatureNotes/579651/ Sun, 24 Aug 2008 19:18:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NatureNotes/579651/ For more Show and Tell posts, got to Mary's blog. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NatureNotes/578226/ Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:00:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NatureNotes/578226/ Does anyone know what type of caterpillar this is?  He was crawling around trying to get in our house!!!! I put him in our bushes. We have a lot of lovely Metro Parks in Dayton. Here are some pictures from one of our trip to one of them. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NatureNotes/571501/ Thu, 7 Aug 2008 21:15:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NatureNotes/571501/ Well, it's been about a month since I planted my teeny, tiny gardens.  Here are the two that are flourishing the best.  The bottom garden was planted in plain old dirt since I ran out of the soil.  It's still really touch and go. I don't know if they will make it and bloom or not, but I am hopeful considering how well they have done so far. I keep seeing signs of something digging in some of the gardens, so I hope they don't get dug up!!! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NatureNotes/561121/ Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:13:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NatureNotes/561121/ Today, I pulled out of our garage with Little One to head to the doctor's office.  I looked over at the corner of our house and got a glimpse of something that made me do a MAJOR double take.  At first I thought someone had stuck some gaudy lawn ornament there or something.  Then it dawned on me what I was looking at, a wild TURKEY!!!!  I live in the middle of suburbia!!! In my wildest dreams, I would have NEVER expected to see a turkey standing in my yard!!! I slowed down, opened my window and did the homeschool mom thing.  I grabbed my camera!! That picture is not great because I wasn't able to zoom in because it started walking off, but you can see it.  I put the picture up to full screen and then it really showed up pretty well.  It was funny because Little One at first called it an Emu and then an ostrich.  I told him an ostrich is taller than his mommy and daddy.  Little One said, "Maybe it was taller, maybe it was an optical illusion."  lol!!! It was funny hearing such a big phrase tumble out of Little One's mouth!!!   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NatureNotes/549667/ Wed, 18 Jun 2008 21:26:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NatureNotes/549667/ What a difference 4 days can make.  My little garden is now a week old and it's been 4 days since the last pictures were taken.  You can really see the tiny sprouts coming up now.  Yay!!! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NatureNotes/549180/ Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:16:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NatureNotes/549180/ Ready...   Set... Garden... This year Little One and I just put out a "petite" (Jenn's term) little nature spot. I am happy to say that there are a few sprouts!!! YAY!!! Hopefully they will grow and bloom, but I guess we will see. Hopefully next year we will be more prepared! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NatureNotes/548165/ Sun, 15 Jun 2008 22:16:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NatureNotes/548165/ Our plants are now 6 days old and really growing well.  Click here, to see the post from day 1.   Today we transfered them outside. I hope they survive!!! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NatureNotes/545930/ Tue, 10 Jun 2008 22:51:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NatureNotes/545930/ We really don't have a garden (yet!) but we do have one bush of beautiful peonies that are in bloom.  These were taken a few days ago.  Unfortunately, with all the storms we have had recently, the blooms have suffered.  Luckily, I got pictures BEFORE that happened! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NatureNotes/543626/ Thu, 5 Jun 2008 20:55:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NatureNotes/543626/