Spring Nature Study

7/30/2019 Spring Nature Study

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A Nature Study through the Seasons (Spring)

A note to HCOS families...

A Nature Study can be as comprehensive as you decide to make it. This short, six week

unit will hopefully serve as a springboard to many more hours of exciting learning,observations and time spent outdoors as each season has its unique beauty and areas

of study.

Why should we encourage our children to do a nature study? What better way to learn

about Gods amazing Creation than to observe His handiwork firsthand, and learn how

to be good stewards of what He has entrusted us with. We know that The earth is the

LORDs and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it...Psalm 24:1.

Charlotte Mason and her Nature Study:

You may already be aware of Charlotte Mason (18421923) and her educationalphilosophy. For those of you who are not familiar with her, she was a British educatorwho invested her life improving the quality of childrens education. The Charlotte MasonMethod, according to http://simplycharlottemason.com/ is A method of educationpopular with homeschoolers in which children are taught as whole persons through awide range of interesting living books, firsthand experiences, and good habits... Sheencouraged spending time outdoors, interacting with Gods creation firsthand andlearning the living ways of nature.

Her nature study included time each day outside in direct contact with nature and once

a week nature walk, so the children learned to be observant.

For Nature Walks, the children would take a nature journal to record, draw and narratedescriptions of what they observed.

In this unit, you will explore Nature using some of Charlotte Masons methods-nature

walks, a nature journal or notebook, narrations and the use of many living books. A

Living book, not a textbook, is one that is written by an author, who having a great

passion on a particular topic, makes the subject come alive! These nature books can be

found in abundance at your local library.

For each lesson, choose the exploration activities, poems and art projects that will bemeaningful for your family as you inspire them to learn about God and His creation, and

help them develop a passion for spending time outdoors which will hopefully continue

throughout their lives.

I hope you enjoy this journey!

Spring Nature Study:
http://simplycharlottemason.com/http://simplycharlottemason.com/http://simplycharlottemason.com/


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~This kit contains materials for a Plant and Insect Study and ideas for developing an

Animal Research project or writing a biography of a naturalist:

Resources Included in this kit:

1. Wild Days-Creating Discovery Journals by Karen Skidmore Rackliffe2. The Kids Canadian Plant Book by Pamela Hickman

3. A Seed Grows by Pamela Hickman

4. Take a Walk with Butterflies and Dragonflies by Jane Kirkland

5. Metamorphosis: Changing Bodies by Bobbie Kalman

6. Beautiful Butterflies by Meish Goldish

7. DK Nature Ranger by Richard Walker

8. Kids Easy-to-Create Wildlife Habitats

9. Fun with Nature Take-Along Guide

10.A Backyard Nature Guide by Douglas Farnham

11.Professor Noggin's Card Game- Insects and Spiders

Poetry/Scripture:

Poetry pages for reading enjoyment and memorizing

Supplemental Readings

Supplemental Readings/Resources

Nature Kit Student Folder:

Word documents of Student activities and information

~Within each of these integrated themes, there will be suggested extension activities

and ideas from which to choose. These will address the BC Life Science topics for

Grades K-4 as well as some Art and Language Arts, depending on how much time your

child spends doing personal reading and writing activities, journals, oral/written

narrations and scripture/ poetry memorization.


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Before you begin

If you are new to Nature studies, you may want to read Wild Days: Creating Discovery

Journals as it is one moms journey to discovering the richness of getting outdoors to

learn. The article, Becoming Gods Naturalist, in the Student folder may also be helpful.

To create a Nature Centre-Spend time gathering excellent nature books from your

local library...on the topics of plants, various insect and animals books that interest your

children and Field Guides, if you dont already have them in your home library. Display

the books in baskets for visibility and easy access then prepare a space for a small

table to display nature walk treasures and collections-sticks, leaves, old nests, rocks,

pinecones and other seeds etc. You will probably find that your children will be inspired

to read these books and enjoy observing their collections independently.

Other helpful items for Nature Walks:

Nature Journal or Notebook (a spiral bond heavy weight sketch book or binder with

plain paper), pencils, water paints, magnifying glasses and binoculars, tweezers, lidded

containers to carry home your childrens findings.


