Enjoy a simple, joyful and stress-free Christmas event for the whole family. With art, nature and music plus a nature craft for your Christmas homeschool, you can make memories and have fun together.
Though we would like to, as homeschool moms, we can’t fit in all the holiday homeschooling fun. This Christmas homeschool event, however, gives you an easy way to say yes! And all you need is just a bit of time set aside and a few inexpensive supplies.
It’s all done for you! Sit back and enjoy the fun!
A Christmas Tree for the Animals – An Event for the Whole Family!
Sign up to receive the replay
Activities included in this Joyful Art, Nature and Music for Your Christmas Homeschool Event
Access to attend live and to the replay of the event – relax and enjoy on your schedule
How to create and decorate an outdoor Christmas tree for the animals with Amy of Homeschool Nature Study
A Christmas craft! Make an ornament for your outdoor tree (edible for the animals) with Victoria of Homeschool Nature Study
A hands on art lesson with Nana of You ARE an ARTiST – with a FUN Christmas tree with the animals theme!
A downloadable nature study, hymn study AND composer study to accompany the live event!
construction paper (Nana suggests white construction paper for this lesson)
baby wipes or damp paper towel for easy clean up
Craft supplies detailed at sign up.
Share On Social Media!
Be sure to share photos of your Christmas Tree With the Animals Art, Nature and Music time on social media and tag @outdoorhourchallenge and @chalkpastelart – We can’t wait to see you participating and to see your paintings!
And please invite your friends! Share this post with them!
Art, Nature, Hymns & More Membership Bundle
TWO homeschool memberships at a discount price! Add the beauty of art lessons AND nature study to your homeschool with this family-style bundle!
Self-paced and live art lessons AND nature studies
Online membership calendars for both – enjoy a daily art lesson prompt AND a daily nature study prompt
Downloadable and printable guides and resources
Oh so many bonuses!
The Your Best Homeschool Ultimate Membership
You will have the resources to make beautiful memories with your children. Just open and go! It’s JOY!
Growing a love of art at You ARE an ARTiST is a multi-generational passion! Tricia is Nana’s daughter and a mama of five children. Nana shared her first chalk pastel art lessons with her grandchildren around Tricia’s kitchen table. Homeschooling since 2000, Tricia has seen the fruits of home education with three homeschool grads so far!She shares the art and heart of homeschooling at Your Best Homeschool and is author of the book, Help! I’m Homeschooling! She and her husband, Steve, are also owners of sister sites Homeschool Nature Study and The Curriculum Choice.
Enjoy these beautiful, simple and no stress activities as you are homeschooling through the holidays. Our Christmas Tree Study for kids includes not only nature study but a nature craft, Christmas hymn and composer study and an art lesson with Nana too!
The Reality Of Holiday Homeschooling
When we are homeschooling through the holidays, we can change things up, take our time, incorporate favorite traditions and make lovely memories together as a family. Many families choose to set aside this time for Christmas School. These weeks can lead up to and create a special focus on the birth of Christ.
Just how? You can choose read alouds that point to Jesus and do hands on art lessons to draw your way through the Christmas story. Pick a nature study hunt for red and green and study a traditional hymn about the reason for the season. We always like to make Nana’s Christmas cookies! Have a sweet tea time. Watch Christmas movies!
Another way to homeschool through the holidays is with this special event around a Christmas tree study!
A Christmas Tree for the Animals Event: Here’s How to Be Ready
When: LIVE premiere Wednesday, November 16th at noon ET
Where: Right here on this page!
How: Sign up to participate via the form, below
Can’t attend live? No worries! Sign up and you will have access to the replay of the event
What’s Included in Christmas Tree For the Animals Event?
When the event is live, you will enjoy (you will also have access to the replay):
Decorating an Outdoor Christmas Tree for the Animals with Amy Law of Homeschool Nature Study
construction paper (Nana suggests white construction paper for this lesson)
baby wipes or damp paper towel for easy clean up
Details on supplies for the craft portion included with sign up.
Christmas Tree Animals Study
It is so much fun to decorate an outdoor tree just for the animals! For even more animals studies, you can also enjoy an art lesson on forest animals and birds – here at You ARE an ARTiST and a nature study at Homeschool Nature Study.
Here are some ideas for your Christmas Tree Animals study with an art and nature focus:
Trees are a delight to study any time of year! Enjoy these additional ideas for a tree nature study or for winter nature study you can easily do indoors or outdoors.
Paint a winter frosty leaf in chalk pastels with Nana!
Nana’s Frosty Leaf is part of the Winter art lessons series in the You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse. Suggested supplies: dark blue construction paper, starter set of chalk pastels and slightly damp paper towel or baby wipes for easy clean up.
In Homeschool Nature Study membership, you can also find a study of the Hemlock Tree in the Autumn course and Evergreens in My Yard study and journal page in the Trees course. Each season includes a new tree study.
Besides your fun homeschool nature craft that Victoria will lead you in this event, you might also enjoy these hands-on activities for Christmas
Nature Crafts course – Victoria leads you in a brand new nature craft each month at Homeschool Nature Study. As you head into winter, you might especially love creating an ice craft!
Nana’s course, The Gift of Art, is perfect for allowing your kids to make gifts for others on a dime. Nana shares easy ideas for kids of all ages to make a gift to give that they will be proud of. Letting your children handmake a gift for someone is affordable and allows them to express their creativity. Not only that, your kids can gift items that showcase their artistic progress.
