We were able to get back to our nature center today after two weeks away. I’ve been thinking of making a new “you know you’re a homeschooler when” list. If I do, I’m going to have to include “when you miss two weeks at the nature center and are greeted with, ‘Hi, Stranger!’ when you…
I was excited to see this week’s Outdoor Hour Challenge — find an oak tree to observe. It was perfect for us. For one, I actually know an oak tree when I see one and, two, our yard is full of them. Thanks to yet another rainy week, plus sickness in our home, we were…
I interrupt your regularly scheduled Saturday to bring you this fascinating nature update. You may recall me mentioning, several weeks ago, that we have a unique classroom pet: a snail that I discovered when I repotted some houseplants this summer. Well, I was looking for him today when I came across the tiniest little baby…
Due to heavy rains Tuesday night and the fact that we met my sister for lunch on Wednesday, we were unable to go to our nature center this week. I was afraid that I’d be feeling a little withdrawal, but it was an incredible nature study day in the five minutes it took me to…
“The [field notebook] should be considered the personal property of the child and should never be criticized by the teacher except as a matter of encouragement; for the spirit in which the notes are made is more important than the information they cover.” — Anna Botsford Comstock, Handbook of Nature Study Each week, when we…
Too much have we emphasized drawing as an art; it may be an art, if the one who draws is an artist; but if he is not an artist, he still has a right to draw if it pleases him to do so. We might as well declare that a child should not speak unless…
