Nature Study

The American readers of this E-zine are gearing up to fit in schooling needs around a busy holiday season. This year we will be celebrating Thanksgiving along with many American worldwide as a culmination of our American History year and to just say “Thank You” to God for carrying us through another year.

Charlotte Mason

When I was very young, I loved animals…well, I still love animals today, but back then it was my passion. I also was the kind of kid who loved to lie in the grass on my back and look at the clouds and see pictures in them. Every bug was of interest to me, stones always needed to be overturned and bird songs were a delight.

Somewhere in my teen years I remember a strong desire to pursue a career with animals, but sadly this dream got lost on the way. When I stumbled onto Charlotte Mason’s teachings as a young mom, the first thing that grabbed me was her emphasis on nature study. She said: “Let them[children] once get in touch with nature and a habit is formed which will be a source of delight and habit through life." This resonated deeply within my soul where those lost passions lay.

Ever since then, about 11 years ago, I have sought to get myself, and my children, in touch with nature. She also says: “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."

By placing nature study into our week as a subject, I first of all ensure that we do make the time to enjoy God’s creation. But to make it a lifestyle means that no matter where we are or what we are doing we are observant of what we can see around us.

Many moms excuse themselves from this habit as there are so many other things that call at their time…but in our home it is as important as the “other things”. Every Friday finds us seeking out a favourite spot to visit, often the same spot as before, or just eating lunch in our garden amongst squirrels and birds. Other times we will purposefully seek a specific spot that can enhance our studies.

Nature study also enters our home in the form of books. Our favourite nature books have been reviewed here and a few new ones are included in this E-zine a little further on. You can also read through how we do nature study for more inspiration.

Jeannie Fulbright’s Elementary Apologia Curriculum is a fabulous way to learn about creation especially if mom is not a naturalist herself.

For moms who would like to read more about nature study days, you can consider Wilddays by Karen Skidmore Rackliffe for a very comprehensive and inspiring book.

Family and Sibling Relationships

My son asked me the other day about the relationship I had with my sister as a young child. Thinking back I remember some awful squabbles between us, I also remember enduring a little torture – LoL! These days we are good friends and we are able to hold conversations, even when we are not in agreement on issues.

One thing I was not taught as a young child, in fact only as an adult was I exposed to this principle...“Love keeps no record of wrongs...” 1 Corinthians 13:5b. How then do we teach our children to forgive when they have been wronged? In Rudyard Kipling’s poem “IF” he says: “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs...” which I adapt for my children and say: “If you can still act wisely and with forgiveness, when all about you people are not...” it becomes an easy principle for them to grasp.

How many times do we hear from their lips: “But he did it first...” or “But she took my space...” This is when we as moms can say: “Aah, but even when they are doing the wrong thing, you must still remember to do the right thing – Love keeps no record of wrongs.”

Organizational Tips

In August I made this entry in my blog: “Spring hinted this morning as my husband sneezed 7 times in a row! With the sneezes come less rain and warmer weather down here on the tip of Africa. It is time to turn my thoughts towards our garden. My children are each old enough to now be given responsibility for their patch of erf. I allowed each of them to choose a flower bed and take ownership of that space. This includes the planning, planting, weeding, watering and nurturing of that area. They have all enthusiastically taken on the job and started turning over the soil and weeding.

I plan to take this project a little further and give them a budget and take them to a nursery to choose some plants for their garden patch! Here's to Spring!”

As summer rapidly sets in it is so good to have an outdoor area that is a joy to visit. Organizing your outdoors creates an extension of your home. It is also the perfect spot to enjoy daily nature study. Each month my children now get a sum of money in the form of a chore allowance to use for the improvement of their gardening patch. Our oldest has chosen to grow herbs and vegetables, my older son prefers flowering shrubs, our younger daughter loves perennials for beauty and our little guy has planted lots of sunflowers. By spending just a few hours a week in their garden areas, along with me, we are taking “bite-sized” chunks out of a big task.

Your Marriage

A friend and mentor shared a wonderful analogy the other day about the refining work that God does through relationships, particularly our marriages. The question is: “How does God test our faith?” and Linda, a homeschooling mom to 5 children, answers: “Through relationships and circumstances. As people and circumstances bump our hearts, we can see for ourselves who we really are. Just like when we bump a glass of milk and knock it over, what pours out? Milk. If we bump a glass of juice and it topples over, what pours out? Juice. When relationships and circumstances bump our hearts, what pours out? Love, joy, peace...? Or irritation, anger, frustration, fear, strife, and manipulation to get what we want? God speaks to us through those circumstances and relationships that bump our hearts, and He includes us in the process of testing our faith as we willingly begin to examine prayerfully before Him our conversation (our speech and behaviour). Where, Lord, do you need to change me? How can I yield to you in these circumstances and these relationships that uniquely represent my life?”

So when our husbands cause our hearts to spill their contents, can I encourage you to turn to the Lord? Ask Him to change your heart contents as only He can do.

Quote

"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

Living books

The first of two books that we have just finished reading is The Sower Series: George Washington Carver: Man’s Slave Becomes God's Scientist. This biography is a stirring portrayal of the life of a man who allowed God to guide each step he took. His passion for gardening and growing plants became his life long career which revolutionised agriculture and the lives of many men. You can read more about him at the legacy of George Washington Carver, but do be sure to include this book on your read aloud list for your children.

Another lighter book that we have enjoyed is Miracles on Maple Hill. This interesting, easy reading, fictional story incorporates such wonderful descriptions of nature that you can almost see, smell and touch the plant life described. A must read for all budding naturalists.

Reading for mom: The Sense of Wonder This is a reprint, in book form, of Rachel Carson's article she wrote about her nature discovery walks with her adopted nephew, Roger. Rachel Carson is credited with being the founder of the American environmental movement.

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Take care until next time,
God’s richest blessings to you as you homeschool,
Wendy

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