Discover Backyard Wonders and Grow a Homeschool Garden with Our Free July Nature Study Guide: “Garden Ecology”
Are you ready to explore the vibrant ecosystems in your backyard? Our free July nature study guide, “Garden Ecology,” is the perfect way to spark curiosity and foster a love for nature in your homeschool.
This guide takes you and your children on an exciting journey into the hidden world of garden ecosystems. You’ll observe pollinators at work, uncover the roles of insects, plants, and soil, and gain a deeper understanding of how every piece of the puzzle fits together to create a thriving environment. Along the way, you’ll engage in hands-on activities, thoughtful experiments, and meaningful discussions that bring the wonders of nature to life.
Designed with homeschooling moms in mind, this guide is easy to incorporate into your existing plans. Whether you’re growing vegetables, tending flowers, or simply enjoying your backyard, “Garden Ecology” will add a new layer of discovery to your summer learning.
Download your free guide today and uncover the wonders waiting in your garden!
Suggested Activities for Your Homeschool Garden Nature Study:
The following prompts are designed to encourage exploration, observation, and creativity while helping kids and teens learn about garden ecology, even in urban environments.
1. Setting Up a Backyard Composting Bin: Begin setting up a small composting bin in your backyard or balcony.
2. Benefits of Composting for Soil and Ecosystem Health: Research the benefits of composting for garden soil and overall ecosystem health.
3. Observing the Composting Decomposition Process: Observe and document the decomposition process in your compost bin.
4. Exploring Beneficial Garden Insects: Learn about the different types of beneficial insects and their roles in gardens.
5. Documenting Beneficial Insects in Your Garden: Identify and document the beneficial insects you find in your garden.
6. How Beneficial Insects Aid in Pest Control: Investigate how beneficial insects contribute to pest control in gardens.
7. Guide to Beneficial Insects and Their Habitats: Create a chart or guidebook showcasing beneficial insects and their habitats.
8. Monitoring Plant Growth and Ecosystem Changes: Observe changes in garden plant growth and note any ecosystem changes.
9. Plant-Insect Interactions in Your Garden: Document the interactions between plants and insects in your garden.
10. The Role of Pollinators in Plant Reproduction: Explore the impact of pollinators on garden plant reproduction.
Want More Nature Activities, Crafts, and Scavenger Hunt Ideas?
Sign up below to download our FREE July 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 Understanding Ecosystems within Backyard Gardens July 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 focus on nature and gardens?
Check Out These Videos for Homeschool Garden Nature Study Inspiration:
Discover how to grow a beginner-friendly herb garden:
Learn how to collect rainwater for your gardening needs:
Discover how to effectively compost:
Learn all about companion planting and what plants pair well together in your garden:
Add These Books to Your July Nature Study:
Pick up some of these books from your local library to add to your July nature study, or grab them off Amazon to add to your family library’s permanent gardening collection!
Picture Books
Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt: (Nature Book for Kids, Gardening and Vegetable Planting, Outdoor Nature Book) (Over and Under)
From Seed to PlantJack’s GardenHow Does My Garden Grow?We Are the GardenersFlower GardenPlanting a RainbowInch by InchThe Extraordinary Gardener: A Picture BookPlant It! Grow It, Eat ItThe Tiny Seed: With seeded paper to grow your own flowers! (The World of Eric Carle)The Gardener: (Caldecott Honor Book)
Elementary
The Secret Garden The Original 1911 Edition (A Frances Hodgson Burnett Classic Novel)Farmer Boy (Little House, 2)The Tale of Peter RabbitLittle Critter: A Green, Green Garden: A Springtime Book For Kids (My First I Can Read)
Science Books
Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Gardening Together with ChildrenLet’s Get GardeningGardening for Kids: Learn, Grow, and Get Messy with Fun STEAM ProjectsThe Best-Ever Step-by-Step Kid’s First Gardening: Fantastic Gardening Ideas For 5 To 12 Year-Olds, From Growing Fruit And Vegetables And Fun With Flowers To Wildlife Gardening And Outdoor CraftsHow Plants Grow (TIME FOR KIDS® Nonfiction Readers)National Geographic Kids Look and Learn: In My Garden (Look & Learn)Linnea’s Windowsill GardenGardening Lab for Kids: 52 Fun Experiments to Learn, Grow, Harvest, Make, Play, and Enjoy Your Garden (Volume 24) (Lab for Kids, 24)Gardening with Emma: Grow and Have Fun: A Kid-to-Kid GuideGrow: A Family Guide to Growing Fruits and Vegetables (Discover Together Guides)Compost: A Family Guide to Making Soil from Scraps (Discover Together Guides)
If you liked this July nature study, check out the rest of our free monthly nature studies here!
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