NATURE STUDY WITH CHARLOTTE MASON AND A GIVEAWAY!

Monday, June 25, 2012

The Summer Solstice has ushered in some lovely weather here in New England. Perfect for a bit of summer nature study.  I have no agenda whatsoever in regards to the natural world and the observance of it. What I do is simply supply plenty of heavy drawing and watercolor paper, paints, colored pencils and a selection of journals and nature themed books. Most times these items are just haphazardly left on the end of the old pine farm table, other times left outside on the decking where a child, or myself, can quickly grab paper and pencil and sketch at a moments whim.  Most days, visitors of the natural world present themselves unannounced and our inclination is to run and grab binoculars, camera or sketching materials, often startling our visitors into flight! This is why I keep these things within reach and handy, to allow for a gentler retrieval of the needed items, thus allowing our visitors to linger undisturbed so we may capture their beauty.  A bit of "messiness" is worth it to further the observation of our natural world.  Below is some pictures my husband captured of one such visitor to our cottage. This luna moth visited most of the day while we went about our outside activities. I think he felt quite at home.  At the end of this post is a giveaway so make sure you get to the bottom of the post to enter!

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A Luna Moth
The delicate, exquisite green of the luna's wings is set off by the rose-purple, velvet border of the front wings, and the white fur on the body and inner edge of the hind wings. Little wonder that it has been called "The Empress of the Night". The long swallow tail of the hind wings gives the moth a most graceful shape, and at the same time probably affords it protection from observation. During the daytime the moth hangs, wings down, beneath the green leaves, and these long protections of the hind wings folded together resemble a petiole, making the insect look very much like a large leaf.
~Handbook of Nature Study, Anna Botsford Comstock, pg. 297


Of the teaching of Natural Philosophy, I will only remind the reader of what was said in an earlier chapter- that there is no part of a child's education more important than that he should lay, by his own observation, a wide basis of facts towards scientific knowledge in the future. He must live hours daily in the open air, and, as far as possible, in the country; must look and touch and listen; must be quick to note, consciously, every peculiarity of habit or structure, in beast, bird, or insect; the manner of growth and fructification of every plant. He must be accustomed to ask why- Why does the wind blow? Why does the river flow? Why is a lef-bud sticky? And do not hurry to answer his questions for him; let him think his difficulties out so far as his small experience will carry him. Above all, when you come to the rescue, let it not be in the 'cut and dried' formula of some miserable little text book;...   To get this sort of instruction for himself is simply the nature of a child: the business of the parent is to afford him abundant and varied opportunities, and to direct his observations, so that knowing little of the principles of scientific classification, he is, unconsciously, furnishing himself with the materials for such classification.~Charlotte Mason


"We are all meant to be naturalists, each in his own degree, and it is inexcusable to live in a world so full of the marvels of plant and animal life and to care for none of these things."
~Charlotte Mason, British educator



I have an extra copy of Anna Botsford Comstock's classic book, Handbook of Nature Study that I would love to give to another nature study enthusiast. Just leave a comment telling me what how you incorporate nature study into your seasons and your entered. Comments will close Friday, June 29th, and the winner will be announced within this post.


Diane from North Carolina won the copy of Handbook of Nature Study! Contact me at notquitedonnareed@gmail.com. Thanks to all who entered:-)

10 comments:

  1. I incorporated it a lot more this time around because I finally got my boyfriend into it. Ever since we spent a few weeks last Fall in the Rockys hes been even more fascinated about Nature in general, so he's taking to this quite enthusiastically!

    Good luck with the giveaway :)

    floatingpyramids@gmail.com

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  2. I LOVE the luna moth. It is magnificent!
    I incorporate nature into not only the seasons but "It's our family's way of life"! When we built our home we made sure to not interrupt the balance here. I garden not only for our enjoyment BUT for the generations of living things that were here LONG BEFORE US! I am unable to keep bird feeders IN THE SUMMER MONTHS while our bears are roaming...
    Thank you for this giveaway...
    Have a wonderful week,
    Hugs,
    Donna

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  3. We have both formal "nature study" times when I purposefully pack up a few guide books and our sketch books and drawing supplies and we head out to learn about a particular subject. But more often than not we have informal study when one of the children finds something they think is interesting while playing outside and one of them comes running for a guide book and my camera! We try to take lots of pictures that way if what ever they are looking at decides to make a break for it, we still have a picture to look at for reference while we draw it in our nature notebooks.

    I have had the Handbook of Nature Study on my homeschool book wish list for two years now... I am very excited about this great giveaway! Thank you!

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  4. Suzanne, I already own a copy, but wanted to tell you that the photographs of the moth are lovely. I've never seen a close-up of the underside. It looks so soft. I have enjoyed perusing and searching for particular topics in the book over the years. Someone will be greatly aided by your gift.

    Susan

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  5. Hi Suzanne,

    Those are lovely pictures of the luna moth. We had one visit for several days on a cedar tree. I so enjoyed getting a close look at him or her. Hmmmm...I need to look for photos of male and female luna moths.

    Nature study is a passion of mine. I particularly love all insects and bugs and spend a great deal of time talking to anyone who will tolerate my ramblings about them. Friends bring me dead bugs and I keep each one in its own special box. What fun to find or make a box just to hold these wonderful creatures. I don't allow folks to kill insects or bugs just so I can have them, but it's amazing how quickly people can turn from being disgusted at the sight of a bug whenever they see how fascinating it can be. I always make a point of explaining what kind of bug or insect they've brought and how its protective coloration or long legs, or big pincers, etc. enable it to survive, or some other fact that would endear it to the giver. Every season produces such wonderous creatures if a person will just stop to notice. I've been known to uncover rocks in the winter just to see what little creature has managed to find itself a snug little place to pass the time until spring.

    I would be ever so grateful if I could be the lucky recepient of the Handbook you're so graciously offering.

    Love from Diane in North Carolina

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    1. Hello Diane,
      The random number generator picked you! You didn't have a blog that I could visit so I hope you pop back in her to check. Just email me at notquitedonnareed@gmail.com and I will put your book in the post.
      Cheers,
      Suzanne

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  6. This fall will be my first time homeschooling. My son will be going into 3rd grade and I am bringing him home to learn with me. He is a typical boy, so loves being outdoors and exploring. We will use this book to explore his Father's world and probably incorporate it into writing, art and science.

    Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy.

    Tricia

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  7. Hi Suzanne, you might want to edit your post to actually include the winner's name at the bottom of the post. Since that is where most people look when it is stated that the winner will be announced within a post. The lady who won might not think to look at the comments... just a thought.
    P.S. I enjoy your blog!

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    1. Thanks for catching that Rachel! I am asleep at the helm...LOL!

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  8. Hi Suzanne,

    I just emailed you with my address and I want to thank you again for your generous present. I am honored to be the winner! My grandchildren (all seven of them) will love having Nana share this book with them. Five of them are homeschooled - actually four, now that Joseph has finished his first year of college. He was homeschooled from the beginning of his schooling.

    What an absolutely wonderful present...wish you were here for me to give you a great big hug!

    Diane in North Carolina

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Thank you so much for poppin' in and saying hello! I read all my comments and any questions I answer right here, so if you have one, check back:-)
Have yourself a darling day,
Suzanne a.k.a. Not Quite Donna Reed