So, you’ve heard of Nature Study, but how exactly do you do a nature study?
I promise, it’s much easier than you might think.
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Have you wanted to start a nature study with your children but weren’t sure where to even begin? Maybe you’ve seen beautiful nature journals online or heard about it from other homeschooling families, but the idea of planning lessons and finding all the “right” materials feels a little overwhelming.
Well, here’s the good news – you don’t need a complicated plan or a science degree to make nature study a meaningful part of your homeschool.
In this post, I’ll show you easy, stress-free ways to incorporate nature study into your homeschool. No pressure, no rigid structure – just an invitation to slow down, observe, and let nature do the teaching.
Let’s get exploring!
How to “Do” a Nature Study
1. Get Outside and Observe
First things first, get them outside and let them explore!
This isn’t a time for formal study, but to let the kids observe what they see in nature and to let them think about what they are observing.
Keep in mind: you don’t need to have all the answers for them.
It’s actually ok not to have all the answers. Take a step back and let nature be their teacher.
2. Pack a Nature Bag
Having a nature bag packed and ready to go makes things so much easier. A few simple tools can really enhance their experience and help them dive deeper into their observations.
Here’s what we like to keep in our bag:
- Magnifying glass
- Notebook
- Pencils
- Colored pencils/Watercolors
- Field Guides
- Bug Catcher
- Net
Having these tools on hand adds a little more fun to the exploration, plus it encourages them to spend more time outside.
3. Build a Collection of Nature Books
Nature books are a wonderful resource for quick lessons or when the kids have questions you might not have the answers to.
And who knows—those books might spark a new interest or curiosity in your children!
We love keeping Julia Rothman Anatomy Books and Take-Along Guides in our nature book basket. They’ve been so helpful for expanding our nature study in fun ways.
4. Keep a Nature Notebook (or nature binder)
Keeping a nature notebook is a fun way for the kids to showcase what they have learned.
It can be as simple as a little sketch of what they saw, or they can try new art techniques, draw a picture with labels, or write sentences about their drawing.
There are no rules here. Let their creativity flow!
Not every child loves drawing or writing – and that’s ok, too! Some kids may prefer to take pictures, collect leaves, or even just tell you about what they see.
The goal is to get them excited about what they’re learning.
One of my children went through a photography phase where he would take pictures of the insects and animals he found. He would then print them and add them into a nature binder he was keeping.
5. Add-on Lessons (but only if you want to!)
If your kids are hungry for more, adding in some simple unit studies can help enhance the learning experience. Etsy has some wonderful printable resources that cover everything from diagrams to nature crafts, making it easy to integrate into your study.
Some of my favorite shops are:
But remember, you don’t need to overwhelm yourself with extra lessons—nature study can be as simple or as in-depth as you’d like!
If you’re looking for a nature-based curriculum, check out my review of The Organic Studies: A Nature and Literature based Curriculum and see if it would be a good fit for your family!
Grab your nature bag and head outside!
I hope this post has you feeling more confident incorporating nature study into your homeschool routine. Nature is a wonderful teacher, and by allowing her into your classroom, you will create lasting memories and learning experiences for your children.
What are you going to explore first?
Share it with me on Instagram!
I’d love to see how you bring nature study into your homeschool! Tag me in your posts with @thehomesteadmother so I can see your nature finds and share it with the community.
Looking for more nature study inspiration?
Check out my list of nature studies I’ve put together here.
Happy exploring & until next time,
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