Additional Resources For Christmas In Your Homeschool
Continue your lovely Christmas school with even more resources to create memories this year.
Draw Your Way Through the Story of Christmas – Add these Advent art activities to your Christmas Homeschool plans! You can draw your way through the story of Christmas from the angels announcing Messiah’s birth to the manger scene.
The Ultimate List of Christmas Homeschool Art Lessons – Enjoy this ultimate list of Christmas Homeschool Art Lessons! Christmas homeschooling allows us to focus on the real reason for the season. And you can do that in so many ways. We will give many resources to choose from and help you customize your perfect Christmas school day, week, or month.
Christmas Book to Movie Homeschool Activities Your Kids Will Love! by Erin – Check out this festive list of Christmas books made into movies – with homeschool activities your kids will love! Now your kids can re-create their favorite book characters and movie scenes with chalk pastels! Like Kevin from Home Alone, the Grinch and more!
A Merry Christmas Hymns Study for Your Homeschool – Whether you homeschool as normal through December, add in Christmas activities, or trade all your homeschool curriculum for ‘Christmas School,’ a Christmas hymns study can be an enjoyable part of your school day. It is a beautiful opportunity for the family to learn and worship together.
The Nutcracker: A Holiday Homeschool Unit Study – Celebrate the Christmas season and enjoy the famous ballet with Nana’s Nutcracker video art lessons. Nana has a Nutcracker ballet lesson added to the collection just for members. Plus Clubhouse members get to enjoy a Nutcracker-themed special event and a companion Nutcracker curriculum!
Winter Solstice Art Activities for Your Homeschool – Celebrate the winter solstice with your kids with chalk pastels winter themed art! They are easy and fun for the whole family. A perfect addition to your winter homeschooling!
As Courtney shared in her Biblical homeschool post, “we hope that this gives you lots of inspiration for your Christmas school plans this year! Remember, you don’t have to do it all this year. Advent is all about preparing our hearts and dwelling in His perfect peace. Christmas school is an opportunity not only for creativity and education but for making lasting memories together.”
Growing a love of art at You ARE an ARTiST is a multi-generational passion! Tricia is Nana’s daughter and a mama of five children. Nana shared her first chalk pastel art lessons with her grandchildren around Tricia’s kitchen table. Homeschooling since 2000, Tricia has seen the fruits of home education with three homeschool grads so far!She shares the art and heart of homeschooling at Your Best Homeschool and is author of the book, Help! I’m Homeschooling! She and her husband, Steve, are also owners of sister sites Homeschool Nature Study and The Curriculum Choice.
Make your homeschool a little more beautiful with literature, art and nature study! Explore the beloved picture book, Miss Rumphius, with Sarah, Nana and Tricia. What a FUN way to celebrate Sarah’s new book together!
Make Your Homeschool a Little More Beautiful – A Free Event!
YOU are invited to the replay of this event!
Sign Up For Access to the Replay and For Your Free Resources
When you sign up you will receive: access to the replay of the event
construction paper (Nana suggests white construction paper for this lesson)
baby wipes or damp paper towel for easy clean up
For your nature study time with Tricia, have your lupine download on hand.
Remember to sign up, above!
Share On Social Media!
Be sure to share your Make Your Homeschool A Little More Beautiful time on social media and tag @readaloudrevival@outdoorhourchallenge and @chalkpastelart – We can’t wait to see you participating and to see your paintings!
And please invite your friends! Share this post with them!
What a FUN way to incorporate literature, art and nature into your homeschool routine!
Spring and summer are the perfect time to explore a pond nature study! Exploring a local pond can be filled with surprises and wonder, from algae and tadpoles to birds and fish. The educational opportunities are endless. Then, you can come back inside to cool off with the fun and colorful chalk pastel pond lessons!
The Abundant Life In A Pond
Ponds are a perfect place to learn about various things. A pond’s ecosystem is chocked full of life cycles of plants and animals. Birds and insects fill the air while fish and frogs fill the water. Even little kids enjoy catching tadpoles while older children may learn about water ph!
Observing a pond can also be a wonderful sensory experience. Water, mud, and grass are all along a pond, and the sights can be exciting and soothing. Watching a butterfly flit back and forth is calming, while the minnows zipping to and fro is exhilarating. How about watching a turtle lumber up onto a slippery log?
I highly suggest visiting your local pond and letting your children see what they can see! Are those wildflowers across the way?
This Pond Nature Study Is Perfect For Kids
After an eventful day at the pond, why not come inside and cool down with some of Nana’s pond video art lessons? The benefits of learning in a hands-on and multi-sensory way are vast. Children absorb more information and retain more of what they’ve learned when you incorporate hands-on opportunities, including art!
All you’ll need is a pack of construction paper, a starter set of chalk pastels, and Nana’s pond video art lessons!
New Frog Life Cycle lesson (For You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse members)
The Lily Pads are in a Simple Start with Chalk Pastels series in Clubhouse membership!
Frog Life Cycle Activity
Nana has a NEW Frog Life Cycle art lesson! A pond nature study wouldn’t be complete without studying the frog life cycle. While raising tadpoles is the most fun, drawing the life cycle is just as educational, and it helps solidify the knowledge my kiddos have acquired. Nana will show your child how frogs start as jelly-like eggs and then go through a metamorphosis where tadpoles slowly start to grow legs and then begin to develop the pulmonary respiration system that allows breath!
