Tag Archives: alternative-learning

Ideas to include the natural world as inspiraion or setting for learning. These are ideas for me, rather than things I already do.

1. Nature Journals

• Activity: Encourage kids to observe their surroundings and document plants, animals, weather patterns, or seasonal changes in a nature journal.
• Inspiration: Create sketches of plants, press flowers or leaves, and write descriptive passages or poetry based on what they observe.

2. Outdoor Reading Sessions

• Activity: Set up a cozy outdoor reading nook where your kids can read books, poetry, or historical texts while surrounded by nature.
• Inspiration: Choose nature-themed books, like Walden by Thoreau or poetry by Robert Frost, to enhance the connection between the environment and the lesson.

3. Eco-Art Projects

• Activity: Collect natural materials (leaves, stones, twigs) to create art projects such as collages, sculptures, or land art.
• Inspiration: Teach about land artists like Andy Goldsworthy, and let kids create their own nature-based installations.

4. Botanical Studies and Garden Projects

• Activity: Study local plants or grow a homeschool garden, teaching kids about botany, plant life cycles, and sustainable gardening practices.
• Inspiration: Let them grow herbs, fruits, or vegetables and document their growth. Connect lessons to ancient herbal practices or mythology related to plants (like Demeter’s story).

5. Nature-Inspired Poetry and Writing

• Activity: Use the natural world to inspire creative writing or poetry. Have children write poems or short stories based on their outdoor experiences.
• Inspiration: Use prompts such as “Describe the feeling of the wind,” “Write a poem from the perspective of a tree,” or “Tell a story about a day in the life of a bird.”

6. Science Experiments in Nature

• Activity: Conduct outdoor science experiments, such as studying the water cycle with evaporation bowls, or testing soil pH levels in different parts of the yard.
• Inspiration: Discuss the role of the elements in ancient philosophy or how natural processes were understood by early civilizations.

7. Forest School or Nature Walks

• Activity: Take learning outside by exploring local forests, parks, or beaches. Use these environments to study ecosystems, geology, and wildlife.
• Inspiration: Teach map reading, track animal footprints, or explore ancient pathways and relate them to historical events if possible.

8. Stargazing and Astronomy

• Activity: Set up a stargazing night where children can learn about constellations, planets, and the movement of celestial bodies. I use a star tracker app and follow astronomical news to stay informed.
• Inspiration: Connect the stars to mythology, teaching about ancient star-gazers and their interpretations of the cosmos (e.g., Greek myths behind constellations).

9. Outdoor Problem-Solving Challenges

• Activity: Use nature to create puzzles or challenges. Build a simple outdoor shelter, use the sun to tell time, or create a natural scavenger hunt with clues that teach about local plants and animals.
• Inspiration: Encourage teamwork by incorporating lessons from early survival techniques used by indigenous peoples or explorers.

10. Barefoot Earthing and Sensory Exploration

• Activity: Have your children explore nature barefoot to connect with the earth through sensory experiences. Encourage them to describe the different textures and sensations of the ground, plants, and water.
• Inspiration: Discuss the benefits of grounding and mindfulness practices. Pair it with a nature meditation session or reflective writing about how the earth feels beneath them.

11. Birdwatching and Wildlife Observation

• Activity: Set up a birdwatching station or take field trips to observe animals in their natural habitats. Teach about local wildlife, animal behavior, and ecosystems. Set up a hummingbird feeding station. We feed the birds in our yard.
• Inspiration: Encourage drawing or note-taking on bird species, and perhaps connect to the ancient Greek fascination with augury (bird-watching for omens).

12. Weather and Climate Studies

• Activity: Teach about weather patterns and climate by observing cloud formations, measuring rainfall, or tracking temperature changes. Make it fun by having the kids draw the different weather patterns. We love to draw the sun.
• Inspiration: Build a simple weather station, then discuss the importance of weather in historical events or mythology (like Zeus’s control over thunder and storms).

Nature offers endless opportunities for rich, multi-disciplinary learning! You can combine these lessons with mythology, literature, or philosophy for a holistic approach to your homeschool experience.

Other ideas:

• Make a fairy garden
• Start a rock collection
• Volunteer at a farm
• Decorate your yard
• Paint rocks for the garden or a path
• Start composting
• Create a rock garden
• Decorate for Halloween
• Go camping
• Make a vegetable soup ehile teaching the children about vegetables