Creating a Learning-rich Environment Outdoors

One reason many families choose to homeschool is that their family life and school life can be more integrated. Another is that they can utilize more outdoor time in their learning. This article is designed to give some family-proven ideas to get you started as well.

Some are so easy as to be almost natural, but don't underestimate the value of things like taking walks and talking about what you see like trees, flowers, cattails, birds, pebbles. Take along a bag or bucket to collect interesting items along the way.

Most children like to make collections. Let them collect rocks, shells, feathers and so on and then let them find ways to categorize them. They may surprise you by grouping them by feel, by color, by shape, or by type. Just buy several small plastic bins handy for these collections.

Consider keeping fish, tadpoles, spiders, butterflies, ladybugs or ants to keep in your house for a few weeks to observe and comment on. You can make this more complicated for older children by having them keep a "log" or journal of what they observe. Target, Hobby Lobby, and other chain stores carry these kits in the spring.

An inexpensive magnifying glass and a decent small microscope will guarantee that pond and puddle water will never be the same for you. You can use these tools to observe the ladybugs, ants and other creatures that you are keeping in your home. And on rainy or wintry days, you can use them to look at the rocks, feathers, and other items in your child's collection.

Going to the zoo almost goes without saying. And if you go during the week, you are almost guaranteed to have the zoo (and the staff) to yourself.

Hang a bird feeder and see what happens. Get a couple of different types for different birds, such as nectar water for hummingbirds and small hanging feeders for birds like wrens, finches, and so on. Ask your local library for a couple of good books on local birds so you can identify them.

Grow a garden. Even a small one will teach children a lot about soil, worms, seeds, frost zones, and weather conditions. You might be able to slip a lesson or two about patience in as well!