Why Complete a Year-Long Study of a Nature Subject?

The Autumn Series of Outdoor Hour Challenges contain several year-long nature studies. Challenge #1 was to find a cattail to observe during each season. Challenge #2 was to find a tree in your yard to watch and record changes in over the next four seasons. We will also be completing a seasonal weather study very soon as part of the Autumn Series of challenges.

What is the value of completing these year-long nature studies? Why go to all that effort?

"Children should be encouraged to make notes about the same plants or birds for several consecutive years. Each year will bring some new things to their notice and a fuller knowledge of the ways and habits of their subject. It is a tremendous encouragement to find that one has discovered some peculiar little habit of a plant or bird purely by frequent and careful watching and not by reading about it in some book."
The Charm of Nature Study, Parents Review, May 6th, 1930.

We have worked our way through a year-long study of two trees so far and we are eager to pick a new tree starting with this Autumn Series challenge. Getting up close and watching the changes as the seasons go by has brought an intimate knowledge of each tree.


My boys can tell you what birds and animals they have seen in the tree. They can tell you the differences between the two trees.


They can recognize the type of tree wherever it grows now. The slowing down and the focusing is the key.

I encourage you all to give the year-long nature study a try. It is not too late to get started with the cattail study, the tree study, or both. If you do not have a tree in your yard, pick a tree in a place that you frequently visit. Perhaps there is a tree near your grocery store, at the library, or growing in a park that you have near-by. This study works where ever you live. Keep it informal if you wish and make observations every time you see your tree.


The nature journal entry is a great way to record your observations but a photo will do just as well.
Young children can describe their tree in each season with words, noticing the color of the leaves and the bark, the texture of the bark, the size of the trunk, the shape of the leaves, or the smell of the blossoms. There are no rules to the year-long nature study....make it your own. If you don't have a cattail to study, pick some other plant in your area to observe in each season. Keep an open mind and give it a try. :)

Barb-Harmony Art Mom