There are many ways you can study nature in your homeschool this winter. Find out some of the creative ones here.
Just because the weather is cold does not mean we give up on learning and hide indoors. This would also be a great time to come up with different ways on how we can help our kids study about nature. The environment changes drastically during the winter season. We can either spend our time inside the house trying to survive the cold or we can be deliberate about surviving the winter and still get to learn a thing or two in the process. In this article, we highlight some of the activities and ways you can study nature in your homeschool in the winter.
1. Go bird watching
As the other animals try to find safety from the cold, you will always be able to see some birds around. Take your kids out and study these birds. Let them examine how they behave, how they live, how they eat and how they have prepared themselves to survive the cold season.
2. Measure the snow precipitation
This is an easy practical and experimental project your kids can engage in. Will the amount of water equal to the amount of snow before it melts? Let them find out by filling a container with snow and them leaving it to melt indoors. If there are differences in the quantities, you can have a discussion on why this is so.
3. Study the flowers and plants
Some plants and flowers thrive in the cold. Others die when the cold season comes. Your kids can find out which of these are resistant to the cold. If possible, they can take photos so that they can document if these flowers change in any way when the summer season comes.
4. Create winter nature crafts
Encourage the kids to become creative and come up with nature craft activities. One of the common ones would be the creation of a wreath using locally available materials such as pine sticks, debris and conifers. They can decorate as they want and take pictures afterwards.
5. Watch nature videos
If it is too cold to go outdoors, you can still learn something indoors through watching nature videos. There are numerous channels on TV that dedicate themselves to the study of nature. Online resources could also be helpful here, with YouTube containing numerous nature study channels that could be beneficial to your kids.
6. Play nature games
Another way your kids can study about nature is through playing nature games on the phone or tablet. There are many applications that allows kids to learn much about nature on their own. You can download some and let them play these games.
7. Visit a local zoo
A visit to a local zoo or museum will get your kids acquainted very fast with the animal kingdom. There is so much they can learn here in a limited amount of time.
8. Read nature study books
If your kids love reading, get them a good nature study book. Most of these books are illustrated, making it easier for the kids to understand what they are reading.
9. Teach them about icicles
Your kids may be wondering how these icicles are formed. Keep a look out on icicles forming around the house and observe them keenly. Notice any changes they might be having and try to understand why this is happening.
10. Document changes in the environment
Using a phone, your kids can take picture of the environment around them. The focal points here include the vegetation, animal footprints and the ice. They can print these photos and use them as a baseline to track any changes the environment will be having. It will provide for a good comparison point when summer arrives.
These are some fun ideas you and your children can do together this winter. Bonus? They totally count as school! Winter nature study is a great way to learn and grow with your kids. Head over to our nature study ideas post for even more homeschool nature study ideas.
Book Your Room Online!