As I exited the college concert hall I heard a mother greet her musician son, “There is the Maestro!” She was beaming with pride, and rightfully so. Did you know that we have a Maestro, too? One we can praise, worship, and fellowship with?

The Apostle Paul in the book of Romans says that our Maestro, meaning “master” or “teacher”, can be seen in His creation, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” The Psalmist tells us in chapter 19 that, “The heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above proclaims His handiwork. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.” 

Our creator God has placed nature within our grasp so that we may know Jesus more!

“Through him, all things were made; without him, nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” John 1: 3-4

Like our Savor, nature is alive! It embodies the very essence of the word science, which means to know. When you spend time outside you will begin to know, and through this knowing you will begin to see the power of Jesus. The amazing design of nature that has a creator! There is no better way to start your journey of scientific discovery than to spend time outside with the Maestro!

Starting with Outdoor Science

There are thousands of places to start an outdoor science study, below are a few that my family has enjoyed:

CREATION

Study each of the seven days of creation individually. This can be done over a single week, studying each day as it comes, or this can take an entire year, using each day as a six to nine-week unit study. Answers in Genesis and Institute for Creation Research are the preeminent sites for the study of young earth creation. 

LIGHT

Light, color, waves, heat, energy… these are just a few of the topics! Light, and even negative space, is what gives us our visual art. What type of art can you make from nature? Pine cones, rocks, leaves, and seeds, can all be used in an art project. One of our favorites is to collect different flowers, crush them, and try to paint with the resulting color.

EARTH

Let’s go digging! Everyone likes to get muddy on occasion, especially if mom won’t be mad later. What kind of earth is near your home? Is it sand or more clay-like? Dig deeper and try to find the layers of soil. Did you hit a rock? What kind of rock? Check to see if your state has a Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Call them and ask if you can visit. They will have pamphlets about the types of soil in your area. Another field trip opportunity is your local college. Most university Geology buildings have cases of rocks and minerals that will be labeled.

WATER

Water, like light, is an amazing substance. It covers most of our earth. It can be a solid, a liquid, or a gas. It is necessary for all life on earth. And water is used in Scripture to reference the cleansing nature of God’s Word (Ephesians 5:26-27; Hebrews 10:22). It’s also tons of fun to play in! Learn to swim. Study why you float then try to float, some people find it difficult. Why do think that is? Can you float better in salt water or fresh water? Why?

THE PLANETS

There is a curriculum that takes an entire year to study our universe, and there are folk who have dedicated their lives to it. As homeschoolers a great place to start is by going outside at night, lying on a blanket, and just looking and the wonder before you.

The New Astronomy Book by Danny R. Faulkner is a simple and inexpensive book that teaches about the wonders of the planets for grades 4 and up. 

WEATHER

Weather is a topic that can be broken into smaller bits and carried along as a study within other subjects. Jane Bennet is thrown into the company of her future husband by a rainstorm, a drought prompts the Joad family to migrate west in “Grapes of Wrath”, poet T. S. Eliot’s cat-like fog, and Emily Dickinson’s snow that “sifts from leaden sieves,” weather features prominently in almost every classic work of literature. 

History is also replete with instances of how weather played a vital role in the outcome of battles, how and why entire cultures moved, and how the geography of an area was formed. Using caution, weather can be best taught and enjoyed while outdoors! Dancing in the rain is not just a fun activity, it’s also a decent movie and song.

PLANTS

Talk about a subject meant for being outdoors, this is it! Gardening, flower arranging, landscaping, mowing, medicinal plants, herbs, the list of what you can study seems never-ending. One of my favorites is leaf collecting- collecting leaves is a project in which the entire family can easily participate. 

Younger grades may choose to do leaf rubbings. Older students benefit from drying leaves and collecting them in a notebook where they can add the tree name (common and scientific), main characteristics, habitat, and uses.
There is an excellent description of how to make a leaf collection here- Tree Hugger. 

The Audubon Field Guide to North American Trees is a superior source to help identify all the trees near you. 

FLYING CREATURES

No matter where you live you will find some type of bird. Buy a pair of binoculars and from just about anywhere you choose to sit outside these flying creatures can be easily studied. Better still buy or build a feeder, maybe a birdhouse or two. You will be amazed at how many species come into view with a few hands full of birdseed and a dry place to rest. The National Audubon Society Field Guide series offers the best guides for identifying birds in your location. 

There are also several places that want your assistance in studying birds: Project Feeder Watch and Audubon Societies Great Backyard Bird Count are two resources that we have used repeatedly. My all-time favorite resource, however, is live Eagle cameras! At the Raptor Resource Project you will find multiple live cameras to observe birds of prey. Be cautioned, it’s addictive!

THE SEAS AND OCEANS

You don’t need to live close to an ocean to learn about sea life. Every creek in the state of Tennessee is full of fossils made up of these creatures. I’ll bet this is true of many other states! Take a trip to a nearby lake, river, or pond for a day hike and picnic. Observe the way ripples form and time the small waves that come to shore. 

ANIMAL LIFE

Here again, is a topic that can be spread over many months and spans all grades and personality types. From insects to mammals, from wild creatures to pets, animal life is best observed in the great outdoors. Collect bugs in a jar! Go outside and discover what lurks in the dark. What only appears in the daytime? Listen to the unique sounds of both daylight and darkness. What is making those sounds? Can you find their tracks in the mud or snow? Shine a flashlight into the forest at night and see what is reflected back. 

Resources for Outdoor Science

Homeschool Share – a great resource for lapbooks and note-booking pages to record your Outdoor Science observations

Learn more about building a science foundation for young learners by reading our blog post Adding Nature Study to Your Homeschool by clicking HERE