Our December Nature Study & FREE Guide Will Give You Tons of Inspiration!
December is the perfect time to uncover the mysteries of winter survival and the beauty of the night sky with your children. Our latest nature guide, Winter Prep and the Night Sky, will enrich your homeschool journey by diving deep into the resilience of nature during the colder months.
This guide helps you teach your children how plants and animals prepare for and survive winter’s challenges. Through engaging activities and hands-on exploration, your family will discover fascinating adaptations, from hibernating animals to frost-resistant plants.
Take learning outdoors with nature walks to observe animal tracks or spot evergreen plants. Create nature journals to document winter changes and encourage your little explorers to look skyward on clear nights. The guide also introduces stunning constellations and fun stargazing tips, making the night sky a magical classroom.
Bring the wonder of winter into your homeschool this December! Grab your free copy of the Winter Prep and the Night Sky guide today, and enjoy a season of discovery and connection with nature.
Suggested Activities for December Nature Study:
The following prompts are designed to encourage exploration, observation, and creativity while helping kids and teens learn about winter preparations and observing the night sky, even in urban environments.
1. Observe Evergreen Trees: Take a walk and observe how evergreen trees like pines and cedars survive the winter. Sketch or describe their appearance.
2. Animal Shelters: Look for places where animals might find shelter in winter, such as under logs, in tree hollows, or beneath bushes. Document your findings.
3. Frost Patterns: Observe and draw the frost patterns on leaves, windows, or other surfaces. Consider how plants protect themselves from freezing temperatures.
4. Bird Watching: Identify and observe birds that stay in your area during winter. What adaptations help them survive the cold?
5. Winter Plant Survival: Research how certain plants survive winter. Draw a picture of a dormant tree or plant and describe its survival strategy.
6. Winter Sky: Observe the winter sky at different times of the day. Draw or describe how the shorter days and lower sun affect the environment.
7. Animal Tracks in Snow: If you have access to snow or mud, look for animal tracks. Sketch them and try to identify the animals that made them.
8. Bark Study: Observe the bark of different trees. How does the bark help protect the tree in winter? Make bark rubbings and describe your observations.
9. Winter Adaptations Journal: Write about how a specific animal you’ve observed adapts to survive the winter. Consider food, shelter, and behavior.
10. Winter Bird Songs: Listen to the songs and calls of birds that stay during winter. Describe how their sounds change with the season.
Want More Nature Activities, Crafts, and Scavenger Hunt Ideas?
Sign up below to download our FREE December 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 Winter Prep & The Night Sky December 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 Alisha’s Watercolor Whimsies: Christmas Edition course for festive December art lessons?
Check Out These Videos for Nature Study Inspiration:
Learn about winter camouflage:
Discover winter berries:
Uncover the secrets of the northern lights:
Explore the winter constellations:
Learn to navigate using stars as your guide:
Add These Books to Your Nature Study:
Pick up some of these books from your local library to add to your December nature study, or grab them off Amazon to add to your family library’s permanent collection!
Picture Books
My First Book of Planets: All About the Solar System for Kids
Planets, Moons and Stars: Take-Along Guide (Take Along Guides)Solar System for Kids: A Junior Scientist’s Guide to Planets, Dwarf Planets, and Everything Circling Our SunThe Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar SystemABCs of Space: Explore Astronomy, Space, and our Solar System with this Essential STEM Board Book for Kids (Science Gifts for Kids) (Baby University)Zoo in the Sky: A Book of Animal ConstellationsStarry Messenger: Galileo Galilei (Caldecott Honor Book)Northern Lights (Amazing Sights of the Sky)Glow-in-the-Dark ConstellationsThe Moon Book (New & Updated Edition)Aurora: A Tale of the Northern LightsHow the Stars Fell into the Sky: A Navajo Legend (Sandpiper Houghton Mifflin Books)Find the ConstellationsWhat We See in the Stars: An Illustrated Tour of the Night SkyThe Moon Seems to Change (Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2)The Planets in Our Solar System (Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2)The Sun: Our Nearest Star (Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out)
Science Books
Night Sky (National Geographic Kids Readers, Level 2)Planets (National Geographic Kids Readers, Level 2)Mars (National Geographic Kids Readers, Level 3)Meteors (National Geographic Kids Readers, Level 3)Star Finder!: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Night SkyThe Fascinating Space Book for Kids: 500 Far-Out Facts! (Fascinating Facts)50 Things To See With A Telescope – Kids: A Constellation Focused Approach
If you liked this December nature study, check out the rest of our free monthly nature studies here!
Pin Me!