Be sure to check out these other posts, such as Backyard Biology: Frogs for Kids, where we raised our tadpoles and learned about the frog life cycle up close and personal! Tricia and her family did too!
More Pond Nature Study Resources For Your Homeschool
Don’t forget there is a frog life cycle printable in the Homeschool Nature Study membership that includes notebooking pages, a full nature study and more.
With the You ARE An Artist Clubhouse membership, you’ll have access to the pond nature video art lessons plus 700+ other lessons, including these other nature-themed lessons:
honey bees on sunflower
bunny
ladybug
caterpillar
lily pad
snail
forest path
red-eyed tree frog
eagle’s nest with eagle family
rat snake
deer in the forest
bear
dandelion
green anole
ant
chipmunk
lightning bug (or firefly)
cardinal
goldfinch
hummingbird
chickadee
robin
bluebird
Plus so much more!
This summer, don’t miss out on a pond nature study, including the art of chalk pastels!
Erin is a writer, blogger, and homeschooler to two intense kids. Her blog is filled with information to help you explore a child led education while making meaningful connections with your children. Discover favorite read alouds, seasonal books, games, art projects, hands-on activities, and learn to just breathe through the ups and downs of life. She loves nature, farm life, good books, knitting, new pens, and hot coffee. Erin is a contributing writer for Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers. Her work has also been featured on Simple Homeschool and Book Shark.
Delight in a bears art and book study for your homeschool! This is a beautiful combination of art, nature study, and living books to grow a gentle learning adventure about the world around us.
Bears Art and Book Study For Your Homeschool
“ ‘I would like to see a bear, said Jonathan. ‘I would rather see a bear than anything in the world.”’
The Bears on Hemlock Mountain, Alice Dalgliesh
Studying Bears
Bears! Brown bears…black bears…..polar bears… For our bears art and book study, we asked: why are these mammals so intriguing to the flourishing minds of children? Is it the way a momma bear dressed in ruffled fur, proudly saunters out of her den, revealing her two secrets to the awakened forest? Perhaps it’s the way their swift paws quickly catch a shimmering fish as the rippling waters sing a vibrant melody. Or maybe it’s the creatures’ dignified stature combined with powerful strength that leaves a child in endless wonder. Whatever the case may be, these majestic animals brought a “beary” delightful experience to our homeschool.
To bring our black bear study to life, we recently took a trip to a local Game Park and saw a female cinnamon bear. My children were enthralled by her cute, round ears, cinnamon, shaggy-like fur, and long claws.
Animal studies in our homeschool began with my oldest son and daughter’s high interest in the natural world around them. Hours of continuous exploring outdoors led to gathering green tree frogs, wriggly worms, slimy snails, and carnivorous praying mantises. With proud expressions and smiles, one by one, each child brought a little critter to my attention. They squealed with such delight as they witnessed my squeamish reactions. As this interest led learning grew like wild blackberry vines; critter habitats, many insect anatomy drawings, and animal studies collectively came to fruition.
I found myself setting aside my rushed homeschool plans. I witnessed the beauty of learning right alongside my children. While I watched my children delight in animal studies, a beautiful combination of fine art, creative writing, and living books began to flourish in our homeschool, causing wholesome roots to grow in many of Ms. Charlotte Mason’s ideals of education.
Our Favorite Books About Bears for Your Homeschool Bear Study
Animal books by Thornton Burgess are a sure favorite in our homeschool. Whether its for a bedtime read loud or used for oral narration, Burgess books have a way of blending facts about creatures into a story that brings delight to my children. Here are two of our favorite bear books by this remarkable author:
The Adventures of Buster Bear – Farmer Brown’s boy suspects that a bear is in the forest. His dad is sure that bears are only found in the Great Woods. But there IS a bear in the Green Forest! Join Buster and his friends as they embark on whimsical adventures in the Green Forest. Find out what makes Farmer Brown boy’s hair rise and see what happens when Buster comes face to face with a boy while “berry-ing”! For a character study, we painted some of Buster’s favorite foods and his habitat. Interested in a character response journal?
You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse members enjoy a printable that complements TheAdventures of Buster Bear. In it are suggestions on how to create a Character Response Journal and a space to for your writer to record their responses. (This Character Response Journal is available to You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse members!)
Buster Bear’s Twins – Buster Bear has twins? Well, yes he does! Mother Bear kept a secret hidden in her den for a very long time. But one day, while spring made its sweet entrance, Peter Rabbit spotted two heads emerge from Mrs. Bear’s home! Boxer and Woof-Woof sure have a lot of learning to do in the big Green Forest! Join Mother Bear as she teaches her furry cubs a few life lessons that will make you laugh.
“There are no bears on Hemlock Mountain
No bears at all
Of course there are no bears on Hemlock Mountain
No bears, no bears, no bears at all”
The Bears on Hemlock Mountain by Alice Dalgliesh
The Bears on Hemlock Mountain by Alice Dalgliesh – Are there really bears on Hemlock Mountain? Jonathan’s mother is preparing for the entire family to visit. Jonathan is sent over the hill (Hemlock Mountain) to his aunt’s house to borrow a big iron pot. On his way home, Jonathan discovers whether or not bears live on Hemlock Mountain. Find out how the big iron pot kept him safe!
