Calendars: It's a great idea to have children keep a calendar to record when and where they saw the first oak leaf, the first tadpole, the first primrose, the first ripe blackberries. Then next year they can pull out the calendar and know when to anticipate seeing these things again, and they can note new discoveries. Imagine how this will add enthusiasm for daily walks and nature hikes! A day won't go by when something isn't seen to excite them.
There are so many ways you can incorporate calendars in your nature study in your homeschool. Here are just a few I came up with.
- Record an observation about "firsts" like Charlotte Mason suggests. (This time of year it could be first red leaf, first yellow leaf or first acorn on the ground, etc.)
- Record the weather. (Is it sunny? Cloudy? Rainy? How much has it rained? What's the temperature?)
- Record the animals you see in your backyard.
- Record how many birds you can spot on your nature walk.
- Record a new plant or animal you identified.
- Record your favorite thing you saw on your nature walk.
- A young child could draw a picture in the square for the day to record something he saw.
In my blog sidebar I have had a Blank Nature Study Calendar for you to download. If you haven't already taken a look at it and used it in your nature study, feel free to do so now. Or you can easily print blank calendar pages using your word processor or by searching for them online.
(PLEASE NOTE: I have changed the link to the calendar to dropbox, and now everyone should be able to get it free with no problems. Thanks!)
Do you use calendars in your nature study?
Do you find this idea helpful?
I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments section.