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Here is a sample of another Nature Diary that was written in 1906. Edith Holden made

journal entries that included the weather for example, Great gale of wind from the

south-west, as well as including places she visited and her observations in a journal

form, and being an artist, she added a great deal of artwork labelled with both the

English names and scientific/Latin names, and selected poems for each of the seasons.

You decide how you would like to set up your childrens Nature journal/notebook- it can

be more of a personal journal or scientific notebook. You may want to keep their work in

a Science notebook and nature observations and drawings in their nature journal.

It will be wonderful as you make it your own! Enjoy!

The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady by Edith Holden


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Although the Spring Nature study focuses on plants and insects, it is important to

continue to observe/study trees and birds that were covered in-depth in the Fall/Winter

Nature study. The seasons should be followed and nature enjoyed at each of its stages.

So please, if you would prefer to do a spring study of these topics, go on our HCOS

Common Learning site to view some of the activities and references, otherwise have

your children include their observations of these topics in their nature journal along with

their sightings of new spring plants and insects.

Charlotte Mason, in her Original Homeschooling Series Vol. 1 states: The Study of

Trees.Children should be made early intimate with the trees, too; should pick out half

a dozen trees, oak, elm, ash, beech, in their winter nakedness, and take these to be

their year-long friends. In the winter, they will observe the light tresses of the birch, the

knotted arms of the oak, the sturdy growth of the sycamore. They may wait to learn the

names of the trees until the leaves come. By-and-by, as the spring advances, behold a

general stiffening and look of life in the still bare branches; life stirs in the beautiful

mystery of the leaf-buds, a nest of delicate baby leaves lying in downy warmth within

many waterproof wrappings; oak and elm, beech and birch, each has its own way of

folding and packing its leaflets; observe the 'ruby budded lime' and the ash, with its

pretty stag's foot of a bud, not green but black

So enjoy! This is a time to get outdoors and see the beauty of spring as it

happens.


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Introduction

Read Genesis 1 In the Beginning, God created the heavens and the earth... This is a

wonderful time to spark your childrens interest and help them develop a passion to

observe and care for Gods creatures and earth.

Please note: If you plan to use the Live Painted Lady Butterfly Rearing Kit to

supplement your Butterfly unit, you may want to order them in advance. CHER ships

them May 1.

Plants and Trees (which are very large plants)

~ As the winter snow slowly recedes leaving the ground bare, look for signs of newgrowth. Take time to draw what you seepossibly something that looks like Page 10 of

the Plant book. Remember to return to this spot after a few days, weeks to observe the

growth and draw the changes. Depending where you are in BC, you may experience

green throughout the winter and will have new shoots which might be noticeable earlier

than other places.

~ Take time to peruse through A Backyard Nature Guide together with you children.

Observe the drawings of each plant/animal carefully. Although learning to draw is a

process, taking the time to identify the different parts, shape, colour and interesting

features of the plant is also necessary for drawing.

Also be selective in what plants you do pick for pressing or drying-talk with your children

about how they can help protect plants and their habitat, so you all have a safe time

enjoying your nature walks.

Week 1

~ A Seed Grows is a good introduction for younger children to plants and their life cycles

~ The Kids Canadian Plant Book gives a good overview of plants for your nature study.

Start by reading pages 1-13.

~Lets start in your backyard (page 4 Meet a plant)-take time to go outdoors to identify

some non-flowering (gymnosperms) and flowering plants (angiosperms) then draw

some samples. You can also use the Venn diagram in the Student File to compare the

two.


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~Use a field guide to identify these plants and write the scientific name as well as the

common name for the plants.

http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/intermediate.asp?curGroupID=11

Or use this online wildflower field guide scroll down to find birds, animals or insects

~Go on Nature Walks in your community-national parklands, urban trails and then have

your children give a narration of some of the interesting things they have seen or have

them write in their journals. (See activities for a Nature Walk in the Student folder.)

Read Deuteronomy 6: 1-9: Focus on how we can love the Lord God with all our heart,

soul, and strengthkeeping His commandments. We can do this throughout the day

wherever we are

6 And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to

your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie

down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets

between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

~View the detail of the flower on page 8 of The Kids Canadian Plant Book and read

about PollinationGod has designed a way for all plants to produce seeds and grow into

new plants. Isnt this amazing?

