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Saturday, September 12, 2015

How to do Nature Study in a City

We live in the city. Instead of a backyard, we have a narrow patio paved with bricks, and instead of a front yard, we have a public sidewalk. I want to turn my child loose in nature, but this isn't as easy as opening the back door. Living in an urban setting and wanting to make nature study part of her education means getting creative. Here are 17 ways we've found to do nature study...

1. Raise butterflies.
2. Grow a potted plant.
3.Press flowers.
 
 4.Visit the Natural History Museum.
5.Visit an aquarium.
 
6.Visit a friend's garden.
 7.Dissect an owl pellet.
8.See an animal show.
 9.Go tide-pooling.
 10.Tour a nature preserve.
 
 11.Make your own nature scavenger hunt featuring things you know you'll be able to find.
 12.Grow a bean in a clear cup with wet cotton.
13.Visit a petting zoo.
14.Visit a county fair.
 15.Go to a National Park Service event at a state park.
 16.Take walks around your neighborhood and keep your eyes open - you never know what you'll see.
 17.Visit the zoo.
How do you do nature study in your urban setting? :)
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5 comments:

  1. ges galaxySeptember 12, 2015 at 11:44 AM

    Oh I love it!

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    Replies
    1. MarielSeptember 12, 2015 at 11:52 AM

      Thanks Melanie! I always love seeing your photos from your nature sketchbooks. :)

      Delete
  2. Elisabeth@Treasuring the MomentsSeptember 13, 2015 at 5:23 PM

    Really good suggestions and your little girl is so blessed that you make the effort to do this with her. How do you have the energy to teach outside the home and at home, too? You must be amazing.

    We live in the country but you can get to where you don't "see" even here. So we have to make an effort, too.

    Have you considered going to a 4-H show? They have all the animals and the kids show them. It would be completely free, too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MarielSeptember 13, 2015 at 5:49 PM

      That's a great idea! Thank you Elisabeth. :) I'll look into it right now!

      Delete
  3. Education is a LifeSeptember 14, 2015 at 12:48 PM

    Good for you! You have found many nature study opportunities in an area that's challenging. You have done "wonders," Charlotte Mason would say. :)

    ReplyDelete