OHC More Nature Study Book 2 - Quartz Study

 “Quartz is the least destructible and is one of the most abundant materials in the crust of the earth as we know it. It is made up of two elements chemically united—the solid silicon and the gas oxygen.” Handbook of Nature Study  

More Nature Study Book #2
Rock Study - Quartz Crystals
Inside Preparation Work: 

1. Read pages 754-755 in the Handbook of Nature Study (Lesson 213). This short lesson is packed with information and the lesson suggestions will give you some careful observation ideas. 
2. If you can locate some quartz samples to have on hand, do some close up observations of quartz. Even little ones can describe with words their quartz sample. Compare quartz with some other rocks in your collection.
3. If you do not have samples, make sure to view the images of quartz with the additional links provided below. 

Outdoor Hour Time:

1. If the weather allows, take your outdoor time in a place that has rocks to pick up and handle. Be on the lookout for quartz crystals. Do not be discouraged if you can’t find quartz in your neighborhood but take the opportunity to observe and describe any rocks you see. 
2. Collect a few rocks to bring home and either start or add to your rock collection. 

 
Follow-Up Activity:

1. After your Outdoor Hour time, take a few minutes to follow-up your outdoor time. Bring out your quartz samples and compare them to other rocks you may have collected. Set up a rock observation spot on your nature table. See the image above for ideas. 
2. Give time for a nature journal entry or ebook users can complete the quartz notebooking page and/or the coloring page to follow up this study.
3. Advanced study: Research more about quartz on Geology.com. Use a printable Mineral Chart for additional information and identification. Learn the identifying marks of quartz. Record your information in your nature journal or a notebook page.

Additional Links: 

• Definitions: Crystal, Luster, Hardness, color, transparency/diaphaneity, and streak. 
• Quartz for Kids 
• YouTube: Crystal Mining (kid friendly) and Amethyst Crystal. 
• YouTube: Smoky Quartz Part 1 and Part 2 

You can see how our family completed this challenge here in this post: 
Quartz Study - Rock Collecting Gone Crazy. 

Our Winter Weeds - A Continuing Nature Study

Mullein and Winter Weeds

Winter weeds have become an on-going study for our family. Our winter hikes always seem to include some sort of weed observation.

• Our March 2009 entry showing the beauty of looking at weeds up close: Even More Lovely Than I Imagined. 
• Our January 2010 entry shows some of the beautiful silhouettes of winter weeds: Winter Hike to The River.
• In February 2011, we again blogged our Winter Weeds Along Our Walking Trail.

So what did we do to study weeds a little more in depth this year?

• We have been collecting weeds on just about every walk. They have made into bouquets, looked at under the microscope, and drawn in our nature journals.




• We looked for weeds on our last snowshoe hike and made quite a few observations while adventuring in the snow.
• We have been observing our "laboratory" of mullein in the garden as it has changed over the past six months. It isn't very pretty at this point but we are going to leave it until the spring greening. There are still parts of the plant that are greenish so we figure some creature in the yard might find a use for it.
• Mr. B did the additional mullein research suggested in the More Nature Study Book 2 challenge and then he completed a notebook page.

Weeds and seeds of all shapes and sizes.

I decided to sketch and record my weed observations in my nature journal. I am trying to get better at identifying winter weeds

My mullein entry in progress

There is just so much to learn about winter weeds....it is like a whole new world to explore once you get started and train your eyes to see beyond the brownness of them. I spent two afternoons just looking closely, sketching, and researching in my field guide.

My journal included some details of the weed seeds.

"The farmer and the gardener owe quite a debt of thanks to the birds that eat weed seeds. Of course there are still bountiful crops of weeds each year; but there would be even more weeds if it were not for the army of such seed-eating birds as sparrows, bobwhites, and doves." Handbook of Nature Study, page 45 

I was thinking about this link between weeds, seeds, and birds this week after reading this in the Handbook of Nature Study. The design in the food web is such an awesome thing that we could very well overlook the fingerprint of the Creator if we don't take the time to learn more about it.

There is always something new to think about and learn from our nature study...even if we have been at it for many years.

Thanks for taking the journey with me.

