For the Love of Trees: A Year-Long Tree Study

Our New Year-Long Tree Study Subject - Cottonwood Tree

Only the growing and open season is thought to be attractive in the country. The winter is bare and cheerless. A tree is weeping, gay, restful, spirited, quiet, sombre. That is, trees have expression. The expression resides in the observer, however, not in the tree. Therefore, the more the person is trained to observe and to reflect, the more sensitive his mind to the things about him, and the more meaning the trees have. No one loves nature who does not love trees. - L.H. Bailey, 1899

We have done year-long tree studies before and it is a great way to learn about a tree, to become familiar with its life cycle through the seasons. Taking a year to get to know a tree allows you to focus on a different part of the tree in each season. A year-long tree study can be as simple as making observations in each season and talking about what you see as the tree changes or transforms. Or, you can make it more in-depth by adding in additional reading in the Handbook of Nature Study and keeping a nature journal of your observations.

"Children should also become familiar with trees at an early age. They should pick about six in the winter when the leaves are gone, perhaps an elm, a maple, a beech, etc, and watch them during the year."
Charlotte Mason, volume 1 page 52

I invite you to join our family by picking a tree in your yard or neighborhood and watching it through each of the coming seasons for the next year. Charlotte Mason suggests starting this project in the winter but our family has successfully enjoyed starting our tree study in the summer or fall.

Here is a recap of ideas for your Year-Long Tree Study.

Summer Tree Study Notebook Page - More Nature Study Book #4 Summer Sizzle

Simple Suggestions for a Summer Tree Study:
1. Sight: Look closely at the bark and leaves. Stand or lay under your tree and look up. Use a magnifying lens to look at the bark and leaves. Look for birds, animals, or insects in your tree. Look for all the parts of your tree: trunk, crown, branches, and spray.
2. Smell: Smell the bark. Rub a leaf and see what it smells like.
3. Touch: Close your eyes and feel the bark. Feel the leaf or needle from your tree and describe its texture.
4. Hearing: Quietly sit under your tree for one minute. Can you hear the leaves or branches moving? Can you hear a bird in the tree or insects buzzing near the tree?
5. Taste: If your tree has fruit, you can choose to taste the fruit.

Simple Suggestions for an Autumn Tree Study:
Compare Leaves from Two Different Trees
-Leaf shape and leaf margins.
-Leaf arrangement on the stem.
-Leaf color, texture, and size. (You can measure if you wish.)
You can take photos of your tree to put in your nature journal or you can sketch the tree in your journal.

Simple Suggestions for Winter Tree Study:
1. Pick a tree in your yard or on your street and view its branch patterns and silhouette.
2. Find a tree that has lost its leaves and sketch its shape in your nature journal. This activity can be done from a window if your weather is too cold or snowy.
3. Collect some seeds from trees that may still be left over from last season. Look for sweet gum, locust, yellow poplar, ash, mimosa, or sycamore.
4. Collect twigs from different trees and compare them.

Simple Suggestions for Spring Tree Study:
1. Pick a tree in your yard or on your street and look for its new leaves and blossoms if appropriate.
2. Is it just beginning to show leaves? Can you tell if your tree has all of its leaves yet?
3. Can you see any insects or birds in your tree?
4. Collect a few leaves to use for leaf rubbings in your nature journal. You could also make a leaf bouquet.
5. Compare two leaves from the same tree. Are they exactly alike?
6. Use your nature journal to record a sketch of the leaf and any blossoms.
7. How has the tree changed since autumn? Winter?


Free Seasonal Tree Notebook Page

Handbook of Nature Study- Tree Study Using the Outdoor Hour Challenge

Nature Study - Review Your Fieldwork

After the children have spent fifteen or twenty minutes at work in the field, it may be well to gather them together there, ascertain what they have discovered...The general review of what they have learned can, however, be conducted much better in the schoolroom than out of doors.....Encourage them to tell all they can about what they have seen, with as few questions as possible.....After the oral review, what has been learned in the field lesson can be fixed by a blackboard reading lesson. The statements should be obtained from the children, and should embody the important facts or thoughts gained out of doors This will not only review and clinch what the children have learned out of doors, but will give them practice in expressing their ideas clearly and exactly, and in relating ideas, or putting their statements in sequence or order.
Nature Study and the Child by Charles B. Scott

• Nature study does not need to take a lot of time and can be accomplished in a relaxed and natural way. 
• For young children, start off with just an oral review of their experiences out of doors. 
• As they get older, you can write some of their words on a white board for them to copy into their nature journal. 
• Eventually, after much practice, they will be able to complete all the review of their field work on their own.

Use the three steps to better nature study as outlined in my nature printable and your family will enjoy years of satisfying outdoor time.


Now a little blog business:
I forgot to announce the winner of the blog carnival/newsletter giveaway. All participants in the Outdoor Hour Challenge Blog Carnival were entered to win a copy of my very new More Nature Study Book #3 ebook that will release next week. I used Random.org to generate a winner.

The winner is Diana from Homeschool Review and Crafting Too. I will confirm with you your email address and send your copy on March 5, 2012. Congratulations!

Thank you to all who participated in last month's carnival!

