I often get asked how we do nature study. In my previous post, I shared three simple steps to incorporate nature study into your homeschool day. Because there will always be gaps in a child’s education, teaching them how to learn is so much more important than what they learn. Research skills are vital for success, and nature study is the perfect way to teach these skills.
Today, I’m going to share some recommended resources for researching nature finds. Some of these are region-specific and others are applicable to all of North America. Almost all of them are ones we have and use, although a couple of them are still on our wishlist. I’ve divided them up by subject of study.
General Reference:
Birds:
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Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Eastern and Central North America, Sixth Edition |
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Peterson First Guide to Birds |
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Birds, Nests and Eggs |
- Sibley Guide to Birds of Eastern North America
- Sibley Backyard Birding Flashcards
- Bird Feathers: A Guide to North American Species
- Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of North American Birds
The resource our family uses most of all is the free Merlin Bird ID app. You don’t need data or WiFi in order to use it, which makes it perfect for on-the-go bird identification.
Insects:
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Simon & Schuster Children’s Guide to Insects and Spiders |
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National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders |
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The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Butterflies |
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Caterpillars, Bugs and Butterflies |
- Insects: Their Natural History and Diversity
- Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America
Mammals, Reptiles and Amphibians:
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National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mammals, Revised |
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Rabbits, Squirrels and Chipmunks, softcover edition |
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National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians |
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Snakes, Salamanders and Lizards |
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Frogs, Toads and Turtles |
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Familiar Animal Tracks of North America |
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Tracks, Scats and Signs |
- Animal Tracks of Ontario
- And for take-along, this Quick Reference to Animal Tracks of Ontario and Eastern Canada is fantastic.
Trees, Plants and Fungi:
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Trees, Leaves and Bark |
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Berries, Nuts and Seeds |
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Wildflowers, Blooms and Blossoms |
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Peterson Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants |
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Peterson Field Guide to Mushrooms |
- Mushrooms of Ontario and Eastern Canada
- National Audubon Society Field Guide to Trees: Eastern Region
Rocks, Minerals, Fossils and Shells:
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Peterson Field Guide to Rocks & Minerals Fifth Edition |
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National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Rocks and Minerals |
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National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Fossils |
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Seashells, Crabs and Sea Stars |
Habitat Studies:
- One Small Square: Woods
- One Small Square: Backyard
- One Small Square: Pond
- One Small Square: Seashore
- One Small Square: Cave
- One Small Square: Arctic Tundra
- One Small Square: Swamp
- One Small Square: Coral Reef
- One Small Square: Tropical Rainforest
- One Small Square: African Savanna
The One Small Square series is our favourite series for nature study from within the confines of our own home. We supplement with real plants, shells, skeletons and other specimens that are gifted or purchased to bring these studies to life.
Astronomy:
Star Walk 2 is a wonderful guide to planets and constellations. It’s a free app that doesn’t require data or WiFi, which means that you can use it anywhere. It shows you the sky in real time, which means that you can point it at any star in the night sky and it will identify it for you.
Other Great Books:
- The Burgess Animal Book for Children
- Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World
- Be A Wilderness Detective
- The Nature Connection: An Outdoor Workbook for Kids, Families and Classrooms
- It’s a Jungle Out There! 52 Nature Adventures for City Kids
- Sharing Nature With Children
- The Kids Cottage Book
- The Kids Winter Cottage Book
- The Kids Campfire Book
All opinions in this post are my own, and these are all books we love. Please note, however, that as an affiliate of The Christianbook Group, some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means that, should you click on a link and purchase a product, I will earn a small commission at absolutely no cost to you.
