Buds ready to burst into colorful spring
Looking, noticing signs of spring (excuse the pj's, please)
Wind and wood and setting sun
A ride in Grandpa's tractor to end a beautiful day...
A word about nature walks:
We started this tradition in Alabama when the kids were very small. We downloaded Tanglewood Education's Nature Notebook and put it in a 3-ring binder (plain paper works just as well). Kayla recently took this to school for show-and-tell. It's full of memories, leaves and drawings from our time in Alabama.
We usually just take a short walk around our yard, or wherever we might happen to be. It's amazing the things you notice when you just pay attention to the signs of the season around you. One time we discovered a caterpillar on a flower, took it home, and got to watch the whole cacoon/butterfly process. On this recent nature walk in Cincinnati, I realized how much had really sunk in on those walks. Mom has a small magnolia tree in her garden. I found Kayla standing alone, gazing at it. I asked her what it reminded her of. "Home" she said quietly. There was a humongous magnolia tree in the woods where we took our nature walks. It was a strong and vivid memory for her. There was also a cool chicken that lived in those woods we liked to chase.
These walks are not something we do on a regular basis or get in bondage to. We just do it when the fancy strikes. It's a great way to get the wiggles out when everyone is cranky from being together inside. And it fosters the skill of observation.
Download a free sample of a Charlotte Mason nature study handbook if you want to read more.
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