~The Kids Canadian Plant Book Page 26- Endangered plants and how you can help

Doing Nature walks teaches our children about our God and his creation while you walk

by the way so take the time to tell your children of His faithfulness and what He

requires of us. Possible areas of discussion could be stewardshipcaring for His

creation.
http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/intermediate.asp?curGroupID=11http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/intermediate.asp?curGroupID=11http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/intermediate.asp?curGroupID=11http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/intermediate.asp?curGroupID=11http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/intermediate.asp?curGroupID=11http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/intermediate.asp?curGroupID=11http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/intermediate.asp?curGroupID=11


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Week 2

~Read The Kids Canadian Plant Book-pages 14-30

~Plants Across Canada-read and discuss how God has made these plants adapt to

your area of BC. Which area is most like where you live? Make a chart, with the title,

Plants in my community, draw some of the plants you see the most, describe what they

are used for, if they are edible, poisonous, etc.

~Plant defenses and Poisonous plants page 20-discuss with your family about how to

stay safe on your nature walks

~Plant a garden for wildlife: As a family, plan a flower garden that will attract butterflies,bees and birds Wildlife Habitats page 55

~MoreNatureWalkstostudyanddraw

~Artinstruc6on-spend6meusingthestep-bystepdrawingbooktodrawplantsandother

animalsintheirnaturejournalandexplorepencilsketchingwaterpain6ngstechniques.Find

booksonBeatrixPoDer,RobertBatemanandothernaturear6sts.

More Plant activities- You can see that there are countless activities that could bedone so you can either choose to extend this unit or just select a couple of activities that

interest you and your family.

~Memorize some poems about plants (See below)

~Growing a garden and observe the life cycle of the plants

~A garden for wildlife

~Nature journal of plants/trees in your backyard, remembering to include the plant or

tree seeds

~Pressed leaves and wild flowers page 38 of DK Nature Ranger

~Seed collections for observation

~Spreading seeds-see activity sheet in the Student File

~ Wild Days Chapter 9 also has some fun ideas


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~Read some fiction books that will supplement your plant and wildflower unit (See

fiction list in Student folder)

~See the ideas from Danielles Place and the Enchanted Learning sites for Activitiesand Crafts for Plants and Seed activities

http://www.daniellesplace.com/html/bible_themes_creation.html#Day3plant

Links for Nature journal frames or response pages:

http://donnayoung.org/science/nature-journal.htm

http://www.homeschoolshare.com/

http://www.homeschoolshare.com/nature_journal.php

Week 3Butterflies

Psalm 111:2 The works of the Lord are great, studied by all who have pleasure in them.

Although we have included some books on Butterflies to get you started, remember that

the library will have field guides as well as other interesting books in the junior non-

fiction section. Fiction books, such as The Very Hungry Butterfly will also enrich yourstudy.

Please note: If you have chosen to use the butterfly rearing kit, set it up when it arrives

so the children can start observing the stages of the Butterfly Life Cycle while working

on this unit.
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/nature_journal.phphttp://www.homeschoolshare.com/http://donnayoung.org/science/nature-journal.htmhttp://www.daniellesplace.com/html/bible_themes_creation.htmlhttp://www.homeschoolshare.com/nature_journal.phphttp://www.homeschoolshare.com/nature_journal.phphttp://www.homeschoolshare.com/http://www.homeschoolshare.com/http://donnayoung.org/science/nature-journal.htmhttp://donnayoung.org/science/nature-journal.htmhttp://www.daniellesplace.com/html/bible_themes_creation.htmlhttp://www.daniellesplace.com/html/bible_themes_creation.html


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Introduction

~To introduce your Butterfly unit, read Beautiful Butterflies, then brainstorm and make a

chart of all that the children know about Butterflies

~Read Take a Walk with Butterflies and Dragonflies

~Draw and label a picture of a butterfly including the vocabulary for this insect, such as

head, thorax and abdomen, thorax, antennae, forewing, hind wing, proboscis and tail

Printouts can be found here if necessary http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/

butterfly/activities/printouts/index.shtml

~compare the butterfly with the dragonfly

~Use the Venn diagram frame in the student file and compare the butterfly with the

moth.

