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Here are 25 summer nature study ideas to try with your kids this summer!
Charlotte Mason has long been an inspiration for our homeschool.
I have always been particularly fond of her ideas regarding nature study.
There is just something so soul-satisfying in studying and pondering creation and the Creator.
“It is infinitely well worth the mother’s while to take some pains every day to secure, in the first place, that her children spend hours daily amongst rural and natural objects; and in the second place, to infuse into them, or rather, to cherish in them, the love of investigation.” ~Charlotte Mason
Now that we’re into spring, it seems like a good time to start making some plans for summer nature study.
There are so many opportunities for being outside during the warmer summer months!
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Summer Nature Study Ideas
In sketching out a plan for our summer, here are 25 summer nature study ideas I came up with as possibilities:
- ants
- bees
- beach/sand
- birds
- butterflies
- clouds
- creeks
- dragonflies
- fireflies
- frogs and toads
- gardens
- herbs
- lacewings (one of my favorite insects)
- lakes
- marine life
- moths
- nests
- night sky/stars
- pond life
- rivers
- seashore
- spiders
- summer tree study
- turtles
- wildflowers
With as much time as we spend outdoors in the summer, we should have plenty of opportunity to explore several things on the above list.
Free Nature Study Printables
As I’ve been making plans for nature study in the coming summer months, I came across some inspiring free resources. Here are a few of them:
- 40 Journal Entry Ideas for Nature Study Notebooks
- Free Bird Nature Study Printables
- Nature Walk Observation Notebook
- Trees Natural Study Printables
More Charlotte Mason Nature Study Resources
If you’re new to nature study, you might want to check out some of our favorite resources. Here are a few of our favorite basic supplies:
- Artist’s Sketchbook or a binder with drawing paper or cardstock
- Colored Pencils (we love Prismacolor and these for younger children)
- Field Guides
- Handbook of Nature Study
- Small Pocket Microscope
- Bug Cage
“The sense of beauty comes from early contact with nature.” ~Charlotte Mason
Related Posts:
Charlotte Mason Nature Study Guide
My Favorite Charlotte Mason Resources
Thanks for linking up at a “Little Bird Told Me” Wednesday link party! You have been featured on Mama’s Happy Hive blog. 🙂
Thank you so much, Vanessa! 🙂
We love our time outdoors. It’s so peaceful and rejuvenating. Thank for the printables!
You’re welcome! Thanks so much for stopping by, Erin!
Great ideas! We spend a lot of time in the pool during summer months, so it would also be appropriate for us to study sea life. Thanks for sharing at the #LMMLinkup.
Thanks! Yes, sea life would be a great summer topic to explore! 🙂
We just started a bird unit this week! My boys love learning about nature; especially this time of year when we can get outside and see/ experience so much of it! Pinned to my science board.
How fun! This is a great time of year for nature study!
Hi, I liked this post too. I picked it as my favorite on for the upcoming Literacy Musing Mondays linkup. We go live Sunday at 6 p.m. I will feature you. 🙂
Thank you, Mary!
Charlotte Mason is absolutely one of my favorite educators. I followed a lot of her ideas when my kids were being homeschooled. I love your ideas for nature study for the summer and your printouts look beautiful! Thank you for sharing at the #LMMLinkup!
Thank you, Gayl! So glad you stopped by!
Great ideas Joy! And thank you for sharing our nature journal printable! 🙂
And thank you for sharing at the Art of Home-Making Mondays at Strangers & Pilgrims on Earth!
Thank you, JES! And thank you for sharing such a helpful printable! 🙂
Hi, Joy! What a fun post about nature. I was perusing through my favorites and saw your blog. I try to read blogs when I can. 🙂
I would like to invite you to pray for a family I know from back home. See their blog link below. I read some of the articles and was blessed and cried at the same time.
https://justalittlelumpofclay.com/
Jennifer, Georgia USA
Hi Jennifer! I’m so glad you stopped by today. I just clicked over to the link you left, and wow, what a difficult trial they are going through! We will be praying for them. ♥
I was just wondering if you could change the way the blog posts come to our inboxes. Mine comes it’s only a partial blog post and then is says to I have to click to go to the blog. I’d rather read it all via inbox. I do click through to comment , if I have one, but otherwise it’s much better for me time-wise to read it all in 1 click to open the email.
Thanks!
Hi Rebecca,
I’ll try to change it with the next post. Since I switched email providers they just automatically cut off the blog post, but I know some readers prefer to have the whole post in their inbox. Thanks for the feedback! 🙂