For 3 years now I have wondered and wondered what shrub this could be. I’m not great at identification and always doubt whether I have made a correct identification or not. Most of what the girls and I have learnt about nature is due to following Barb’s challenges. It’s the rich, flaming autumn colours that …
We use the Handbook of Nature Study and the Outdoor Hour Challenges for our Nature Studies The Teasel has been one of this months topic that we did not want to set aside, however… We have been working on this study for over a year. Last spring we planted teasel seeds and nurtured them for …
One of the Outdoor Hour Challenges this month is the Dandelion. Now we have covered this topic before, so I thought that we would still keep within the wild flower group and choose a different flower. I chose the Cowslip as the countryside is awash with their yellow loveliness at the moment… The weather was …
This week in our homeschool nature study we are looking at the spring cattail. Nature Study is a wonderfully fluid, ever growing wealth of knowledge to be had if you are care enough and are observant in your daily living. One of the areas in our nature study that I have wanted to tackle is …
In keeping with this turbulent spring weather which typifies March, our morning started off beautifully. Clear skies and a gentle breeze. As our time outside progressed, we witnessed the breeze turning into a strong wind and the storm clouds rolling in. We discussed what kind of weather we have had so far this March and likened it to …
We have had no snow to speak of yet, but plenty of rain! Too much in fact in some parts of England. The county of Somerset is virtually under water. It is tragic to see. So with no snow for our ‘snow study’ – one of this months Outdoor Hour Challenges – we decided to …
Join us in our homeschool Outdoor Hour Challenge this week. It’s January and as we headed outdoors we were enjoying the lovely winter sunshine. In the distance we could see a shower coming. But this is England – you cannot let the threat of rain stop you from heading out into the great outdoors. We …
Our November World focus started with my own preparation – reading pages 1 and 2 of my Handbook of Nature Study as suggested by Barb. I was really glad I did as it reminded me that I needed to just let my girls engage with their environment. Sometimes I can be a bit “teachy”! I …
This weeks homeschool nature study is on pumpkins. We are so excited about this study because this year we planted our very own pumpkin seeds and have been observing their growth and development for months. We have observed each stage, from nurturing that little seed in the early spring, to planting outdoors and watching it …
Each October, we have a little colony of mushrooms that spring up near the shed in our back garden. Last year we let this little colony live out it’s little life-cycle with just an observation – nothing more. We wondered if they were poisonous, but left it at that. This year, our little mushroom colony …
