Alaska Nature Study- Venture Outside

I created this nature study for my boys, who love the outdoors. As I was looking for simple kid friendly field guides I noticed that many of them focused on animals from the east coast that we just don't have in Alaska. I wanted to highlight what is is unique and beautiful about living in the Pacific Northwest in a fun, approachable, and engaging way. It was about this time that I started to get the real value in Nature Journaling thanks to my Charlotte Mason and Jon Muir Laws obsessed friends.

First came the fact cards. I created these, so that you could grab a few to bring with you on nature walks, or have one out at a time for a closer look, without being overwhelmed by the amazing quantity of information found in traditional field guides. The space on the cards also limits it to just a few interesting facts to spark further inquiry if something catches their imagination but once again keep the animals and plants approachable with lots of visual presentation.

The activity cards came as I started looking into studying birds and remembered all the fun pins and activities I've tried, or want to try, but never quite get around too. I thought by gathering them up (with the materials I'd normally have to go to the store for) and presenting them in a grab and go way we could make the nature study a little more hands on and creative.




The science cards came as a natural extension of explaining the animals behavior on the fact cards or as a way to bridge into other concepts and take it further than crafting and nature walks. It took great restraint not to full plunge down this rabbit hole of activities and information but they, once again, are perfectly suited to spark curiosity as a jumping point for further learning.



The game cards came from the beautiful 3 part cards I kept seeing advertised on Montessori sites and the fun games that helped phonics click for my sun. Memorization is a whole lot easier when it is a game and you'd be surprised at how fast even your toddler is identifying "Black Capped Chickadee" at the sight of the cards. They also make for a fun camping version of traditional kids card games.


The last thing I added was the poetry, song, or art element since there is so much beauty found in and inspired by nature, I intend sharing them with my kids while eating trail mix and watching them sketch on our hike, memorizing them during our morning reading time or using them for handwriting copy work later this year.

The heart of this study though is the nature journal. You really can use any journal for this but I made one that was easy to fit in a child size backpack and had handwriting lines to make it a little more approachable for those easing into handwriting. This is where their discoveries happen and they take ownership of their new found knowledge by recording it. Paying attention to detail and learning to be still to observe will serve them in all subjects of learning and help cultivate a peaceful heart.

If you'd like to purchase this nature study by subject or monthly subscription you can do so here: Nature Study Cards Purchase Page

Our World -Kindergarten Geography

      I come from the view point that kindergarten is a year to get them ready to love the work of learning by laying foundations in fun and engaging ways. It is a great year to take your time exploring interests, diving into arts and crafts for the love of it, and getting a good solid start on reading and math. Kindergarten social studies and science should be simple and fun. We are sparking a love of learning while introducing them to concepts of our environment, change, time and geography that will lay the foundation for history and science as they head into the meat of their schooling next year. With this in mind I've come up with a 32 week plan of once a week social studies/ science primer lessons that will give them the holistic view of their place in the world and give a great jumping point to any history/ science curriculum you go into in first grade. Each lesson is listed with general objectives and links to projects on Pinterest or websites that the learning materials come from.

     Our Place in the Solar System

Where I live Stackers

1. Our place in the solar system Perhaps with nesting Russian dolls  (Phone number with Song/ Address with Song and other fun ideas) 
2.  How to read a map (Books like these,  Using a map with key,  Following a map visually,  cardinal directions, More map practice, Map mini unit, Draw a map of their room)
3.  Map of my community (Print and play with local maps, How to use a compass, Follow a map of a local park to get to a surprise, draw a map of our town, draw a route from our house to grandma's, map practice continued from week 2)
4.  I can be a good neighbor (Basic good citizenship, how people work together in a community, local service project)

How the world turns and what it is made of

1.   The earth is a sphere that circles the sun (Day/Night)
2.   The Earth is made of Air, land, and water ( We need air and water to live/ land to live on and grow, Sort things found in all 3, describe attributes of all 3, identify land and water on a map)
3.  Air, Land and Water week 2 (Water cycle, types of clouds, Oceans/Rivers/Lakes, Fresh water vs Salt water)
4.  Air Land and Water week 3 (How land changes, Erosion, Basic Land forms with salt dough land forms) 
5.  Weather (Weather types, Scientists can predict weather, Tools to measure weather, Start weather graph)
6.  Seasons (Order of seasons, what they look like, why they happen, Seasons video and this craft)

Cultural Differences

1. We are alike/ we are different (Skin/eye color, gender, height, language, likes/ dislikes Etc)
2.  What is culture? (Food, music, history, art, religion, celebrations. stories)
3.  What is habitat? 
5. (Define Habitat and talk about how similar habitats can be found in different places/ overview of types of habitats, and prep our dioramas for finish work) Perhaps this game  or This poem.

Continents/ Habitats

Waseca Elementary Continent Map

Each continent we will do a map activity in addition to using the continent mat to place animals and people where they go and talk about culture of a local people.

For every habitat week we will talk about: where the habitats are found, 5-10 animals found there, 5 or so plants found there, and typical climates. There will also be a diorama type art project (Like these habitat bottles, Or these sensory bins) and fictional story for each place. Once we cover a habitat they will choose an animal to learn more about and add them to their "animal book" with a drawing, narration, map, and basic facts.

1. Continents/Oceans Geography Overview
2. Oceans 
3. (Layers of the ocean, whale migrations, coral reefs, kelp forests)
4. North America
5. North American Woodlands 
6. (Types of forests, food chain)
7. South America
8. South American Rain Forests 
9. (Layers of the rain forest, food chain)
10. Europe 
11. Europe Woodlands and Rivers/ponds 
12. (Beaver dams, Fish migrations)
13.  Asia
14. Asian Rain Forests/ Tundra 
15. (Animal adaptations, permafrost)
16. Africa
17. African Savannah 
18. (Types of grasslands, food chain)
19. Australia
20. Australian Desserts 
21. (Where is water found, adaptations)
22.  Antarctica
23. Arctic 
24. (How animals stay warm, food chains)
27. Alaskan Habitats
30. Alaskan Nature Study