When we study animals, we like to combine fiction and nonfiction books together. Here are a few nonfiction picture books that work well for a bear study.
Wild About Bears by Jeannie Brett – This wonderful picture book covers the eight bear species: giant panda, sloth bear, North American black bear, polar bear, brown bear, sun bear, spectacled bear, and Asiatic black bear. Stunning illustrations accompany each bear description along with the scientific name, common names, and size. A map of the world shows where each bear species live and a habitat glossary with colorful illustrations can be found at the back of the book.
Black Bear North America’s Bear by Stephen R. Swinburne – A thought-provoking nonfiction read with real-life photos in black and white and color. Filled with fascinating black bear facts and a little bit of bear history at Yellowstone Park. Reading about the black bear cubs and the bear signs we can look for in the forest was an absolute favorite!
Our Favorite Brown Bear Picture Books for Homeschool
Karma Wilson’s beloved bear books will forever leave an imprint on my heart! I began reading Bear Wants More,Bear Snores On,Bear Says Thanks, Bear Feels Scared, and Bear Feels Sick to my oldest son when he was two years old. I used these books to teach my nonverbal child (at that time) how to sign “more”, “thank you”, “want”, “bear”, “scared”, and “sick”. Each bear story is filled with colorful, eye-catching illustrations that children love by Jane Chapman. The lyrical pattern brought by rhyming couplets and quatrains holds a child’s attention, and the brilliantly written story line of Bear and his friends brings many smiles and cheers for more! Other delightful bear picture books by Karma Wilson: Bear Can’t Wait, Bear Can’t Sleep, Bear’s New Friend, Bear’s Loose Tooth, Bear Stays Up, Bear Counts, Bear Sees Colors, Big Bear and Small Mouse.
Our Favorite Polar Bear Picture Books by Lisa Tawn Bergren
God Gave Us You– A stunning picture book that shares the welcoming of new life. This adoring story, full of captivating polar bear illustrations by Laura J. Bryant, expresses the value of children and the priceless gifts they are from our Heavenly Father.
God Gave Us Love– This is a lovely little book that holds the treasures of love. Grampa and little cub taking a fishing trip together. Little Cub asks many questions and Grampa explains the true meaning of love and the different kinds of love. More fabulous books by Lisa Tawn Bergren: God Gave Us the World, God Gave Us Heaven, God Gave Us Easter, God Gave Us Christmas
More fabulous books by Lisa Tawn Bergren: God Gave Us the World, God Gave Us Heaven, God Gave Us Easter, God Gave Us Christmas.
Bear Art Activities For Your Homeschool
“It really should not be surprising that science and drawing go well together. Leonardo Da Vinci thought the pair made congenial companions.”
A Charlotte Mason‘s Companion The Gentle Art of Learning by Karen Andreola, p. 13-14
Have you heard about the very large black bear that jumped over Nana’s white picket fence and into her very own backyard? Can you even imagine seeing such a sight? We absolutely loved painting this beautiful black bear and hearing all about Nana’s exciting experience. Make sure you have all the colors of the rainbow handy…you will surely need them! Clubhouse members will find this lesson in the Animals course.
Sister site, Homeschool Nature Study, provides a brilliant Forest Fun Handbook of Nature Study curriculum. Tucked inside is a black bear study! It contains helpful links for research and audio books. Note booking pages and coloring pages are also offered to meet the various needs of your learners. That’s not all! Forest Fun lives up to its name and is filled with the study of our forest friends: flowers, birds, and animals. The Inside Preparation Work, Outdoor Hour Time, and Follow-up Activities found in each nature study makes the Forest Fun Handbook enjoyable, engaging, and easy to use.
A Brown Bear’s Language Arts Study is a literature-inspired unit that immerses your learner in a step by step process of writing structured paragraphs. Using hexagons as a visual for each paragraph, helps your student see each paragraph in a simple and organized way, laying a strong foundation for future essay writing. The engaging research of brown bears results in a five paragraph informational piece. The paragraphs are transformed into a creative nonfiction picture book. Wholesome Bible lessons and scripture memorization aid in character development. Alliteration, the four types of sentences, common and proper nouns, and writing with a strong lead are common language arts principles taught in this bear unit study. Included is a teacher’s handbook with an answer key, read aloud schedule, and discussion guide for Thornton Burgess’ charming story, The Adventures of Buster Bear. This living study pairs well with third through sixth grade language arts curricula.
B is for bear! I’ve found in our homeschool that my little learners want to do everything their big brothers and big sister are doing. Here is an Arctic Animals Preschool Activity pack by Courtney at Homeschool Mastery Academy. Learn about polar bears, penguins, snowy owls, and arctic foxes with a calendar full of age appropriate multi-sensory activities.
A Homeschool Nature Study with Winnie the Pooh’s Hundred Acre Wood – Talk about a bears art and book study! What a favorite with Winnie the Pooh! This delightful homeschool nature study is all about Winnie The Pooh’s Hundred Acre Wood. It includes book references and online art lessons, perfect for the entire family.
Additional Animal and Nature Art Homeschool Resources
More adventures await us to complement our bears art and book study! Let’s step into the woods with Nana and see what other animals we can find. Do you have your binoculars? How about those colorful chalk pastels? You will need those rich colors for this animal adventure!
Here is a painting of a path with beautiful trees! I wonder where this path will lead us…..and what kind of creatures await us? To the Woods!
