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Every kid is naturally curious. They love to explore the world, and all too often we kill their enthusiasm by turning everything into a serious study. Nature study for preschoolers doesn’t have to be difficult. It can be a fun science lesson as they get out into the world.
Sometimes the best science lessons can be found in random discovery.
Then we went to a park yesterday. Here’s what we found.
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Sometimes a preschool nature study starts off as play
As we walked around the pond, of course, the kids HAD to go check out the trees, how else are they going to find ammunition for whatever they need?
First, we discovered a vine. And talked about how a vine is different from a tree, when it’s alive you can move it around kind of like a rope. But, now that it is dead and dried up it is hard and breaks easily. Of course, then we had to have our own pieces of vine to walk around with and pretend it’s a gun.
Because boys.
Then we discovered some nuts. They’re very intriguing. They had an outer layer of a slightly gummy green, and when it’s dried it was very easy to peel off. Then we had to explore to see where the nuts came from.
This is where the preschool nature study transitions to study
And after much searching found it up in a tree. Then we talked about what the nut is used for, who uses the nuts. We only talked about how the nut is what the tree uses to grow a new tree, but I just realized we could have also talked about how squirrels and other animals eat them.
Then of course we had to throw it in the water and discovered it floats, just like pumpkins!
Then finally Jeff pried one open with his pocket knife and we looked at the insides. We came to the conclusion these must have gone bad or something because they were all nasty and black inside. It was really kind of gross.
And that’s it, that was our preschool nature study (this part of the post was originally written in 2009 when my kids were in preschool).
But Ticia, I want a bit more guidance for my preschool nature study!
Then, I’ve got you covered.
This week I’m very excited to share with you a new ebook my friend Maureen from Spell Out Loud has created, Preschool Nature Study
What you’ll find in Nature Study for Preschoolers
The first section has some great tips for parents of preschoolers, now my kids are no longer preschoolers, but it was a good reminder for me as well. So, if you get this make sure to read through the tips don’t just skip to the end for the printables.
I can’t quite decide what my favorite printable is the “Nature Study I Spy cards,” (side note, I’ve used I Spy cards and a quick satchel as a birthday present for a friend, and it was quite popular). Okay, I think it might be the next printable I’m about to talk about.
My favorite part of the whole book are the printable nature books. She includes links to a video showing how to make the paper bag book (which looks so cute). While most of the activities my kids are too old for, I think they’ll love the paper bag books, and I can see using these for one of our nature studies, especially the generic one she included last. {Side note, I don’t know if we’d do the ant study down here in Texas, because all I can think is “THEY’LL BITE ME!”}
Where can I get more information about Nature Study for Preschoolers?
I have to say Maureen has some great posts talking about her new book. She gives some great expansions beyond just reading the book and printing off the cards. There’s ideas for using a tabletop pocket chart and some of the printables. I found a new post to pin to my homeschool organization board, planning for preschool science planning. Or more ideas for studying ants.
Where can you get Nature Study for Preschoolers?
Nature Study for Preschoolers is $3.99 $2.50 and has over 60 pages of suggestions and printables. Well worth the price
Let’s see what others did this week:
Each week I’m spotlighting a few posts that were shared previously. Many posts get linked up later in the week and they don’t always get as many clicks as they deserve, so I’m trying to spotlight a few every week.
Here’s a great dinosaur sensory bin for little guys. Sensory bins are an easy way to incorporate science with your preschooler.
I am in love with this post, a pinecone bird feeder for kids with nut allergies.
More learning for little guys
Comments
2 responses to “Nature Study for Preschoolers”
Looks like a great ebook, but alas, I no longer have preschoolers in my house.
Thanks for hosting Ticia, have a lovely week!
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