How to Homeschool for Free and Frugal: Nature Study Resource List

Welcome back to our ‘How to Homeschool for FREE and Frugal’ Series here at Free Homeschool Deals!

In this series, we pick a subject most homeschoolers teach and find a ton of resources for you to use.  Of course, the resources are either free or frugal, since we all want to stay within our budgets!

This week, we’re sharing resources on how to homeschool for free and frugal with nature study resources!

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Tips and Ideas for Nature Study in Your Homeschool

Charlotte Mason Series: Nature Study – Why, and more importantly, how you should do nature study with your young ones

Simplifying Nature Study – Ideas on simple nature study for each season

Nature Study – The Duty of Christian Homeschoolers – Such interesting food for thought!

Nature Study During Circle Time – Great ideas for incorporating nature study during morning time

How to Frame Your Day with Nature Study – Very practical ideas for every family

Nature Study Ideas for Teens – 4 practical ideas, some which can earn high school credit

Nature Study with Middle Schoolers – Simple, practical suggestions for nature study in the middle school years

How to Start a Nature Journal – Beginning tips and ideas to get started

31 Days of Exploring Nature – Excellent ideas for exploring nature

Why Nature Journals are Important – Not convinced nature journals are important?  Read this post and you’ll change your mind!

How to Get Started with Nature Study – Read through several Charlotte Mason quotes, and find practical ideas

8 Reasons to Do Nature Study – Very convincing!

Nature Study for Beginners – Very simple ideas to get started with nature study today

Ideas for Learning with Nature Walks – Excellent podcast with Nature Study guru Cindy West!  Find out how nature study can comprise and entire science curriculum!

Ways to Make Nature Study Part of Your Academic Routine – Practical tips and ideas

Implementing Nature Study: Provide Resources – Why you should provide nature study resources for your children and what to provide

Nature Study Tips Podcast – An iHomeschool Network podcast that shares ideas for helping you and your children enjoy nature study

100 Things to Do Before, During, or After a Nature Walk – Interesting ideas to spice up your nature walks

A Natural Start to Nature Study – A gentle approach with practical ideas

Nature Study as Independent Work – Simple, practical suggestions if nature study needs to be a bit more independent this school year

Six Simple Ways to Savor Nature Walks – Items to bring on your nature study walks, and ways to spice them up a bit!

Hands-on Nature Study Resources

Dissecting Flowers – Dissect a flower to discover its parts

Make a Worm Tower – Easy hands-on activity for your kiddos to observe worms

How to Plant Seeds with Kids – Step-by-step to planting seeds with your young ones

Free NaturExplorer Lessons – These nature study lessons are incredible! Find free lessons on ponds, clouds, and more.  

Lost Ladybug Project – Participation in this project helps the ladybug population from reducing even more!

National Moth Week – Participate in this neat moth observation week.  From the site “become a Citizen Scientist and contribute scientific data about moths.”

Birdwatching: Our Favorite Nature Study – Take a look at how this family birdwatches from the preschool through the middle school years

Complete Insect Study Guide – Several neat hands-on ideas

Create Your Own Nature Notebook – I love this idea! Directions to create your own nature notebook out of a paper bag; includes ideas for pages to include

Raising Tadpoles – A great way to watch the frog life cycle in action!

Create a Wormery – Observe worms with your young ones by making this very inexpensive wormery

Hands-On Rock Cycle Activity – Learn about the rock cycle with crayons and cookies

Take a Playdough Nature Walk – Bring along the playdough and find out about different textures

Rock Pooling – Near the beach?  Follow these directions and go rock pooling!

Make a Roly Poly Habitat – Roly Polies (yes, a weird word to pluralize) are so fun! Here are instructions to create a habitat for the fascinating little creatures.

Make Homemade Bug Houses – An inexpensive way to study bugs!

Build a Mini Ecosystem – Build a mini ecosystem with your children and observe nature inside!

Nature Study Printables

Insect Nature Study Printables – Label the parts of an ant, count the varieties of insects, firefly poem and coloring page, and more!

Bee Life Cycle Worksheets – Includes printables to learn about the bee life cycle, along with other bee learning ideas

Strawberry Unit Study – Includes strawberry resources and a lapbook

Nature Study Freebie – 5-page download for Preschoolers – 2nd graders

50 Free Nature Walk Printables – Yes, 50! Botany, seasonal, nighttime, and more

Salamander Unit Study – Includes life cycle of a salamander, booklet with characteristics and more

Bird Study Notebook Pages – Includes nesting characteristics, habitats, and more

Nature Scavenger Hunt – Printable of common sites you’d see on a nature hunt; includes handwriting practice

Leaf Identification Cards – Print the set and see how many varieties you can find in your own yard!

Free Nature Journal – A neat way to record observations!

Preschool Nature Study Printables – Includes a 60+page ebook plus 20 printables to get you started; $

Other Nature Study Resources

Homeschooling with Netflix: Nature Study – Over 45 nature study titles are available! Perfect for a rainy or snowy afternoon!

Best Practices for Collecting Insects – Everything you ever needed to know about collecting insects

The Ultimate Guide to Nature Study – oh yes, there is an ultimate guide!

The Ultimate Guide to Studying Plants and Flowers – includes printables, book suggestions, and many hands-on learning ideas

Moon Nature Study – Several ideas for studying and observing the moon

How to Make a Plant Journal – Observing plants and flowers? Find out how to record those observations in a plant journal.

The Snake Project – Find out how this family caught a snake and used it as a springboard to study biology – fascinating!

Living Books for Nature Study – A selection of living books of living books with nature themes

50+ Items to Add to a Nature Notebook – This is a great post to bookmark if your children are stuck for ideas

Organizing a Nature Club – Interested in getting together with other families to study nature?  This post will get you started with ideas.

Nature Study Kit – Items to put in your nature study bag

10 Minute Nature Studies – Short on time?  Choose one of these suggestions that only takes 10 minutes.

The Ultimate List of Books That Inspire Nature Exploration – A selection of pictures books and parent resources

How to Start and Organize a Nature Collection – These mini-collections are SO neat!

Don’t forget to take a peek at these other FREE AND FRUGAL resource lists!

→ How to Homeschool for Free and Frugal: History

→ How to Homeschool for Free and Frugal: Math for All Ages

→ How to Homeschool for Free and Frugal: Math Printables

→ Here is a growing selection of Free Themed Homeschool Unit Study Resources!