Let’s remember to look up into the trees! We might see a little owl or a tree frog.
Little Owl in a Tree
Red-eyed Tree Frog
Or a stunning Great Horned Owl staring right at us with those big, yellow eyes!
Those excited little learners sure think trees are magnificent! Nana paints a simple tree, perfect for those tiny hands to explore the world of chalk pastels.
Did you just see that fluffy, brown bunny hop by with the flower in its mouth? How wonderful it would be to paint her beautiful eyes and fluffy fur! Garden Bunny Clubhouse
I see a pond! What slow critter might we find there? I spy something with a hard shell! It’s a turtle calmly crawling through the tall grass!
Turtle Clubhouse
Pond
Wondering what kind of animals roam the lands of Africa? Grab your black, orange, and yellow chalk pastels. You might find a trumpeting elephant or a magnificent lion.
Animals of Africa
Map of Africa – Geography always pairs well with animal studies. See just where those land animals live!
Let’s make one more stop to the deep sea and visit a cute little baby seal pup!
Enjoy Art for Your Homeschool Family with You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse
Besides a bears art and book study, if you want to add more creative ways to learn in your homeschool, grab a You ARE An Artist membership. With over 800 art tutorials, you will never run out of exciting ways to add a bit of artistic fun to your homeschool.
Jamie is the author of A Brown Bear’s Language Arts Study, a literature-inspired homeschool mom of eight, and a former educator. She enjoys a bookshelf bursting with colorful picture books and children’s stories of all genres. Indulging in a read aloud with all of her children around her is one of Jamie’s favorite moments of her days. Be sure to find Jamie on Instagram and visit her blog, Treasuring the Tiny Moments Homeschool, to be encouraged by all her learning adventures with her wonderful family.
Discover the beauty of art and nature study in your homeschool and help your children explore the simple joys of the outdoors. There is so much to marvel about in God’s great creation!
**Don’t miss the giveaway at the end!
The Wonder Of Creation in Nature
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
Genesis 1:1
Though I have a degree in elementary education, I did not know what nature study was until we started homeschooling. If you are unfamiliar with the term, you probably wonder what it means and why it is important.
Nature study is quite simply observing and studying various aspects of nature. At times in our home, it is done in addition to a more formal science program. Other times (especially for young children), it is our only science program.
We know from Genesis that God created the whole world and gave us stewardship over the earth. Nature study allows my children to learn more about the plants and animals God created and helps point them back to the creator.
Children are naturally curious, and nature study is an excellent tool for learning more about the world around them.
Nature study looks different from home to home, child to child, and often year to year. It might be as simple as taking a walk through the woods and talking about what you saw. As children get older, you may add in resources to research what you find or choose specific topics of focus.
Some of you might be worried that you won’t know the answers to your children’s questions, but one of the great things about nature study is that you can learn together. You don’t have to know the names of all the birds; you get to learn alongside your children with field guides and other resources.
Using Art To Explore Nature In Your Homeschool
“We are all meant to be naturalists, each in his own degree, and it is inexcusable to live in a world so full of the marvels of plant and animal life and to care for none of these things.”
– Charlotte Mason
We love adding art to our nature study and find it is a great way to tie things together. Nature journaling is an integral part of helping students remember and share what they have learned. Sometimes, it can feel a bit overwhelming at first.
When I first started encouraging my children to draw what they saw on our hikes, they were resistant. They found it challenging to draw the plants and animals. However, I found that using art lessons to help us draw the different animals gave them confidence and added a bit of extra fun to our study.
At first, we would hike and observe and then go back home and choose an art lesson that represented something we had seen. However, over time, my children became more confident in drawing what they saw because of their skills.
For example, after drawing and painting several bird pictures, they had the confidence to begin drawing birds in their nature journals.
Another option we enjoy is to pick a new topic from our nature study curriculum and then find one of Nana’s art lessons to coordinate. Then we can start our study with a drawing. It is an excellent introduction to a new topic. Also, the art lessons are a fun way to add something to our journals that we cannot find locally.
Learning About Nature And Creation Through Art
Nana has many different nature courses that pair beautifully with nature study. My teenage daughter is enjoying the backyard birds acrylic lessons as we work our way through a nature study focused on birds.
There are even more ideas (and a couple of free art lessons) included in this Chalk Pastels Bird Study.
Some families love to study nature based on the seasons. They allow you to watch how things change over the year and helps you focus on what is available in your area during that time.
Nana has courses for each season that are a fantastic nature study supplement. You can draw frost and frozen lakes in the winter and then rainbows and bird nests in the spring. The fall pumpkin lesson is a family favorite!
Spring is fast approaching, and there is an excellent post with ideas on incorporating art in your spring-themed nature study!
Many other lessons tie in wonderfully, including a shark-themed course, a garden course, and my personal favorite, a seashore course. We live near the coast, so we love to study nature at the beach. However, if you live far from the coast, these art lessons will help you explore the seashore in your home.
Check out all of Nana’s nature-themed courses to see which ones will work best for your studies (or get access to them all with the Clubhouse Membership).
Additional Resources For Art And Nature Study In Your Homeschool
“Never be within doors when you can rightly be without.”
– Charlotte Mason
Though nature study is helpful for all ages, I find it especially important with young children. They thrive with the time outside to move and explore. Sometimes, I let them explore and let their natural curiosity lead our studies.
