A Homeschool Adventure Through the World of Reptiles and Amphibians

Make learning about reptiles and amphibians fun with this Charlotte Mason-inspired homeschool curriculum full of living books, nature study, art, handicrafts, and recipes!

Try Our Reptiles and Amphibians Morning Time Inspired by Charlotte Mason!

Some homeschool topics have a way of instantly grabbing your children’s attention, and reptiles and amphibians are certainly among them. From slithering snakes and slow-moving turtles to bright frogs and tiny salamanders, these creatures are full of surprises and make such a fun subject to explore together!

What I especially enjoy about a study like this is how naturally it invites children to notice details and ask questions. Why do frogs live both in water and on land? What makes a reptile different from an amphibian? How do turtles protect themselves? Those kinds of questions lead to the best conversations, and before you know it, your children are observing the world with a little more wonder.

As with all of our Charlotte Mason-inspired Morning Time studies, this curriculum is meant to be simple to use and enjoyable for the whole family. You can gather everyone together, open your lessons, and spend your mornings enjoying living books, nature study, art, poetry, hands-on activities, and meaningful discussion without a lot of extra prep.

One of the best parts of studying nature is how it encourages children to slow down and really look. Maybe you spot a frog near a pond, notice a turtle resting in the sun, or catch sight of a lizard darting across a rock. Those little moments often become the memories children carry with them long after the lesson is over!

A Homeschool Tea Time

Of course, a Morning Time study is always a little more fun with something special to enjoy at tea time, and this curriculum includes a few themed recipes that fit the subject perfectly! This curriculum’s tea time recipes are:

*Reptiles and Amphibians* Tea Time Spread

Snake Cake
Croc-omole
Frog Cookies
Mini Turtles

You can make a playful Snake Cake, whip up some Frog Cookies, serve Croc-omole, and create adorable Mini Turtles! These recipes are simple, fun, and just the right kind of memorable. They also give children a chance to help in the kitchen, which creates yet another learning opportunity! As a bonus, we also include tea time reading selections that pair with each dessert, so once a week you will bake a new treat together, then enjoy it while reading the amphibian or reptile-themed story of the week!

Add a Reptile Poem to Your Tea Time:

We also picked out a few of our favorite reptile and amphibian-themed poems for this curriculum, then created copywork sheets of each poem for memory work and handwriting practice! Since we know your family may have a variety of different ages and needs, we have different sets for each skill level: primary, elementary, cursive, and high school! Check out a sample of one of our poetry selections below:

The Crocodile
by Lewis Carroll

How doth the little crocodile

Improve his shining tail,

And pour the waters of the Nile

On every golden scale!

How cheerfully he seems to grin,

How neatly spreads his claws,

And welcomes little fishes in,

With gently smiling jaws!

Explore the Natural World with the 190+ page “Reptiles and Amphibians Morning Time Session”!

Explore the fascinating world of reptiles and amphibians with this engaging morning time curriculum designed for Charlotte Mason homeschool families. Created for elementary through high school, this 4-week study introduces your family to snakes, turtles, frogs, salamanders, lizards, crocodiles, and more through living books, nature study, narration, poetry, hymns, and simple hands-on activities. Along the way, you’ll discover the unique characteristics, habitats, and life cycles of these remarkable creatures while encouraging careful observation, meaningful conversations, and a deeper appreciation for the incredible diversity of God’s creation!

Inside, you’ll find:

4-week Calendar with each subject scheduled on it
Prayer and scripture memorization
Copywork selections from Psalm 91, The Frog by Hilaire Belloc, An Ancient Pond by Bashō, Snake by Emily Dickenson, An Exhortation by Percy Bysshe Shelley, The Little Turtle by Vachel Lindsay, The Crocodile by Lewis Carroll, The Lizard by Edwin Markham, and Sweet is the swamp with its secrets by Emily Dickenson in primary, elementary, cursive, and a notebook sheet for high school students (and moms)
Memory Work: Prayer and scripture memorization of Psalm 91
Living Books recommended reading list
Artist & Picture Study: Maria Martin and John Edward Holbrook, with biographies for each and four printable art pieces
Music Study: Classical Reptile & Amphibian-Themed Music, with four music pieces (+ listening links)
Hymn Study: The Brazen Serpent, with sheet music and listening links
Folk Song Study: The Wonderful Crocodile, with sheet music and listening links
Poetry Study: The Frog by Hilaire Belloc, An Ancient Pond by Bashō, Snake by Emily Dickenson, An Exhortation by Percy Bysshe Shelley, The Little Turtle by Vachel Lindsay, The Crocodile by Lewis Carroll, The Lizard by Edwin Markham, and Sweet is the swamp with its secrets by Emily Dickenson
4 Teatime Recipes: Snake Cake, Frog Cookies, Croc-omole, & Mini Turtles
Three Storytime Teas and a Fairy Tale Tea: The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher, by Beatrix Potter, The King of Crocodiles, by Flora Annie Steel, Hollow Trees Stories, Chapter One: “Mr. Turtle’s Flying Adventure” by Albert Bigelow Paine, and The Frog Prince, by the Brothers Grimm
Handicraft: Pipe Cleaner Turtle and Frog
Art Lesson: Scientific Reptiles
Nature Study: Reptiles & Amphibians Nature Study

Ready to explore the wonderful world of reptiles and amphibians? Get your guide today and let your adventure begin!

Purchase the Reptiles and Amphibians Morning Time Session for Only $47

Create a John Holdbrook-Inspired Art Study

Get ready to create an artwork of your favorite reptile or amphibian! This lesson is a little bit different than our usual forte. Instead of a step-by-step instructing process, we recreate one of the works of John Edwards Holbrook in a timelapse. At the same time, we encourage students to either choose one of Holbrook’s works to copy, or to find another picture of their favorite reptile or amphibian to recreate in the same vein. This lesson focuses less on trying to create a perfect artwork, and instead focuses on how zoologists and herpetologist might have worked on the field: studying animals and creating sketches of them in their field guides for the purpose of further study.

Want more art lessons for homeschoolers? Grab these colorful space-themed lessons from the Masterpiece Society to keep the fun going!

LitARTure: Frog and Toad

Nature Journaling: Amphibians & Reptiles

Homeschool Living Books for Exploring Reptiles and Amphibians

We have also included a list of living books about reptiles and amphibians to enjoy alongside the lessons! Check them out from your local library, or grab some of your favorites to add them to your permanant homeschool library below!

Leap into Learning with our Reptiles and Amphibians Morning Time Session!

I hope this study becomes one of those sweet homeschool memories your family treasures for years to come! There is just something delightful about learning together, noticing creatures in the wild, and discovering how wonderfully designed these animals really are.

If your family loves nature study, hands-on learning, and relaxed Charlotte Mason mornings, I hope this curriculum becomes one of those studies you look back on fondly. I can’t wait for your family to explore the amazing world of reptiles and amphibians together!