~Identify some of the butterflies in your area-use a field guide or Take a Walk with

Butterflies and Dragonflies pages 24 to 27

Or use this online wildflower field guide if you scroll down, you will find birds, animals

or insects

http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/intermediate.asp?curGroupID=11

There are also websites such as this, that might be helpful: http://www.monarch-

butterfly.com/

~ continue with your nature walks and nature journal drawings, now observing and

identifying the butterflies from your region.
http://www.monarch-butterfly.com/http://www.monarch-butterfly.com/http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/intermediate.asp?curGroupID=11http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/butterfly/activities/printouts/index.shtmlhttp://www.monarch-butterfly.com/http://www.monarch-butterfly.com/http://www.monarch-butterfly.com/http://www.monarch-butterfly.com/http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/intermediate.asp?curGroupID=11http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/intermediate.asp?curGroupID=11http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/butterfly/activities/printouts/index.shtmlhttp://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/butterfly/activities/printouts/index.shtmlhttp://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/butterfly/activities/printouts/index.shtmlhttp://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/butterfly/activities/printouts/index.shtml


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Week 4

~Read about the Life Cycle of a Butterfly using the books;Take a Walk with Butterflies

and Dragonflies pages 8 and 9 and Metamorphosis: Changing Bodies

~ Draw the Butterfly Life Cycle-see samples of life cycle diagram in the Enchanted

Learning Life cycle booklet in the Student folder or a chart like the one on the site below.

~ Monarch butterfly migration read about their migration or try and find a map showing

their migration http://www.monarch-butterfly.com/

~ Doing a Butterfly research project-an oral exercise: A study of an animal is a good way

to learn to take notes and write a report. Using the steps below, you can easily take yourchildren through this process. Fold chart paper or the sample Butterfly report in the

Student Folder into eight equal parts so there is one subtopic heading in each section.

Slowly reread the information about Butterflies, sentence by sentence, have your

children choose which subtopic they would select for the information, and then you write

the keywords of the information they have given you. When you have finished your

notes for each of the subtopics- Appearance, Habitat, Food, Life Cycle, Migration and

other Interesting facts, have the children tell you a sentence they can make for each of

the notes or combined notes. Help them edit this work to make a good summary of each

of these subtopics. Draw pictures for each section.

Other Caterpillar/butterfly activities: Select a couple of activities that interest you and

your family. If you are using the butterfly kit, enjoy!

~Wildlife Habitats-Feasts for Butterflies and Bees pages 47-56

~Choosing and growing flowers for butterflies, bees and birds Wildlife Habitats page 55

~Bathing is tor the birds and other critters, too! Wildlife Habitats Page 100

~Enchanted Learning site has other Butterfly and insect activities and crafts

~Memorize some poems about insects (See below)

~Engageinsomedescrip6vewri6ngdescribingascene,orhavethemwritesomedescrip6ve

wordandshapepoems,Haikusorotherpoe6cforms.
http://www.monarch-butterfly.com/http://www.monarch-butterfly.com/http://www.monarch-butterfly.com/


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~WritestoriesaboutbuDerfliesorretelltheVeryHungryCaterpillarstoryfocusingona

beginning,middleandending

~Art-spend6meusingthestep-bystepdrawingbooktodrawbirds,insectsandsmallanimals,

drawandcolourtheirfindingsintheirnaturejournalanddoothertypesofpencilsketching,

andwaterpain6ngs-likeBeatrixPoDer

~Enjoy Professor Noggin's Card Game- Insects and Spiders

Week 5, 6 or longer

The Nature Study activities can be done with multi-grade levels,so here are some ideas

for students that want to further their study as well as an animal research project:

~Explore Animal Kingdom Classification

http://www.pembermuseum.com/animal_classification.shtml

~Read about, Carolus Linnaeus, an 18th century botanist, who developed a system fornaming, ranking and classifying organisms which is still used today. (See student folder)

. Linneaeus study of biological classification (taxonomy) was founded on the basis of his

Biblical belief that living things were created to multiply after kind, and that these created kinds

could be rationally grouped in a hierarchical pattern reflecting themes and variations in the

Creators mind. Thus, scientific names are provided in this article to distinguish individual

animal and plant names because in Linnaeus own words, The Earth's creation is the glory of

God, as seen from the works of Nature by Man alone. The study of nature would reveal theDivine Order of God's creation, and it was the naturalist's task to construct a 'natural

classification' that would reveal this Order in the universe.

http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/aid/v5/n1/god-created-cohorts-insect-pollination

~Explore Plant Kingdom Classification-charts can be viewed online

~Look at the Student Folder activity on Food Webs and draw some of your own of the

animals that visit your backyard and those living in the forested areas of your

community.

