The Outdoor Hour: Challenge #11: Spring Trees

For our nature study curriculum, we are using the Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Comstock (1911) and following the Handbook of Nature Study's Outdoor Hour Challenge. We also follow Charlotte Mason's belief on Nature Study (and here, too) and participate in the Green Hour.

Today, we began work on Challenge #11, Spring Trees. We completed some of activities that Anna Comstock suggests for little ones, like painting and drawing leaves. First, we went outside to find some signs of Spring. The Snails have been confused about the meaning of winter because they think that winter means snow. And, well, they will probably never see snow as long as we live in our geographical region. Today we found some signs of winter...trees and bushes without leaves. This bush (or tree?) will be what we will examine each season.

[I don't know what the Snails are doing in the above photo, but they totally remind me of Great-Great Grandmother Snail's lawn jockey:]


Then Big Snail found a sign of Spring:


We brought in a sample from the bush and drew what we observed.


Next Big Snail labeled his drawing, "Spring."


Then we used watercolors to paint what we observed.



Finally we finger painted for Little Snail to learn that blue + yellow = green. I got the vinyl table cloth at KMart on clearance for $.50!



We will add our work samples to our nature study portfolios and journals.