If you’re like me, it’s always a bit difficult to let go of the autumn season when you know that six (or more) months of cold and snow wait on the other side. When I first set out to create this winter nature study, I researched all I could about the flora and fauna this time of year, and was pleasantly surprised to find that there is SO much going on out there under the dirt, snow and ice.
In tree hollows, burrows and sheltered among the trees, the outdoors is bursting with life – even if it’s a little harder to spot.
This winter we’ll be studying the animals that tuck away for the season, and those that brave it. We’ll be learning about the plants that sleep and those that keep right on producing.
My family and I are looking forward to exploring everything nature has to offer this winter – and we’ll be using the new Winter Journal to help us.
We’ll be taking a deep dive into the following subjects:
Winter Trees
Hibernation
Winter Birds
Wintry Weather
The Winter Night Sky
Foraging in the Winter Woods
I hope you and your family are able to get out this winter and do some exploring!
Fall is here! It’s my very favorite season, and because of that I tend to go *slightly* overboard with all of the fall things. (Can you relate?)
I put together a list of all the things the boys and I have done over the past few years, as well as some on our list for the future. All of these are simple, no-fuss activities, and a great way to lean into the season.
Seasonal playdough is always a hit around here. Add autumn nature finds and you’ve got yourself a winner! Get the recipe here.
Beeswax Leaf Dipping
Our favorite way to preserve and use those stunning autumn leaves – beeswax dipping is simple and fun. Here’s how to do it.
Mushroom Spore Prints
This is a great time of year to hunt for mushrooms, and making spore prints is a fun way to observe your finds.
Leaf Lanterns
With the nights getting longer, these sweet leaf lanterns add a bit of cozy magic. Here’s how to make them.
Bat Study (Free Printable)
My boys always want to learn about bats this time of year, and we always try and make a visit to our local bathouse to watch these little furry creatures. Download the free bat printable.
Leaf Animals
Some glue, googley eyes and leaves are all you need to make these adorable leaf animals.
Leaf Ghosts
I mean, how cute are these? If I could choose one Halloween decoration to display in my home, this would be it. Check out the tutorial.
Leaf Symmetry
Leaf symmetry combines math, art and nature study – plus, it’s fun!
Dandelion crowns in spring, flower crowns in summer… and these leaf crowns are so perfect for your autumn prince or princess.
Exploring Moss and Lichen (Free Printable)
When the weather turns cooler and damper, it’s a great time to study moss and lichen. Go on a nature walk, bring a magnifying glass and see what you can find. Bring this free moss and lichen printable with you.
Now that our yard is waking up and everything is blooming, I though it would be fun to do a roundup of nature play ideas you can do from your own backyard:
Let me begin this post by saying we made this night sky playdough NINE MONTHS ago and it is still going strong!
I don’t know how, I don’t know why, but this playdough lasts forever. (We store it in a ziploc storage bag inside a cupboard inside a cool room).
We’ve used it to study constellations, galaxies, planets and for just plain fun. The glitter – which was my main concern – magically stays contained inside the playdough.
Again, I don’t know how. It’s just plain magic, folks.
Here is the Recipe for Night Sky Playdough:
Mix together:
2 cups white flour
1 cup fine salt
3 Tbsp cream of tartar (helps make it smooth and elastic)
Stir in:
1.5 Tbsp vegetable oil
2 cups of boiling water (carefully!)
5-10 drops blue or purple food coloring
Knead it together until it’s nice and smooth. Then, pour a small amount of glitter in the center of the dough, and knead it in a little at a time.
Add star sequence or beads and press them in to make constellations.
Or, use stars or marbles to make galaxy spirals.
Use different colors of playdough to form planets and create a solar system.
There are so many ways you can play with this playdough!
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The Winter Journal
Explore the night sky and five other subjects with this winter-themed nature journal for kids!
Friends, it’s here! The Pond Guided Nature Journal is in my Etsy shop and ready for your little explorer.
Inside are posters, flash cards, coloring pages and journaling prompts covering 5 different topics (frogs, dragonflies, turtles, aquatic plants, aquatic minibeasts), and I’ve also included ideas for activities, sensory play and a book list.
Here’s a little boredom buster that’s sure to keep the rock-lovers happy in your house. This is a FREE Rock and Mineral Properties Activity Sheet for immediate download. My boys loved testing the rocks from their collection – I hope your kids love it, too!
**Note: I’m an affiliate of Amazon, which means every purchase from product links helps keep this website going. I only write about things I’m truly passionate about, and products I actually recommend and use for our family.**
What with Halloween approaching, my kids are currently obsessed with bats – and after watching the Wild Kratt’s little brown bat episode – well, now we are the proud owners of a backyard bat house.
What can I say. Nature is my weakness.
I’ve created these Little Brown Bat nature study pages, if you and your littles would like to study bats along with us.
And here’s a fun craft to go along with it, if you’re into that sort of thing.
The Wild Child’s Nature Journal ~ The Forest is done and up in my Etsy shop.
This project feels a bit like my fourth child, and I hope it’s something that can be a blessing to you and your kiddos.
Inside The Forest, I’ve included 8.5×11 posters, flash cards, coloring pages and journaling prompts for eight fascinating organisms you can find in the forest:
Autumn Leaves Forest Beetles Fungi Conifer Trees Woodpeckers Ferns Forest Animals Moss and Lichen
This guided journal is a great option for those of you who have kids just getting started with nature study and nature journaling. It presents a variety of information on species, nature anatomy and life cycles, while keeping it simple and non-intimidating (is that a word???).
Use it alongside your favorite nature study curriculum, or bring it along on your nature walks.
“We are all meant to be naturalists, each in his own degree, and it is inexcusable to live in a world so full of the marvels of plant and animal life and to care for none of these things.” -Charlotte Mason
We bound ours in a pocket folder (minus the flashcards – those hang above our nature table), and when it’s time for nature study we just pull out the folder and it’s all there.
Nature study is something that is really important to our family, and I believe it’s an essential piece of my children’s education.
Please let me know how you like it! And feel free to share your experience with the journal on Instagram by using #journalingthewild ~ I would love to see and share your photos.
Our favorite thing to do now that the weather is cooling off and the leaves are changing is to collect autumn “treasures” on our nature walks.
Pine cones, acorns, leaves and berries make wonderful loose parts to play with – but they make even better play dough stamps! (And, they’re freeeeeee)
This cinnamon scented play dough is velvety smooth and soft, and it smells DIVINE. Trust me, you will want to eat it. (But don’t, it tastes pretty terrible)
Cinnamon Play Dough Recipe
2 cups white flour 1 cup fine sea salt 3 Tbsp cream of tartar (it makes the playdough more smooth and elastic) 2 Tbsp ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1.5 Tbsp vegetable oil
Mix all ingredients above together in a large bowl
Slowly and CAREFULLY stir in 2 cups of boiling water
Optional: knead in 5-10 drops of cinnamon essential oil and several drops of orange (or red+yellow) food coloring
Keep kneading on a countertop or flat surface until it’s a smooth consistency (this should take a minute or two)
**Note – please be aware, if you add food coloring, some of the color may transfer to your hands and countertop during the mixing process. I was able to easily wipe it off my solid surface counters without it staining, but keep this in mind if you are working on a very porous surface.**
I hope you try this simple and fun autumn activity! And make sure you take time to slow down and join in on the fun, too. #notjustforkids
😉
**I’m an affiliate of Amazon, which means every purchase from product links helps keep this website going. I only write about things I’m truly passionate about, and products I actually recommend and use for our family.**