OHC More Nature Study Book 2 - Mullein and Winter Weeds

More Nature Study Book #3
Winter Weeds - Mullein Study

Inside Preparation:

1. Read in the Handbook of Nature Study pages 537-539 (Lesson 146). Share a few facts and the images with your children so they can be on the lookout for mullein in your area. The distinctive rosette growth, the velvety leaves, and the flower stalk make this plant an easy one to spot, even in winter. (Ebook users have images included in the book and others can use the videos and the links in the Follow-Up section to view mullein.)
2. Make sure to note that mullein is a biennial (takes two years to mature and produce seeds). 
3. Optional: Watch this short YouTube video that gives you an idea of what a winter mullein looks like: Common Mullein. I also made my own mullein video from my garden: Mullein in Autumn. 

Outdoor Hour Time:

1. Common mullein is found throughout the United States and Canada. During your outdoor time this week, try to find some common mullein to observe in its winter state. First year mullein will be look like green, soft, rosettes. Second year mullein will be the brown plant with the flower stalk. Observe how the leaves grow out between the two of the lower circle, that the upper leaves are smaller than those below, and that the upper leaves do not lie flat.
2. Observe the mullein plant, looking at ways it survives the winter cold, rain, and snow. Make note of the plant’s location and plan to revisit it over the next year in each season. 
3. Alternate winter weed activity: Find and observe any winter weed in your neighborhood. Even if you have snow, see if you can find a part of a plant sticking up out of the snow and make some observations. You may want to click over and read my Winter Weeds challenge for additional ideas for your family.

Follow-Up Activities:

1. Complete a follow-up nature journal entry or notebook page for your mullein observations. Ebook users choose from the Common Mullein or Winter Weed notebook pages. 
2. Advanced follow-up: Research the mullein plant online and find how it is used its traditional, medicinal, and health uses. Try this LINK or this LINK (this one is excellent!). Ebook users: Complete a notebook page. 
3. Advanced follow-up: Research annual, perennial, and biennial plants on Wikipedia. Ebook users: Complete the notebook page with a summary of the information and give examples of each kind of plant. 

Here is a short video that will give you an idea of what mullein looks like in the winter. You can view our winter weeds study here: Winter Weeds - On-going Study






Winter related books and field guides you may wish to look for at your library this week. All of these books are helpful but not necessary to the Outdoor Hour Challenge.

OHC More Nature Study Book 2 - Winter Bird - Chickadee

More Nature Study Book 2
Winter Bird - Chickadee

Inside Preparation Work:

1. Read in the Handbook of Nature Study pages 68-69 (Lesson 14).
2. Highlight a few of the questions in the lesson to use during your outdoor time. 
3. Check your bird field guide, using the index to look for chickadees in your area. Share the images with your children. 
4. Younger Children: Read Burgess Bird Book Ch. 37 online or listen to an MP3 recording to hear the chickadee story. 
5. Refer to previous bird challenges: Black and White Birds and Winter Bird Study. 
6. YouTube: Chickadee Documentary and What Do Chickadees Eat? 

Outdoor Hour Time: 

1. Use some of your outdoor time this week to look for backyard birds. Chickadees should be present during the winter season and are often found at backyard feeders. Remember the questions from the Handbook of Nature Study lesson and gently guide your children to observe the chickadee to find the answers. Chickadees are often seen with nuthatches and downy woodpeckers and are attracted to feeders that offer suet and black oil sunflower seeds. 
2. In areas that do not have chickadees, observe another feeder bird and their habits. Do they sit on the feeder or under the feeder? Which kinds of food do they like? What do they sound like? How big are they? How many of them are at the feeder? 

Follow-Up Activity:

1. Follow-up your outdoor time by pulling out your bird field guide to identify and/or confirm any bird observations. If you saw a chickadee, have your child describe the bird with as much detail as possible. If they have trouble remembering, bring up an image on the computer to help them along. 
2. If desired, allow time for a nature journal entry. Ebook users: Complete a Chickadee notebook page (regular or advanced) or a Winter Feeder Bird notebook page entry to capture the memory of your time outdoors. There is an optional coloring page included in the ebook. 
3. Advanced follow-up: Read Distinguishing Chickadees. Read about Tricky Chickadees (Black-capped and Carolina). Compare two chickadees (notebook page included in the ebook). 

You can read how our family completed this study: Winter Feeder Birds.

Make sure to share your January blog entries with the Outdoor Hour Challenge Blog Carnival. 

You may wish to click over and read: Birdfeeders in Winter on my Squidoo page.