~ Research a naturalist of your choice and write a biography(Some suggestions in theStudent folder-Biographies of Naturalists)
http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/aid/v5/n1/god-created-cohorts-insect-pollinationhttp://www.pembermuseum.com/animal_classification.shtmlhttp://www.pembermuseum.com/animal_classification.shtmlhttp://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/aid/v5/n1/god-created-cohorts-insect-pollinationhttp://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/aid/v5/n1/god-created-cohorts-insect-pollinationhttp://www.pembermuseum.com/animal_classification.shtmlhttp://www.pembermuseum.com/animal_classification.shtml


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My Bug House

Animal Study

~Research an animal of your choice-Frogs, Turtles, Ducks, Honey bees, Lady bugs etc.

or others from the animal kingdom that you are interested in studying this time of year

For the K-1s, small books could include interesting facts about the animal, or use

sentence prompts for each of the pages, and have your child print a response on the

line and draw a picture for each sentence. Some examples of these sentence prompts:

Frogs can_________

Frogs have_______

Frogs live________

Frogs eat_______

A frogs enemy is__________

An interesting fact about frogs is that they go through complete metamorphosis.

Or

This is a bee

It is an insect

It eats ____

It is yellow and black

It has _________

An interesting fact about bees is that it_____________.

...etc...


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~ For the older students: There are so many Canadian animals to choose from, but

once you decide which one you would like to learn more about, use the Topic Outline

and follow the Guidelines for Writing an Animal Report found in the Student Folder.

Use the subtopics; appearance, habitat, food, habits, their young, enemies and other

interesting facts. This report can be presented as a chart, PowerPoint, a theme book or

lapbook.

~Other book ideas from The Big Book of Books by Dinah Zike or Lapbook ideas from

this Homeschool share site

http://www.homeschoolshare.com/lapbooking_resources.php

Hopefully your nature walks and study will continue as you and children explore other

ecosystems such as meadows, mountain streams and rivers, lakes, ponds, and the

seashore. Taking the time, wherever you are, to delight in the diversity of Gods

creation, will give you lifelong pleasure.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Poems and scripture for memory work or to read aloud:

All Things Bright and Beautiful

~Cecil Frances Alexander

All things bright and beautiful,All creatures great and small,All things wise and wonderful,The Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens,Each little bird that sings,He made their glowing colors,

He made their tiny wings.The purple-headed mountain,The river running by,The sunset, and the morning,That brightens up the sky;

The cold wind in the winter,The pleasant summer sun,
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/lapbooking_resources.phphttp://www.homeschoolshare.com/lapbooking_resources.phphttp://www.homeschoolshare.com/lapbooking_resources.phphttp://www.homeschoolshare.com/lapbooking_resources.php


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The ripe fruits in the garden,He made them every one.

He gave us eyes to see them,

And lips that we might tell,

How great is God Almighty,Who has made all things well.

Who Has Seen the Wind?

Who has seen the wind?

Neither I nor you:

But when the leaves hang trembling

The wind is passing thro

Who has seen the wind?

Neither you nor I:

But when the trees bow down their heads

The wind is passing by.

Rain

by Robert Louis Stevenson

The rain is raining all around,

It falls on field and tree,

It rains on the umbrellas here,

And on the ships at sea

Poems about Plants

Daisies

Where innocent bright-eyed daisies are,


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With blades of grass between,

Each daisy stands up like a star

Out of a sky of green

Fuelled

Fuelled

byamillion

man-made

wingsoffire--

therockettoreatunnel

throughthesky--

andeverybodycheered.

