Our August Nature Study & FREE Guide Will Give You Tons of Inspiration!
As homeschooling families, we have the unique opportunity to learn through real-world exploration. This August, let’s dive into the fascinating world of wetlands, ponds, and streams with our latest nature guide, Wetlands & Water Creatures: Exploring Local Ponds, Streams, or Wetlands.
Wetlands are teeming with life—from playful frogs to graceful herons and hidden aquatic plants. This guide will help you introduce your children to the wonders of these ecosystems through hands-on activities, nature journaling, and simple observation techniques. Whether you live near a bustling city pond or have access to a serene rural stream, the guide is designed to be adaptable to any environment.
Discover the joy of observing water creatures in their natural habitat, learn about the important role wetlands play in the ecosystem, and create unforgettable family memories this August! It’s the perfect way to get outside, learn something new, and foster a deep connection with nature.
Ready to explore the wetlands with your family? Grab your copy of the August Nature Guide today!
Suggested Activities for August Nature Study:
The following prompts are designed to encourage exploration, observation, and creativity while helping kids and teens understand and appreciate wetlands and water creatures, even in urban environments.
1. Visit a Local Pond: Find a nearby pond or water feature and observe the different types of plants and animals you see.
2. Pond Dipping: Use a net to gently dip into the water and see what aquatic creatures you can catch and observe.
3. Identify Aquatic Plants: Look for plants growing in or near the water and try to identify them. Sketch their leaves or flowers.
4. Observe Water Insects: Find and document different insects that live on or near the water, such as dragonflies or water striders.
5. Water Cycle Exploration: Research and illustrate the water cycle, showing how water moves through different states in nature.
6. Create a Mini Wetland: Use a shallow container, soil, and water to create a mini wetland. Add small plants and observe how they grow.
7. Track Waterbirds: Look for birds that frequent wetlands, such as ducks or herons. Sketch and describe their behavior.
8. Water Sounds: Sit quietly by a water source and listen to the sounds. Record or describe what you hear, from ripples to animal calls.
9. Wetland Cleanup: Participate in or organize a cleanup at a local waterway or wetland to help protect the ecosystem.
10. Frog and Toad Observation: Look for frogs or toads in wet areas. Observe their behavior and how they interact with their environment.
Want More Nature Activities, Crafts, and Scavenger Hunt Ideas?
Sign up to below to download our FREE August Nature Guide PDF!
Each Nature Guide contains:
- A Monthly Theme
- Corresponding Lessons for Handbook of Nature Study, by Anna Botsford Comstock
- A Recommended Reading List
- Suggested Activities
- Nature Journal Prompts
- Nature Craft Ideas
- Nature Poetry Selections
- Scavenger Hunt (or Photo Snap List for Older Kids & Teens)
- Nature Notebooking Page
- Nature Notes Page
Add These Art Courses to Your Wetlands & Water Creatures Nature Study:
For a well-rounded nature study, check out Heather Woodie’s Nature Journaling series from the Masterpiece Society. Purchase the complete set or individual courses. You can also see how Alisha creates a nature journaling page from the nature cards in our Charlotte Mason Morning Time sessions here.
For younger kids who might not be able to do nature journaling yet, why not add in Olivia’s LiterARTure: Frog and Toad course for a super fun art lesson?
Check Out These Videos for Nature Study Inspiration:
Want to go out on a pond-dipping adventures? Here’s some ideas you can do on your outing!
Check out this tutorial on how to dig your own wildlife pond!
Want a pond but can’t dig one? Here’s an easy way to create your own no-dig, surface-level wildlife pool!
Add These Books to Your Nature Study:
Pick up some of these books from your local library to add to your August nature study, or grab them off Amazon to add to your family library’s permanent collection!
Pond and Stream
Life in a Wetland (Blastoff! Readers: Biomes Alive!) (Biomes Alive! Blastoff Readers, Level 3)Pond Life: Revised and Updated (A Golden Guide from St. Martin’s Press)Wetland Life Connections – Non-Fiction Reading for Grade 4, Developmental Learning for Young Readers – Life on Earth! Biodiversity ExplainedLife In A WetlandExplore Rivers and Ponds!: With 25 Great ProjectsAbout Habitats: WetlandsButternut Hollow PondFrog in a BogLife in a Wetland (Living in a Biome)Squish!: A Wetland WalkThe Brook BookAll About FrogsAbout Amphibians: A Guide for ChildrenLife in Ponds.Ducks Don’t Get WetWater Plants (Let’S-Read-And-Find-Out Science Books)Ocean Sunlight: How Tiny Plants Feed the Seas (Sunlight Series)Adventures with a Hand LensNature in miniatureBy Pond and RiverLife in Ponds and Streams (Books for Young Explorers Set 8)The edge of the pond (Living nature series)The Life of the Pond (Our Living World of Nature)Pond Watching With Ann Morgan (Naturalist’s Apprentice Biographies)see through the lakeWatchers at the PondWonders of the PondAmerica’s Wetlands: A Carolrhoda Earth Watch BookWonders of Swamps and Marshes (Learn-About Books)A Wetland WalkEverglade Wildguide (Natural History Series)
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