For the past two years I have been providing almost weekly challenges for families to complete in their own backyards. There are so many different kinds of families that participate on varying levels. I have come to appreciate that for many families nature study, for a variety of reasons, goes in cycles. The interest may always be there but the time available or the energy that can be spared to complete weekly nature study fluctuates with the week, month, and season.
It is very much the same in our family. Although it may appear that we spend lots of time in nature study, in reality we spend small snatches of time just about each week enjoying the outdoors of our backyard and local area.
I found the following quote to be very encouraging and I am sharing it with you so that you too may be encouraged in some way.
"The great danger that besets the teacher just beginning nature study is too much teaching, and too many subjects. In my own work I would rather a child spent one term finding out how one spider builds its orb web than that he should study a dozen different species of spiders. If the teacher at the end of the year has opened the child's mind and heart in two or three directions nature-ward, she has done enough."Can you feel the weights being lifted and the pressure coming off? She is giving us a vote of confidence if we can look back over time and see that we have helped our children to appreciate only a handful of things in nature over the past term. Anna Botsford Comstock knew that nature study was something that could done without spending oodles of time on lessons and books.
Anna Botsford Comstock, Suggestions for Nature Study Work
She also says in the same work quoted above, "Nature study should be a matter of observation on the part of the pupils." Notice that she did not say reading lessons, filling in notebooks, or keeping collections. Observation was the key. How simple it is for us to provide the opportunity for observations of nature in our weekly schedule. We can all take a short walk outdoors and do some observations with our children.
This particular article has encouraged me this week. I know that many people look forward to our weekly challenges and the pressure for me to come up with new subjects is overwhelming sometimes. I need to step back and remember that if all we did was go outside, take a few minutes to do some observations, and then talk to our children about the experience, it would be enough.
Here are a few posts that you may be interested in reading that can help you get started with a simple program of nature study in your family.
Nature Study the Gentle Way
How to Naturally Share Nature Study with your Children
Nature Study in Ripples
Thanks again to Anna Botsford Comstock for her well spoken words from a century ago.
Barb-Harmony Art Mom
Thanks for sharing this, I think we all have this inner push sometimes to wanting to do too many things.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how it is harder sometimes to do less, than it is to do more ;).
Thanks again for remembering this wonderfull thought. Less really is more in many ways.
Thank you for this. I needed to give myself a break and see how much we have accomplished.
ReplyDeleteHi Barb. Loved this post, well said. There is an ebb and flow to everyone's life. We have just moved this month, so I am trying to get back into some sort of "controlled" outdoor activities, but in the meantime the kids are still playing outside, exploring, playing in the snow, and hanging up birdfeeders and observing the birds and squirrels! I am still looking forward to getting back into the swing of things :) Thanks again for all that you do!
ReplyDeletethank you. I can feel the pressure lifting off. We have been getting outside, but no "nature study" has been done..your post has perfect timing, reminding me to relax!
ReplyDeleteWonderful and timely post. Since I only began following your nature blog this year, I feel like I have a lot to catch up with! Whenever I need a fresh idea, I can browse through your previous posts and find something to stimulate our outdoor time. Your doing a wonderful job, and even if you took some time off of the weekly challenges, there is still a wealth of things to do here already.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that the quote and post were encouraging to you all. I have really enjoyed this particular leaflet that ABC wrote.
ReplyDeleteSyndi,
I think my readers are about half and half. Half are like you and are fairly new to the challenges and have a lot to choose from. The other half are the ones that when I take a short break are anxious for the next challenge since they have been along since the beginning. I have spent some time this week thinking about the nature of the whole project.
Thanks for the comments.
Barb
Thank you for the reminder that obeservation is still the key. Too often I make nature study too difficult. We always enjoy all that you share. Thank you for keeping us moving in the right direction. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteThis is lovely. I'm looking forward to reading those articles. Thanks for all you do. Not only is the inspiration you provide already enriching my son's life, but mine as well, as I finally learn what it is we're supposed to do outside!
ReplyDeletePS. I thought you might like to know that I'm giving away SpellQuizzer software, which should work beautifully with any spelling program, on my blog, with no entries at this point, so the odds of winning are very good!