Fueled

onlybyathoughtfromGod-

theseedling

urgeditsway

throughthethicknessofblack

andasitpierced

theheavyceilingofthesoil

andlauncheditself

upintoouterspace-

no

one

evenclapped.

ByMarcieHans

FlowerintheCranniedWall

byAlfredTennyson

Flowerinthecranniedwall,

Ipluckyououtofthecrannies,

Iholdyouhere,rootandall,inmyhand,

LiDleflower-butifIcouldunderstand

Whatyouare,rootandall,allinall,

IshouldknowwhatGodandmanis.


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Daffodils

By William Wordsworth

I wandered lonely as a cloudThat floats on high o'er vales and hills,When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;Beside the lake, beneath the trees,Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shineAnd twinkle on the milky way,They stretched in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:Ten thousand saw I at a glance,Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but theyOut-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,In such a jocund company:I gazed--and gazed--but little thoughtWhat wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lieIn vacant or in pensive mood,They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;And then my heart with pleasure fills,And dances with the daffodils.

Poems about Insects:

Hurt No Living Thing

Hurt no living thing:

Ladybird, no butterfly,

Nor moth with dusty wing,

No cricket chirping cheerily,

Nor grasshopper so light of leap,

Nor dancing gnat, no beetle fat,

Nor harmless worms that creep.


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by Christina Rossetti

Caterpillar

Brown and furry

Caterpillar in a hurry

Take your walk

To the shady leaf, or stalk,

Or what not,

Which may be the chosen spot.

To toad spy you,

Hovering bird of prey pass by you;

Spin and die,

To live again a butterfly.

by Christina Rossetti

Small Animals

Mice

by Rose Fyleman

I think mice are rather nice;

Their tails are long, their faces small;

They haven't any chins at all.

Their ears are pink, their teeth are white,

They run about the house at night;

They nibble things they shouldn't touch,and, no one seems to like them much,

but, I think mice are rather nice.

Snail

By Langston Hughes


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Little snail,

Dreaming you go.

Weather and rose

Is all you know.

Weather and rose

Is all you see,

Drinking

The dewdrops

Mystery.

The Little Turtle

By: Vachel Lindsay

There was a little turtle.

He lived in a box.

He swam in a puddle.

He climbed on the rocks.

He snapped at a mosquito.

He snapped at a flea.He snapped at a minnow,

And he snapped at me.

He caught the mosquito.

He caught the flea.

He caught the minnow,

But he didn't catch me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Scriptures


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Scripture-Genesis1:Psalm8,Psalm24;MaDhew:29,Psalm19:1-4,Psalm:1 Psalm 111:2

Psalm147;Psalm4:10-Bes6llandknowthatIamGod. Psalm 145: 10 All your works shall

praise You, O God

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fic2ontosupplementyourNatureStudy...

Somelovelyanimalpicturebooksandotherscanbefoundatthelibrary:

AllthePlacestoLovebyPatriciaMacLachlan(whoalsowroteSarah,PlainandTall)

JamesHerriotsTreasuryforchildren

annysuckbyJuneCrebbin

MakeWayforucklingsandotherbooksbyRobertMcCloskey(suchasBlueberriesforSal)

TheTaleofPeterRabbitandothertalesbyBeatrixPoDer

TheBiggestBearbyLyndWard

Chris6anLibertyNatureReaders

LooktotheNorth:AWolfPupiarybyJeanCraigheadGeorge

TheRobinsinYourBackyardbyNancyCarolWillis

TheCarrotSeed

Mrs.RumphiusbyBarbaraCooney

TheVeryHungryCaterpillarbyEricCarle

Butterfly House by Eve Bunting

ReadthestoryTheOakinsidetheAcornbyMaxLucado,excellentfordiscussingthetopicof

beingwhoGodhasmadeyoutobe

Somenovelsaboutanimals

TheCompleteWinnie-the-PoohbyAAMilne

TheearOldBriarPatchbyThorntonWBurgessandhisotheranimaladventures

OwlsintheFamilybyFarleyMowat

JamesHerriotsTreasuryforchildren


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CharloDesWebandTheTrumpetoftheSwanbyEBWhite

