Nature Study–Outdoor Hour Challenge #1

I have been very guilty lately of staying indoors way too much with the kids. Maybe it was the HOT summer or the nausea of pregnancy, but I just did not feel like venturing outdoors! However, after debating on what more we could do with our Science studies, I was encouraged by a friend to just keep it simple…Get outdoors and explore. What more do Kindergarteners and preschoolers need than to touch, feel, and listen to learn about the wonderful world God created!

I downloaded the Handbook of Nature Study and decided to participate in the weekly Outdoor Challenges as a way to get us outside. The blog suggested to start with the first 5 challenges and then to join up with them when those are finished. So, we started with Challenge #1. It was simple…Spend time outside. There was no agenda or questions to ask. After coming back inside, we were to talk about all that we saw and decide on one thing that we’d like to learn more about.

Well, our one time outside ended up turning into multiple adventures this week. We spent time at a local park, at the cabin, and in the backyard. We had TONS of fun and had lots to talk about!

At the Park

Lexy loves digging in the dirt!

Of course, we had to make time for the playground!

A hollow tree…who could use this???

Watching and listening

Another hole…this time I think I see something!

Why would a tree grow like this? It’s a lot of fun to pretend like it’s a horse!

Climbing

After a good day of playing and exploring at the park, what could be better than an apple cider slushie from the orchard!

At the Cabin

There’s always plenty of time for just playing outside.

Hiking the trails and exploring the woods

What will we see if we take a boat ride?

THOUSANDS of FRESH WATER JELLY FISH!!!

Lexy wanted to hold one.

We took a little ride over to “turtle mountain.” Where are all the turtles? Have they already started digging themselves down in the mud?

Time for a little fishing

Lexy caught one!

It wouldn’t be Fall without a wagon ride!

Phew, this is exhausting!

In the Backyard

What’s this…Josiah needs to investigate it with a magnifying glass.

Wow, there are lots of them all over the yard!

It’s a black walnut! Let’s get the outer layer off first.

Then, we can crack it open to find the nut.

Some of them were too hard. We’ll have to let them dry out for a few days. We learned that black walnuts sure are messy!

Time to jump in the leaves with Mamaw!

Has anyone seen Josiah?

SO MUCH FUN!!!

SO…In Conclusion:

1. We decided that we want to learn more about fresh water jelly fish. Why are they there? Where did they come from…they weren’t there last year. How are they different from the jelly fish we saw at the beach a few weeks ago?

2. Nature Study is lots of fun! We will be getting outdoors much more often!

Be sure to see what others are doing at the Preschool Corner and 5K too!

Kindergarten - LHFHG Unit 3

Focus: Abraham and His Descendents We are moving right along in our Kindergarten studies. Both kids have been enjoying the many hands on activities that go along with our Bible themes. I'm so glad that I can include Josiah in a good portion of what we do. Our mornings are spent playing together and doing the science or art projects that he can be involved in. While he takes his nap, Lexy does the rest of her school.

Science: After reading about Jacob and Esau one day, we did a science experiment about our sense of smell (Esau smelled the good food and wanted to eat it). They took turns matching scents on q-tips with the bottle that it came from.

Phonics: Lexy has been working through Reading Made Easy. Between lessons (every other day), we play games to review. She enjoys reviewing with Happy Phonics, but I've also found many games online to print off. Refined Metals Academy has a great list of resources! This week we reviewed some word families. Lexy loves to play this foot game. We play it many different ways. Sometimes she just matches the pictures to the correct foot. Othertimes, she will run and jump on the foot of the picture I hold up. She loves to get up and move around! Sometimes, she spells words out with magnets to review. Singapore Math: Although we've been moving at half speed in the LHFHG guide, we're plugging away with math at full speed. The Kindergarten book has all been review for Lexy at this point; however, it has been a great foundation for her. We've been enjoying using many different kinds of manipulatives for the lessons. Here is one of Lexy's favorites: These fries are made out of sponges. Who wouldn't like to do math with McDonald's fries??? We keep our lessons short. Much of their learning comes through play. So, most of our day is spent playing. Lexy likes making pictures out of shapes with Josiah's Haba Geo Shape Tak Zap. Josiah just likes hammering in the nails!

The majority of the day, this is how you'll find Josiah! He loves his books! Notice his book shelf is a complete disaster. I straighten it about once a week, but it's hopeless! He's my little bookworm for sure! Time Outdoors I have been reading bits and pieces of Charlotte Mason's Original Homeschool Series. One particular quote has stood out to me: "In this time of extraordinary pressure, educational and social, perhaps a mothers first duty to her children is to secure for them a quiet and growing time, a full six years of passive receptive life, the waking part of it for the most part spent out in the fresh air." I loved that phrase, "a quiet and growing time." That's what I want for my children. I've been challenged to slow down and allow them this time to grow quietly. I'm also trying to get them out in nature as much as possible. Over the weekend, we had the opportunity to visit Mama and Papa's cabin. They had a wonderful time outdoors being kids! Lexy made sure to check on Papa's Apple Orchard!

She was amazed by this tree that had been uprooted during a winter storm. She was fascinated by the size of the roots.

They're loving their new rain boots! Walking and splashing in the creek is so much fun! There is also lots to find!

Josiah's favorite activity of the weekend was splashing around on the dock that had been flooded from all the rain.

My favorite...

I don't know any two kids that love to play in the dirt more! They can spend hours digging and playing together. It's a funny thing...when they're outside playing together, they're not fighting!

I'm hoping to start our Easter Nature Study from NaturExplorers this weekend!

We actually finished up Unit 3 a little early this week to begin our Easter focus. Other than Math and Phonics, we're taking a break from our normal school to do our 12 days of Easter! So far, it's been lots of fun! I hope to post about our first few days this weekend.

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