Other times, I appreciate having a plan and a guide to help us learn and grow together. These resources will help you find something that works well for your family and whatever style of nature study you choose.
The Ultimate Guide to Nature Study Resources is a great resource for finding materials that can help you get started on your nature study journey. There are many resources that will help you create a plan that works for your family and give you the tools to lead no matter your prior knowledge level.
This Seasonal Tree Study is a fun and simple way to combine art and nature study, and it is simple and easy to do right from your own home.
Chalk pastel nature journaling is a great way to get started recording what you learn. You ARE an ARTIST Clubhouse members also get a free nature observation printable that you can use with the nature journaling.
Finally, this is an excellent list of a variety of the best homeschool nature study resources. There are exciting options for every family.
Enjoy your time outside with your children, and let these resources help supplement and guide you in your study.
Nature Study and Art Giveaway!
This time of year the butterflies are out, and there’s a cool canopy of trees teeming with all sorts of plant and animal activity. We are blessed with so many beautiful details to study with our children as we enjoy the outdoors.
If you are looking for an engaging way to start the homeschool year, why not raise butterflies and enjoy some nature journaling? We have just the giveaway!
Here’s what’s included in this hands-on science and art prize pack:
A set of 12 NuPastels
A magnifying glass
A copy of the beautifully illustrated Out of School and Into Nature: The Anna Comstock Story. Read more about the book here.
An Insect Lore Butterfly Garden with a certificate for caterpillars (This is so much fun!)
A 24-piece set of insect life cycle figurines from Insect Lore
You may enter once per day. Entry closes at 11:59 p.m. on August 9, 2022. You must be over 18 years or old to enter. U.S. residents only. The email provided in the giveaway widget will be used to contact the winner.
Dawn is a passionate follower of Jesus, wife to Chris, and homeschool mom of four. In her spare time she loves to read, hike, and write on her blog Schoolin’ Swag. She enjoys reviewing curriculum and helping moms find the right fit for their family.
This delightful homeschool nature study is all about Winnie The Pooh’s Hundred Acre Wood. It includes book references and online art lessons, perfect for the entire family.
Winnie the Pooh: A Classic Read Aloud
“So they went off together. But wherever they go, and whatever happens to them on the way, in that enchanted place on the top of the Forest, a little boy and his Bear will always be playing.” A.A Milne The House at Pooh Corner, p. 180
A playful Roo,
A shy Piglet too.
A melancholy donkey,
It’s Eeyore, you see.
A Christopher Robin, the benevolent boy,
On the 100 Acre Wood with all of his toys.
And the poetic bear, who has a round tummy,
Gladly plays Pooh Sticks and loves to eat honey!
95 years later, that beloved bear, Winnie the Pooh, still lives on in the hearts and homes of many readers. Penned by the remarkable author, A.A. Milne, the Pooh stories leave a masterpiece of hilarity, childhood expression, and charm. Curious minds are invited deeper into the wholesome adventures of the 100 Acre Wood awakening a longing for the simple days. The tender wordplay sprinkled across these classic tales bring laughter and a light-hearted cheer. And while Milne’s whimsical talking animals stir a child’s wonder, the affectionate memories the famous bear brings, will stir a mother’s heart, forever.
Winnie the Pooh is 100 Years Old in 2021
In 1921, A.A Milne gave Winnie the Pooh to his son, Christopher Robin Milne for his first birthday. That makes Pooh Bear 100 years old! His first name was Edward Bear and then renamed after a black bear, Winnipeg, Winnie for short. Mr. Harry Colebourn, a veterinarian, purchased Winnie for twenty dollars while traveling to serve in World War 1. This black bear served as a mascot for the Canadian Army and was later rehomed at the London Zoo where Christopher Robin Milne visited. The name “Pooh” is said to be from a swan.
A.A. Milne’s inspiration for such winning stories about a melancholy donkey who once lost his tail, a dandelion-blowing Piglet, and a Tigger who loves a “golollop” of Strengthening Medicine is based on his one and only son, Christopher Robin Milne and his stuffed toys. Pooh’s endearing adventures have been translated into over fifty languages with more than 20 million copies sold! Winnie the Pooh and his friends, Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore, and Kanga live at the New York Public Library for all to see. This poetic bear devoted to honey, kindness, and gentle humor continues to fill the hearts of parents and children all over the world.
The Real 100 Acre Wood: A Homeschool Nature Study
Did you know that the 100 Acre Wood actually exists? It is nestled in Sussex, England, called Ashdown Forest. This spectacular forest dressed in heathland and trees is the place that brought inspiration for A.A Milne’s Pooh stories and the illustrations by Ernest H. Shepherd. Ashdown forest also homes many wildlife such as deer, birds, and butterflies. We tied in a bit of geography by locating Europe, the United Kingdom, London, and Sussex, England on a map. To see what the 100 Acre Wood is called in Ashdown Forest, visit Where Is The Hundred Acre Wood? Wonderopolis is kid-friendly, offers informational reading, rich vocabulary, and fun writing activities!
All the Winnie the Pooh FUN!