JacobsLiDleGiantbyBarbaraSmucker

MySideoftheMountainbyJeanCraigheadGeorge

Mr.PoppersPenguinsbyRichardandFlorenceAtwater

AllCreaturesGreatandSmallJamesHerriot

Poetry books

Favourite Poems Old and New by Helen Ferris

A Childs Garden of Verses Featuring the works of Robert Louis Stevenson (Thomas

Kinkade)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Other References that I either used to develop this Nature kit or recommend for

your nature library (also see a list in the Student file:

A Charlotte Mason Education: A Home Schooling How-To Manual by Catherine Levison

Wild Days: Creating Discovery Journals by Karen Skidmore Rackliffe

Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock

The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady by Edith Holden. (Written in 1906, can be

found through Amazon, second-hand)

Exploring Creation with Botany, Textbook by Jeannie Fulbright

Nature with Children of all Ages by Edith a Sisson

The Kids Cottage Book by Jane Drake and Ann Love

Favourite Poems Old and New by Helen Ferris

A Childs Garden of Verses Featuring the works of Robert Louis Stevenson (Thomas

Kinkade)

Links to other readings:

http://www.squidoo.com/cmnaturestudy
http://www.squidoo.com/cmnaturestudyhttp://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/search?author=Jeannie%20Fulbright&detailed_search=1&action=Searchhttp://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/search?author=Anna%20Botsford%20Comstock&detailed_search=1&action=Searchhttp://www.squidoo.com/cmnaturestudyhttp://www.squidoo.com/cmnaturestudyhttp://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/search?author=Jeannie%20Fulbright&detailed_search=1&action=Searchhttp://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/search?author=Jeannie%20Fulbright&detailed_search=1&action=Searchhttp://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/search?author=Anna%20Botsford%20Comstock&detailed_search=1&action=Searchhttp://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/search?author=Anna%20Botsford%20Comstock&detailed_search=1&action=Search


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http://www.squidoo.com/naturetales

http://bushnell.net/~peanuts/faq1.html

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The Nature Science Study could address most of the Life Science topics at the

elementary grade levels if the enrichment activities and readings are completed

as well as the basic lessons.

Science K

Students will:

be encouraged to appreciate God's creation as they learn about the world

around them

increase their knowledge of the Characteristics of Living Things by being able

to describe features of local plants and animals, and comparing local plants

and common animals

observe their Surroundings and be able to describe features of their

immediate environment

discover and make observations with the use of the five senses

Science Gr. 1

Students will:

be encouraged to appreciate God's creation as they learn about the world aroundthem.

increase their knowledge the Needs of Living Things as they describe the basicneeds of local plants and animals and how these needs are met in theirenvironment

be able to describe changes that occur in daily and seasonal cycles and their

effects on living things communicate their observations, experiences and thinking in a variety of ways,and classify objects, events and organisms

Science Gr. 2
http://bushnell.net/~peanuts/faq1.htmlhttp://bushnell.net/~peanuts/faq1.htmlhttp://www.squidoo.com/naturetaleshttp://www.squidoo.com/naturetales


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The students will study a variety of topics this year in the areas of Life, Physical and

Earth and Space Science and be encouraged to appreciate God's world as they study

His plan for creation. They will:

will classify familiar animals according to similarities and differences in

appearance, behaviour and life cycles describe some changes that affect animals describe ways in which animals are important to other living things and the

environment describe physical properties of air, water and soil distinguish ways in which air, water and soil interact explain why air, water and soil are important for living things

Science Gr. 3

The students will study a variety of topics this year in the areas of Life, Physical andEarth and Space Science and be encouraged to appreciate God's world as he studies

His plan for creation. He will:

compare familiar plants according to similarities and difference in appearancesand life cycles

describe ways in which plants are important to other living things and theenvironment

describe how plants are harvested and used throughout the seasons. participate in the hands-on activities as suggested.

Science 4

The student will study a variety of topics in the areas of Life, Physical and Earth and

Space Science:

make predictions, supported by reason and relevant to the content use data from investigations to recognize patterns and relationships and reach

conclusions. be able to compare the structures and behaviours of local animals and plants in

different habitats and communities analyze simple food chains, and determines how personal choices and actions

have environmental consequences.

2012Janine Hanson


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Documents

Spring Nature Study