7 Proven Questions to Ask your Kids for an Easy Nature Study
It was an early spring day, one of the first days we could roll the windows down while we ran errands. It made me feel spontaneous, so before we drive home we made a surprise stop.
When the weather changes we like to change our homeschool rhythm to make space to enjoy the seasons. We lighten our book based school work to give us time and energy to do other kinds of learning.
Today used that extra space to have some hands on learning outside. We drive by the local university Arboreteum everytime we visit the grandparents, but we never stop. Today was the day to make a stop and explore.
Take the Detour
Learning can be delightful we allow ourselves to slow down to stop and look. Today the kids looked around for every color of the rainbow in the gardens and felt the texture of some fuzzy leaves. We call these learning moments nature study. I’m no expert in the natural world but I can look with my kids and we can explore together. I can ask them questions to make them look deeper and think.
Today we spent time in the Children’s Corner of the IDEA Garden. The longer we lingered in the garden the more details they found to explore and play with. There was a tee-pee frame covered in climbing flowers to hide in and a fairy garden they could rearrange. The IDEA garden is maintained by our local extension office to provide ideas for gardeners that will thrive in our local climate and soil.
Before long one of the kids settled in on a bench with a book from the Free Little Library that was inside the garden, while the others hid and re-hid the painted rocks they found. It doesn’t take my kids much to get them to explore because it’s a habit we have created as a family.
Easy ways to get started with Nature Study!
You might be thinking, this “Nature Study” you talk about, I have no idea where to start and don’t even know the plants in my own yard. How can I teach it to my kids?
Start by asking open ended questions to make your kids stop and think. You don’t need to have all the answers, but when you ask questions you get to explore together.
- Why do you think the bees are attracted to this plant and not that one over there?
- Can you find me three different textures on leaves? Walk togheter to each plant don’t break off leaves to show each other
- How many different colors can we find as we look around?
Nature study is as much about enjoying the outdoors and building observation skills as it is about knowing the name of the plants and birds. We don’t need to know the answers but we can help our kids find the answers when they ask for the details. We have a few guidebooks that we carry during Nature Study activites so we can look up the names of the plants and animals we discover.
Guidebooks We Use and Love
Use All Your Senses to Observe
We use our eyes to see all kinds of things around us but how often do we take time to really notice the different plants at the park. Point out unique textures or shapes to each other. Are the plants the same ones you see in your neighborhood?
Take some time to be quiet and still and listen.
- What do you hear?
- Do you hear the wind in the trees?
- If you hear bird songs, can you find the bird in the branches?
- Can you distinguish between different birds or just hear the sounds of the city?
What do you smell? Depending on the season you may smell different things. In the spring it may be flowers or trees, or in the fall it may be decomposing leaves. Smell different flowers: which one do you like best? Some plants besides flowers have strong scents including mustard, onions or mint leaves.
If you are at a garden, or on a nature trail you may see different leaves with different textures, take the time to touch them after you verify they are not dangerous like Poison Ivy. Some leaves are fuzzy, some or thick and hard to fold or rip. The bark of trees have a variety of textures. Take the time to touch and feel!
When we slow down to use our senses during a nature study activity, we also have a greater chance of seeing wildlife in action because our loud actions and voices don’t scare them away. Birds may fly closer or in our area a deer may cross your path if you are lucky.
One more idea for your nature study, use colors to guide your adventure. Try to find the entire rainbow in nature while you are exploring. You can also let each person search for a different color and see how many different places they find that color while you explore. This is an easy activity if you are looking in an urban setting as well.
Don’t Forget these Tips
Think about it and try these simple activities next time you are at the park or on a walk. Remember, it is not about knowing the names of every plant as much as it is about slowing down and looking. It wasn’t in our plan when we left that morning to go to the Arboretum but we are sure glad we did. It re-energized us all to get out and play in the sunshine. Time didn’t matter that day, the exploration and play was all that mattered.
Where is your favorite place to explore and do Nature Study for homeschool science?
