Challenge #9: One Small Square

Today we completed Challenge #9! The object of this challenge is to increase observation skills. We cut four 12 inch lengths of yarn and marked off a square somewhere in our yard. All four kids chose to do their square in the front yard.

Chloe found a seed pod and tiny bird feather in her square.

Grant found a pinecone and tiny snail shell in his square only a few feet away from Chloe.

Allison, a few feet from Grant, found a dried blossom among the usual stuff.

Abby choose a square area with lots of pine needles and lava rocks.

We observed our squares for about 10 to 15 minutes and made a list of everything we found in them. We then made sketches in our nature journals.

If you do nature study with your children, be sure and do this challenge. We were surprised by how many things we could find in our deserty front yard in just one square foot of it!

The Leaf Man

This week for nature study, we enjoyed the beautiful fall weather again. After last week's cold spell, Albuquerque is back to 70 degree daily highs. The Leaf Man, by Lois Ehlert, is a book your young children will enjoy, but the project we did based on this book was fun for everyone.

We decided Abby's looked like a dancing puppy.

Chloe found pine needles for arms and legs.

Allison is our flower person, so naturally she incorporated some wildflowers in her creation.

Grant chose a pinecone for the body of his "leaf man".

Enjoy the outdoors with your children and encourage them to make their own "leaf men/animals"!

Snow Storm in October!

After yesterday's snow, I couldn't believe it when I looked outside and saw what looked like snow clouds. No! It couldn't be! Not again! It's only October! The kids were finishing up school, and I was posting about the fall picture books we'd being enjoying. Satisfied with my post, I hit the "publish post" button and took a look outside. Sure enough, snow had started to fall. The kids grabbed their coats and mittens and ran outside to investigate, throw snowballs, and build a snowman. Like a dutiful mother, I went inside to make hot chocolate for my chilly children. Enjoy the pictures.

Challenge #7

Last Friday, we completed Challenge #7. The above is a picture of our little tree in the backyard that we decided to study all year long. We think it is an ash tree, but the jury is still out on that one.

We all enjoyed the blue, blue sky of autumn and the tree's yellow leaves against that beautiful blue backdrop. We noticed this time that our little tree is losing its leaves rapidly, the air is getting colder, and fall is slowly turning into winter here.

Challenge #6

Yesterday we completed Challenge #6 over at the Handbook of Nature Study blog. We have decided to study a tree in our backyard for the entire year which looks much like the ones we have at our local park. The days here in ABQ have been picture perfect, so we once again took our studies to the park.

Part of the challenge of nature studies is to get everyone outdoors to enjoy God's creation. I have noticed that on the days we get outside for a little while, everyone's mood and attitude is much better-- including my own!

Chloe commented, "Mom, I feel so free when I can feel the sand between my toes!"

Perfect place to practice ballet

Abby getting a running start for a round-off. We all feel certain she'll add that back hand spring soon!

Some of the best things about fall and the outdoors are jumping in a pile of leaves, and

climbing trees!

Challenge #6 contains suggestions for collections, and the kids have already been bringing a little of the outdoors inside. Our collection box is nothing fancy--just an old shoe box!

In trying to encourage the kids in keeping their own nature journal, I've started one of my own.

Bringing Autumn Indoors

We had such a good time at 4th of July Canyon on Saturday that we just had to bring some of it home with us. Today, we finally got some time to craft with our leaves, acorns, and seeds. First, I cut out a small circle (about 8 inches in diameter) from heavy cardboard. Then, I cut a smaller hole in the middle. The kids then painted the ring with a thick coat of green tempera paint.

Once the paint dried, we strategically hot glued the leaves, acorns, and seeds that we found on our hike to our wreath.

Here is our finished product. Now I just have to find a place to hang them!

We still had some left over leaves that we couldn't part with, so we ironed them between sheets of waxed paper and hung them on our sliding glass door giving them a stained-glass effect. If you decide to do this with your kids, I discovered that you should use a low temp. iron, and only go over the wax paper once. You'll be tempted to go over it several times with the iron, but doing so will loosen the wax paper and it won't stick.

Manzano Moutains: 4th of July Canyon

Isaiah 55:12 "For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.