A Winnie The Pooh Hundred Acre Wood Homeschool Lessons
January 18th is Winnie the Pooh Day! It is also A.A. Milne’s birthday. Painting with Nana is the perfect way to honor the notable author and the famous Pooh Bear! Maybe baking a delicious Sweet Potato pie using Nana’s recipe will add a little extra sweetness to your art time and “delicious colors”. Chalk Pastel Art has always enhanced my children’s learning experiences. One of my absolute favorite ways to incorporate art with Nana is either right before a read aloud or right after. The artwork serves as wonderful visuals for oral narration, and they are so beautiful on our walls! Coupling living books with art is such an effective way to create a unit study with minimal prep. Let’s take a look at the engaging art lessons that sharpened my children’s creativity for our Winnie the Pooh unit study! All of these can be found in You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse Complete membership in Nana’s Literature course, which is a continuing series. The Hundred Acre Wood Map is included in the Maps section.
Pooh and the Honey Tree
Hundred Acre Wood Map
Home in the Tree
Teddy Bear Picnic
…And it was eleven o’ clock. Which was Time-for-a-little-something…”
Why not go on a picnic with Nana and a teddy bear? Grab your red gingham blanket, bring your favorite yummy snacks, maybe some “hunny”, a refreshing drink, and don’t forget those colorful chalk pastels! You will need those for this fun lesson! We joined two lovely picture books, Finding Winnie The True Story of the World’s Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick and Winnie The True Story of the Bear Who Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh by Salley M. Walker with Nana’s lesson. These picture books were loved by my younger and older children. While my three and four-year-olds loved the colorful illustrations, my older children enjoyed the inspiration behind Winnie the Pooh’s name. They were also fascinated with the real black and white photos, and the real black bear, Winnie.
Home in the Tree Homeschool Art Lesson
Aw, that beautiful beech tree where shy Piglet lives! Nana surely uses “delicious colors” in this lesson with the different shades of green, pinks and reds! I can just picture sweet Piglet hanging his clothes on the laundry line.
And that broken sign that reads, “Trespassers Will” brought a few befuddled looks and giggles in our household. We had to talk about how “Trespassers Will” was Piglet’s grandfather’s name, and Piglet’s grandfather had two names, just in case he lost one-at least that is what Piglet told Christopher Robin.
We coupled Piglet’s art lesson with a classic read aloud by , A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh. This book is a wonderful collection of short stories packed with adventures on the 100 Acre Wood! From Piglet ending up in Kanga’s pouch, to Piglet’s house being surrounded by water, Eeyore losing his tail, Pooh getting stuck at Rabbit’s house, and so much more!
Even the sweet, family dog can join in Winnie the Pooh art time!
The Hundred Acre Wood Map Art Lesson for Your Homeschool
Painting the Hundred Acre Wood map provided a perfect visual that satisfied my children’s curious minds while imagining Pooh’s fanciful adventures. This delightful art lesson complements both stories by A.A. Milne, The House at Pooh Corner and Winnie the Pooh.
Pooh and the Honey Tree Homeschool Lesson
We saved this painting for last! I wanted to save this one until we were all finished with our books so my children could really grasp Pooh’s character. By the time we finished the stories, my children couldn’t wait to paint this colorful classic with Nana!
“People say nothing is impossible. But I do nothing every day.”
Winnie the Pooh
Homeschool Literature Writing Prompts with Art Lessons!
Did you know that You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse members enjoy accompanying curriculum with Fast Facts, writing prompts and more?
Additional Nature Study Resources
Chalk Pastel Art offers so many additional nature study resources that pair well with Winnie the Pooh and the Hundred Acre Wood! Combine Nana’s art lesson, with a nature walk, a little bit of geography, a read aloud, and there you have it! A Pooh homeschool nature study hundred acre wood style! Check out the homeschool art lessons that are available!
The 100 Acre Wood is located on Ashdown Forest in Sussex, England, not too far from London. Ashdown forest houses many deer, birds, butterflies, and invertebrates! Enjoy art lessons with a forest theme:
Dandelion – that bright fluffy dandelion works amazingly for a Piglet character study!
Winnipeg was a black bear, check out Nana’s, “Nana and the Bear” lesson, not only to enjoy a cheerful painting of a black bear, but also to hear about the black bear who visited Nana’s backyard! Nana and the Bear
Nana and Tricia are BIG Winnie the Pooh fans. Tricia and her family got to see the Winnie the Pooh Art exhibit, the original stuffed animals, art by Ernest H. Shepherd and more on their trip to the High Museum of Art. You can see the photos here.
Harry Colebourn the man who purchased Winnie for $20.00 served in World War 1 with a very important job, taking care of the horses. Nana has a lesson on the helmets they wore during World War 1. War Helmets Clubhouse
For your Winnie the Pooh fan, you can take a deep dive and learn with all of Nana’s lessons – with a homeschool nature study hundred acre wood style, a literature focus or both! Chalk pastel art has been a wonderful addition to our homeschool learning. Our art time has benefited my son with learning differences.
Did you know that Nana also has Lord of the Rings, Little Women, Snowflake Bentley and more in the Literature Clubhouse course for her January Literature emphasis? What a joy to learn in a hands on way in your homeschool.
Jamie is the author of A Brown Bear’s Language Arts Study, a literature-inspired homeschool mom of eight, and a former educator. She enjoys a bookshelf bursting with colorful picture books and children’s stories of all genres. Indulging in a read aloud with all of her children around her is one of Jamie’s favorite moments of her days. Be sure to find Jamie on Instagram and visit her blog, Treasuring the Tiny Moments Homeschool, to be encouraged by all her learning adventures with her wonderful family.
