What is Nature Study?

If you’ve been around homeschoolers for any length of time, you’ve probably heard references to enjoying nature studies, especially with early learners and elementary students. So, what exactly is nature study?

Nature study is a way to explore, observe, and interact with nature.

Nature study often includes a nature walk, which can be as simple as walking around the yard, visiting the park, or taking a hike. The main difference between nature study and a leisurely walk is that nature study is done with purpose. It isn’t just wandering around in the woods.

Let’s take a closer look at what that means.

But it’s not enough to simply observe. Nature study must also involve some sort of evidence of learning.

This is why a nature study notebook is such a handy tool! Children can either take their own notes while they walk or narrate their observations to you so you can write for them.

A nature study notebook can be as simple as a regular notebook or sketchbook, or you can take it further and create a three-ring binder to hold nature study pages and even plastic sleeves with samples pressed into them.

After the observations have been noted in writing, take learning a step further by discussing the observations. Depending on your child’s age, you may even want to find questions that challenge them to think about the observations they’ve made from a scientific, artistic, or even philosophical perspective.

Nature study doesn’t end with the end of a nature walk. Grabbing a nature guide to help identify items seen on the walk, learning how to press a leaf or flower they found, or pinning an insect for study are all activities that can help students continue processing information. They can then add information such as dictionary definitions or labeled drawings to help identify parts of a plant or insect.

But it’s not only about scientific exploration! Sometimes nature journals include poetry or quotes about nature or labeled drawings and use watercolors and other art mediums to make them very beautiful.

The artistic component is important, but the depth of it will definitely vary from child to child. For younger children or those who are not artistically inclined, just making a simple drawing is enough. Children who love color and design, though, should be encouraged to take the time to process what they learned by exploring their creativity.

Of course, this means that nature study can include field trips beyond your back yard! If you’re learning about specific plants or animals, you may take a trip to a zoo, an aviary, or botanical gardens to specifically look for examples of what you’re studying.

If you’re studying geology, you can branch out and walk a trail that features a certain type of rock or soil. For units of study that include plants and animals that live in or near water, head to a nearby lake or the beach.

Just as with any other field trip, the key is to help your child see and explore the things that they’re reading about in daily lessons. This is the epitome of a living education!