Nature Study and Children - Nurture a Sense of Wonder

Western Scrub Jay

“I sincerely believe that for the child, and for the parent seeking to guide him, it is not half so important to know as to feel when introducing a young child to the natural world. If facts are the seeds that later produce knowledge and wisdom, then the emotions and the impressions of the senses are the fertile soil in which the seeds must grow. The years of early childhood are the time to prepare the soil." -Rachel Carson, A Sense of Wonder

Guide them - This is something you do together.

Introduce them - One plant, one bird, one tree at a time.

Impress them - Use all your senses.

Prepare them - Grow a sense of wonder.

Nature Study - Keeping the Spirit Alive

"Nature study aims to keep the observing spirit alive."

Nature-Study, a manual for teachers.

Nature study can become a part of your life. It can weave itself into your mind and heart....binding thoughts, facts, ideas, and emotions together. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that nature study can be your way of life, looking at things more intently. This sort of nature study education is not about facts but about a way of looking at life. It is a priceless gift we can give our children.

The desire to learn more about the natural world does become a burning spirit once it is lit. You need to know the names of things just like you know the names of your intimate friends. You no longer can restrict your days to the indoors and you can feel when you have been housebound too long with cobwebs starting to form on your nature journal. You realize you must get outside so you can breathe again. 

Nurture the Spirit

Look for the spot of sunshine, stand still, close your eyes, and let it warm you inside and out. Open your eyes again and see things with a fresh view. Better yet, look at things from your child's view. Draw them outside with you and then follow their lead. Teach them by example how being outside is an enjoyable experience and can be an adventure. Nurture in them that nature study spirit.




Scheduled Publish Date: 12/28/11

Outdoor Hour Challenge: Weather- Find Out For Yourself

Late Autumn Sky

"The scientific method of study is: Do not take things for granted, but find out for yourself. This method trains pupils to think for themselves. Too much talking by the teacher allows the pupils' minds to lie idle and passive. Exercise strengthens them."
Nature Study and Children

As you can tell if you are a regular reader of my blog, I love to quote old nature study books. These books are full of gems that still sparkle today with wisdom and practical advice. Timeless advice like you see above will help you be a better nature study guide.

Many of us are winding down our academics for the term and this week's challenge is a great way to transition to the winter break. Weather observations are an easy to do while on a family walk or even from a window. Don't overlook the power of a simple challenge. Remember the quote above.

Suggestions for this week's challenge, pick one or do all five!
1. Take a walk and observe the weather. Informal nature study done while spending time together as a family is often the most meaningful. Get outside for a quick walk when you have a few minutes to spare.
2. Keep track of temperature for three days in a row. Record it in your nature journal to compare with future months. You can print a blank calendar page from Hearts and Trees.
3. Observe clouds over the course of a week. Advanced Study: Cloud Chart pdf  and for everyone: Clouds That Look Like Animals and Cloud Types.
4. Complete a seasonal weather notebook page.
5. Finish the grid suggestions from the November Newsletter.

Make sure to send in your entries for the blog carnival. The carnival is posted on the last day of each month. You can enter at this link: Outdoor Hour Challenge Blog Carnival Submission Form.

Knowledge Leads to Pleasure-My Heartfelt Thank You

"Knowledge is power. It is also pleasure or affords pleasure. Many students learn for the mere pleasure of learning. This is the case of the scientist who discovers the laws of nature or proves a theory, without a thought of their practical application. Even a child in the satisfaction of his curiosity has a similar feeling.

But we can get sweet and helpful pleasure also from the sensuous enjoyment of the beauty of nature's forms and colors, the songs of birds and the sound of running waters, the fragrance of the flowers and the smell of the earth and sea, the delicious flavor of fruit, the warmth of the genial sunshine, the touch of our feet on the ground, or the feel of the earth as we lie upon it. These pleasures of the senses, though not the higher kind, should not be neglected. Without them life would be much more matter-of-fact and uninteresting"
Nature Study and the Child by Charles B. Scott, late 1800's

I want to say that my life has truly been enriched by keeping this blog of our family's adventures. The knowledge we have gained about the natural world, seeing the creation of a loving heavenly Father, has indeed made our hearts full and life more sweet. But this blog would not be complete if it were not for all the wonderful people who have joined us along the way. The kinship of like-hearted moms who have helped create a place of sharing and encouragement is really the other ingredient to the Handbook of Nature Study blog.

Our woodpecker tree

The journey has been even more pleasurable as I have come to know many, many families from around the world who also take time to spend a few minutes each week outdoors with their children. I want to seize this opportunity to thank those who nominated the Handbook of Nature Study for the Best Homeschool Nature Study Blog again this year. This community has helped build a great nature study blog and resource. As the winner of the 2011 Homeschool Blog Award we can perhaps share our adventure with some new families who learn about the weekly challenges and start to participate in the Outdoor Hour Challenge Blog Carnival. Make sure to check out the other winning blogs when you have some time.

Kona and I say, "Thank you so much."

My thank you would not be complete without a word or two to my wonderful supportive husband and my four children, without which this adventure would never have started. Seeing the world through your eyes has made every moment more special. Thanks for putting up with your crazy nature loving mama. I look forward to many more years of adventures either with you at my side or as I hear of your own journeys out into the world.

2009 Family Photo - Under the Sequoias