Perfect for commemorating spring, Nana’s spring homeschool nature study with art explores all creatures great and small and all things bright and beautiful! These nature-inspired art lessons are easy and fun for the whole family!
Spring is in the air, folks! We are starting to see the first crocus pushing up through the cold earth and the first jonquils are starting to bud. Isn’t it exciting to witness the first peeks of spring?
All things bright and beautiful, All creatures great and small, All things wise and wonderful, The Lord God made them all.
Each little flower that opens, Each little bird that sings, He made their glowing colours, He made their tiny wings.
Cecil Frances Alexander
Spring Nature Study For Your Homeschool
These two stanzas of Cecil Frances Alexander’s hymn inspired our spring art celebration last week. Our winter has been so cold and grey, that we just couldn’t help diving into rich colors of pinks, purples, yellows, blues, and red! Does anyone else feel more invigorated when exploring worlds of color? My kids and I sure do!
We started by setting the table with a pot of hot tea and our teacups. I didn’t have it in me to bake this week and that’s where premade snack cakes come to the rescue!
We scattered our chalk pastels across the table and pulled up our Chalk Pastel Clubhouse Membership to see what Spring-themed lessons were available and holy cow were there a load of lessons to choose from!
That’s not all! Here were even more wonders of nature to explore with your chalk pastel lessons:
honey bees on sunflower
bunny
ladybug
caterpillar
the pond
turtle
bullfrog
dragonfly
water strider
beaver
rainbow trout
goose
owl
cardinal
goldfinch
hummingbird
chickadee
robin
sandpiper
bluebird
lamb
piglet
kitten
puppy
seal pup
baby bluebird
cow
baby owl
dinosaur
Plus, so much more!
Spring Art Teatime
We started our spring art celebration with a garden bunny because we often see a bunny in our front yard. My daughter loves to observe the little guy and now she has her own cottontail to hang on her bedroom wall. She even gave her bunny a garden with growing carrots and cabbages to enjoy! I love that Nana always reminds us that WE ARE the ARTISTS.
Creativity And Storytelling In Your Homeschool
Let your kiddos explore their creativity as much as they want with chalk pastels! Instead of a single jonquil in a vase, my daughter created a whole pitcher full of flowers! When we were drawing our long neck dinosaur, she was creating a whole Cretaceous time period scene in which there were Pteranodons and cliffs! Or how she painted a lovely firefly fairy queen instead of a plain firefly. Even her spring tree had the added bonus of a bird’s nest with a father and mother bird anxiously awaiting the hatching of their baby chicks. She told me these elaborate stories as she drew each unique painting, and I listened in wonder.
Through her art, she is also a storyteller!
Chalk Pastel Art for Kids
Chalk Pastels are so easy to use! All you need is a simple set of chalk pastels, a pack of construction paper, and Nana’s video art lessons. Make it a chalk pastel teatime treat if you like by setting the table with flowers and your favorite tea set. Keep a roll of paper towels handy as spills do happen. But the memories made will outlast any spill or smudge.
A Spring Homeschool Nature Study
Cecil Frances Alexander’s hymn reminded us of the wonders of nature, and all the beauty there is to be found. My children reminded me that art is a glorious way to celebrate any occasion including spring. Now, our refrigerator and bedroom walls are bursting with color and new life as we eagerly await the season of rebirth.
Nature Observation Homeschool Printable
A bonus for members to accompany all of Nana’s nature art lessons, perfect for your spring homeschool nature study.
Here is an educational resource and companion to our I Drew It Then I Knew It Series and nature art lessons. Our All Things Bright and Beautiful nature observation and investigation printable is a handy resource to accompany Nana’s nature art lessons and is a complement to your nature curriculum.
Erin is a writer, blogger, and homeschooler to two intense kids. Her blog is filled with information to help you explore a child led education while making meaningful connections with your children. Discover favorite read alouds, seasonal books, games, art projects, hands-on activities, and learn to just breathe through the ups and downs of life. She loves nature, farm life, good books, knitting, new pens, and hot coffee. Erin is a contributing writer for Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers. Her work has also been featured on Simple Homeschool and Book Shark.
Hoo hooo hooo’s ready to paint a cute little owl in the tree with Nana? Enjoy this sweet little owl video art lesson for your homeschool bird or nature study or as a fun, fall art lesson. You can also find this video featured in Jessica Waldock’s Morning Basket Group on Facebook too! It is easy and fun. And all you need are just a very few supplies.
Suggested owl video art lesson supplies: dark blue construction paper. Black and white chalk pastels. Baby wipes or damp paper towel for easy clean up. That’s all!
Little Owl Video Art Lesson for Homeschool
Join Nana as she leads you, step-by-step, in painting this sweet little owl in the tree – and a big, full moon in the evening sky!
Featuring You! You ARE an ARTiST!
Paint your little owl in the tree and be sure to share with us! Simply tag @chalkpastelart on Instagram, use the #YouAREanArtist hashtag, or upload a photo to the ChalkPastel.com Facebook page or email them to us right here via the chat box.
More Bird Art Lessons for Your Homeschool Nature Studies
Nana has a special place in her heart for backyard bird watching. Because of that, she has a continuing series of both bird chalk pastel and bird acrylic art lessons. Nana has a beautiful Great Horned Owl you can paint with her in her series of Bird Chalk Pastel Video Art Lessons.
This Little Owl is a wonderful companion lesson to Nana’s Bird and Bird Acrylic lessons in the You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse!
