Nature Study~ Your Backyard

It`s amazing what we can find in our own backyard. Sometimes we are too busy to look, but a lot is there. A great fall/winter project is a area for bird feeding. This brings so much life right out your back door. A large old table can hold a nice assortment of seed, bread and any other bird food. It also makes for a good space for the birds to gather. Sometimes it will be full of birds all colors and sizes for your child to observe! You may also add feeders to hang and make your own. Your child can do a `study observation` of; month, time of day, birds,color,and anything they would like to add. They can put this in their sketchbook or begin a Bird Study booklet to watch the changes through the winter, when things really start to get exiting! Don`t forget to keep it up so the birds know where the best restaurants are! Also find a site the gives your child a great listen of bird calls to learn and a little field guide to help identify.

Room tip~ Make and hang something seasonal in your room.This can make your room feel warm and cozy~ideas~ fall leaves, apples with faces, a hanging pumpkin patch. This an also stay up until November.

Sketchbook~ Draw a apple and pear, side by side. This can be colorful by adding color pencil or watercolor with watercolor paper. Great watercolors I suggest are Prang. Mount on paper and hang for all to see.

Your School Room

This is something that could have been done early, but into September is fine. It`s arranging your place of schooling. There are many different ways to set up. We always enjoyed a separate room that we could leave, like a room in a down stairs or off to the side,that would not be disturbed during the rest of the day. A nice table or desk is good, depending on the child`s age. Things can change from year to year to motivate your child. The room can be fun and exciting with decorations done by your kids, they will be very proud of their space. Also let them play classical music while they study, Mozart will be happy to assist! Keep school supplies ONLY for that room so things don`t get lost,we can waste time looking for scissors. Keep books and papers organized in a bin for each child and a place for your things. This can keep the day running smooth. I will be adding `Room Tip`or `Tool Tip` as I see to keep the room rolling!

Room Tip~ Put up a verse or quote on the wall to encourage your child, change weekly.

Do what you can, where you are, with what you have. ~ Teddy Roosevelt~

Sketchbook~ Take you child on a sketching hike and picnic in your own back yard. You will see some new and beautiful things. Point out some very small things to draw,like the inside of a flower.

The Faithful ~ The Old Farmers Almanac~

One of the`must haves`in your library is an almanac. I prefer the The Old Farmers Almanac. If you don`t know,these handy little books have so much science and nature stored in them and are so fun to read. Information on planets,stars,meteor showers, eclipses, day to day and seasonal events. You purchase one for every year and it`s best to buy before the new year begins. My three always enjoyed looking forward to a moon eclipse and jotting down times and drawing a sketch of what the moon looked like every 15 min or so. So much fun! Always a great heads up for you and your child!

Topic for your child to write about:
MY MOST MEMORABLE PET STORY ~write and picture or just picture~ always read or tell aloud to your family.


Little drops of water,
Little grains of sand,
Make the mighty ocean,
And the pleasant land. ~ by Julia A. Fletcher Carney

Draw a picture of this and place the poem at the bottom.

The year long SKETCHBOOK!

All that summer fun brings me to our next school tool, the sketchbook! There are many sizes of sketchbooks around,so any you like will be fine. Keep it handy and you can make it part of your school day. An easy way to begin, maybe during a break or while you prepare lunch,have your child go out into their backyard and have them draw something they like. You can give them instructions to draw leaves one day and something else the next day like a tree or birdhouse. Whatever is in your yard. This will bring your own backyard and child to life!! You may also enter the time of day,weather,and details of their subject. This is also called nature journaling. They can create stories from this and have fun sharing!! Please encourage they need no drawing abilities, their pictures will be beautiful and their skills will develop just fine. They can add color pencil or watercolor,but pencil will do. This is a great way to get a keepsake of their art work and enjoy it for years to come. During the year I will post sketchbook notes to help keep it going. Let me know how it goes!

New School Year!

While the new school year is upon us it`s time to reflect on the educational summer we are leaving. Little do our kids know we do more learning when we think we are just having fun. Take time to have your child write or draw about some things they did that they enjoyed. You will be happy to know what stood out in their hearts. This is a great way to ease in the new school year and your homeschooler will be excited to begin!