Getting Started with Nature Studies
Nature Study is a great way to encourage more exploration, hands-on learning, detailed observation, and meaningful reflection in your homeschool.
Studying nature has a host of benefits for children including:
Understanding and applying scientific thinking and reasoning
Hands-on and in-depth exploration
Sensory-rich learning and environments
Increased physical activity
Interdisciplinary connections
Relief from life stress and pressures
Instilling principals of environmental stewardship
For Muslim children especially, studying nature can help deeply connect children to the concept of Tawheed, Oneness of Allah, and grow in their respect and appreciation for all that Allah, swt, has created. In many places throughout the Qur'an and Sunnah, Muslims are called on to consider nature, deeply reflect on it, and help care for it.
Making It Your Own
What nature you choose to study and how will depend a lot on the age and stage of your child, as well as their personal interests, and your practical capacities as an adult.
Charlotte Mason, a well-known educator who pinoneered nature studies as a core part of her curriculum, said: "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."
In order for your nature experiences to become meaningful, it's important to engage with nature in ways that you actually care about and can sustain.
Not every family needs to engage with nature by going for weekly hikes if everyone in the family hates hiking or doesn't have a weekly time slot open right now. And not everyone needs to learn about nature by collecting bugs in terrariums if no one in the house is able to properly feed and care for them. It's totally okay to become a lover of nature that focuses only on the specific areas that speak to you.
To find out where interests lie, and pinpoint what you can and cannot sustain, try having a family meeting to discuss and gather ideas from everyone. You might be surprised at what the kids come up with!
Ways to Approach Nature Study
There are many ways that you can incorporate Nature Study into your homeschool routine. Here are a few that I've done with my own children over the years:
Family Nature Outings/ Explorations:
relaxed, low-prep, low investment approach
great for all ages in all seasons
can begin easily with self-guided explorations of local trails, nature centers, farms, gardens, state and national parks
can extend into family trips, travels, or group events
focus on spending time together in nature, making memories, reciting thikr, and reflecting on Allah
Islamic Studies of Nature:
great for emphasizing the spiritual aspects of nature study
great for all ages
focus is on understanding the meanings and lessons from Qur'anic ayat and hadith that mention nature
will require some amount of advanced/ongoing prep and researching of resources
timeless lessons to revisit again and again as children get older
can be supported with topic-based literature, outings, classes, projects, memorization, and copywork
Unit Studies of Nature:
flexible and self-paced
great for children aged 7+ who might enjoy more in-depth learning and understanding
can tie into different academic disciplines as needed
focus is on diving deeper into one aspect of nature (e.g. a specific species of plant, animal, season, or landscape)
can be supported with topic-based literature, outings, classes, or projects
will require fair amount of advanced/ongoing prep and researching of resources
Nature Projects/ Activities:
great for all ages in all seasons
flexible and self-paced
great for families to work together in and around nature
great for hands-on learning and relaxed discussions
can tie into different academic disciplines as needed OR just be kept as simple family activities
think: planting a garden, raising chickens, windowbox herbs, feeders, rain gardens, rain barrels, weather tracking, moon sighting, beach and trail cleanups, ocean seining, nature collections + cataloguing, raising butterflies and ladybugs, breeding animals, nature photography, journaling, scrapbooking, geocaching, etc.
can be supported with topic-based literature, outings, classes, or projects
will require fair amount of advanced/ongoing prep and researching of resources
Nature-Based Sports + Programming:
great for ages 10+ who would enjoy longer-term activities in nature
especially good for pre-teens nad teens who need more outdoors activities that also provide solid social circles
less flexibility in scheduling and higher investment
requires advanced prep/ sign-ups/ commitments
try: skiing/ sledding, canoeing/ kayaking, walking/running groups, community farm camps, nature center youth groups/ classes, boy scouts, horeseback riding, wilderness trainings, junior rangers, volunteering at aquariums, sanctuaries, and zoos, etc.
Local Resources for Nature Study
To help you check out what's available in New Jersey, we've gathered a few of our favorite resources in one master list for you! Check it out by clicking here.