Free January Nature Study: Activities & Prompts for Your Homeschool

Discover the wonders of winter with this free January nature study guide exploring winter weather, botany, rocks, and minerals!

Our January Nature Study & FREE Guide Will Give You Tons of Inspiration!

January is the perfect time to step into a world of discovery with your children through our free nature guide, Winter Walks. This guide will add a fresh spark to your homeschool by exploring the wonders of botany, rocks and minerals, and the fascinating dynamics of winter weather.

Through engaging activities and outdoor explorations, your family will uncover the secrets of the natural world during this chilly season. Learn to identify winter plants, study unique rock formations, and understand the science behind snowflakes and frost. Each section is designed to inspire curiosity and encourage hands-on learning.

Take your lessons outside with winter walks to observe frost patterns, collect interesting rocks, or marvel at dormant trees and shrubs. Create a family nature journal to capture your findings and document the ever-changing beauty of winter.

Bring the magic of winter into your homeschool this January! Download your free copy of the Winter Walks guide today and enjoy a month filled with discovery, learning, and connection with nature.

Suggested Activities for January Nature Study:

These prompts aim to encourage exploration, observation, and learning about winter botany and dormant trees, fostering curiosity and appreciation for nature even within urban environments during the month of January.

1. Dormant Plant Sketching Journal: Start a nature journal specifically for sketching dormant plants you find.

2. Winter Tree Bud Shapes and Sizes Sketch: Sketch or draw the different shapes and sizes of winter tree buds.

3. Tree Bud Identification in Your Neighborhood: Identify and label the types of tree buds you find in your neighborhood.

4. Bud Development Process in Winter: Learn about the process of bud development in winter.

5. Rock Collection and Identification Walk: Go on a nature walk and collect different types of rocks. Bring them back inside to identify their types (igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic) and unique features using a rock identification guide.

6. How Trees Adapt to Winter Survival: Research how trees adapt to survive in winter conditions.

7. Evergreen Tree Species Identification: Learn the differences and identify different species of evergreen trees.

8. Pine Cone Comparison from Evergreen Trees: Collect pine cones from various evergreen trees and compare them.

9. Temperature Tracking Throughout the Month: Measure and record changes in temperature throughout the month.

10. Water Conservation in Evergreen Trees: Research how evergreen trees conserve water during winter.

Want More Nature Activities, Crafts, and Scavenger Hunt Ideas?

Sign up below to download our FREE January 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 Walks – Botany, Rocks & Minerals + Winter Weather January 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 Backyard Nature course for easy art tutorials with a nature focus?

Nature Journaling

Nature Journaling: Trees

Backyard Nature: Mixed Media Art for Kids K-2

Check Out These Videos for Nature Study Inspiration:

Learn about the rock cycle:

Discover the science behind evergreen trees:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv3dh9A4A9M

Go on a nature walk and learn how to identify common winter trees:

Learn about what happens to fish and plants during winter:

Add These Books to Your Nature Study:

Pick up some of these books from your local library to add to your January nature study, or grab them off Amazon to add to your family library’s permanent collection!