Nature Studies { Seeds }

No matter what age your children happen to be, or what educational method you prescribe to, nature studies can most certainly be a simple and sweet addition to your week. We've always incorporated natural experiments, investigations, stories, and hands on learning on various relevant topics as the interest or opportunity arose. It has only been in the last few weeks that I've decided to begin introducing a specific topic every week and happily await to see how it unfolds.

I do not pre-plan a curriculum per say, but instead head out the door with a loose agenda and a bit of research in my back pocket and see where the topic takes us when I am more aware of it. Once you set your mind on a certain subject you will be surprised how easily information and experiences related to that topic find its way to you! But if you are not quite as comfortable relying on the universe to deliver, there are also plenty of great activities and creative resources available for free to help you plan the week out a bit more. (Check the end of this post for a list!) You are also welcome to borrow ideas from our adventures over here as well.

Our approach to Nature Studies is to re-wild ourselves by learning about the world around us, especially as it is relevant to the particular season we happen to be in. This study of nature's cycles is called phenology and happens to be a wonderful way to incorporate a natural rhythm into your day to day. Since we are outside a lot anyways, drawing attention to something that is happening around us seems to come pretty easily. And I find that I am just as interested and amazed by what we learn from our studies as the kids are!

Right now where we live we are fast approaching Fall. The seeds are piling up everywhere, so I figured that was a great place to start our studies. Seeds and seedpods are fascinating and beautiful. Here are a few ways that we ended up incorporating seeds into our adventures throughout the week:

SEED CATCHERS / SEED WALK

DRAWING FROM OUR COLLECTION

DISSECTING

PURPOSE OF SEEDS

{ SEED CATCHERS / SEED WALK }

To start off our seed investigation I made the kids simple "Seed Catchers" for our walk around the neighborhood. My toddler and preschooler both received a 8" x 8" sticky seed catcher before heading out the door that morning.

To Make Your Seed Catcher:

- Cut out a roughly 8" x 8" piece of thin cardboard or other rigid backing.

- Trace a bowl onto a piece of construction paper for the circle and cut out the center

- Cut out a piece of contact paper to be the same size as the bowl as well

- Press the construction paper circle onto the contact paper

- Tape or glue the sticky "seed catcher" onto the rigid backing

We walked around the neighborhood collecting as many different types of seeds as we could find. They pressed one of each onto the contact paper as they went along. Of course it turned into a friendly competition as we split to different sides of the sidewalk too. I was truly amazed by the variety that we found around our short block. There were even a few more then were pictured here when it was all said and done. So much fun!

This activity brought awareness to number of different seed related topics:

- Where are the seeds coming from that we see all over the ground

- Some seeds are visible while others are encased in nuts, berries, and pods

- The vast array of shapes, sizes, colors, and textures is amazing

{ DRAWING FROM OUR COLLECTION }

With our growing collection of seeds and pods from this year and last laid out in trays, we spent a little time taking a closer look at some of these beauties. A few of the drawings were actually done on small prepped canvases and ended up as a lovely addition to my daughters room as well! While I spent a little more time with the fine details, the kids picked up on the larger movements and gestures they associated with each object they pulled from the tray. No right or wrong way to approach this activity. It's all about getting to know the materials first hand.

I think some of the keys to drawing with kids is to let them have control. We drew at the dining room table but there were legos everywhere as well as seeds. My son went back and forth between playing and building and drawing. While my daughter (my toddler) was more content to sit and draw the whole time. They both really enjoyed being able to examine the objects and choose which ones they wanted to engage with. Placing the materials right on the page gave them a great starting point as they drew. Arranging the objects on the paper allowed them to get to know the materials as well.

Benefits of Drawing From Nature

- Learning the Art of Observation

- Observations leads to Questions and Conversation

- Drawing Fosters a Unique Perspective and Relationship with the Materials

{ Dissecting Seeds }

As the week continued it seemed as if the topics of seeds just naturally found its way into our day. It was on our minds. So as the kids went out in the yard they began collecting berries falling from the trees in our yards. Some of the berries were on the ground while others were still attached to seed pods from our magnolia tree. These pods made for some interesting dissections and conversations.

I gave the kids a couple gardening mats, some tools, and sealable containers. They then took it upon themselves to dissect, store, and even create storage shelters out of loose bricks around the yard. As they dissected we talked about why some seeds were so protected and who might be wanting to eat them. For a while the week prior my son had been planting berries around the yard in hopes of growing "berry trees". When he found out the birds might eat his berries, the brick shelters came into play. So cool to watch their little minds at work!

Last year, we cracked open a pine cone with a saw. We tried several other methods but realized the seeds were locked down tight in their coat of armor. This led to questions about how the birds could open them and the special ways in which their beaks were designed to get to their food.

As we took a closer look at seeds on our walks out in the field and woods during the week we began realizing all the ways that seeds find their way out into the world as well. As my son blew on a "wish flower", the dandelion seeds floated through the air. And as the kids touched the aging wildflowers the seeds showered on the ground. We experienced countless examples of seed dispersal and because we were on the topic of seeds that week, we though twice about what we were seeing.

{ PURPOSE OF SEEDS }

This topic of course intersects with the one above. Seeds serve multiple purposes. In the spring we planted a garden and of course the focus of seeds at that time was for growth. And while this is a primary function of seeds, as pictured in the forgotten acorn we found growing above, seeds do have another important function. The role of seeds as food source, particularly in the fall as the animals prepare for the colder months ahead is a critical one.

We've learned so much in only one week but it has not felt rushed, pushed, or overwhelming in any way. In fact, using nature as our classroom is quite the opposite. I believe in folding learning into our day in a completely organic, natural way.

I truly hope this finds its way to you at the right time and you have some inspiration here!

Look forward to sharing our finds from BIRD WEEK soon...