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Nature Study & Journaling

Between global warming, holes in the ozone, and the pollution of our seas and rivers, maybe it is best to keep kids indoors and pacified in front of the television....but probably not. If these aren't real threats then there's nothing to protect our children (or ourselves) from, and if they are real threats—all the more reason to instill a love of nature in the younger generations.

Kids have an inclination toward exploration and learning. Allowing them to do so encourages not only active bodies and active minds, it fosters a healthy imagination and love of beauty. Charlotte Mason understood this over a century ago, and developed a system of education in which nature study played a prominent role. It is in nature, more than in the classroom or the rec room or even the library, that children best learn by observation, and this habit once formed will never disappear.

The often-referenced "childlike wonder" inherent in all of us from a young age (though modern society seems to be stamping it out quicker and more efficiently) isn't just some esoteric feeling of awe. It's literal wonder—kids wonder how birds fly, why their pet dog's fur falls out in summer, where ants go in the winter, why it gets colder and harder to breathe the higher you get. The less contact they have with the natural world, the less wonder they'll have; but the reverse is also true, and kids allowed to roam and explore the outdoors will develop a sense of inquisitiveness that can only help them in the so-called "real world."

Preparation for the Real World of modern myth often takes on peculiar guises. Children are snatched from the fields and streams and placed in front of computer screens or television sets. They are crowded into classrooms and made to feel good about the fact that they are learning nothing at the same rate as everyone around them. They are given plastic toys with supposed educational properties and made to "play" with them under close adult supervision.

Meanwhile, the real real world waits outside the walls and doors and windows with its fresh smells, its colors brighter and more unique than anything on HDTV or Blu-Ray, its real wind, and its endless mysteries. If you don't like answering questions, don't want your kids to grow or exercise, prefer fat and lazy to fit and intelligent offspring, by all means somberly prepare them for a life without questions, and consequently without answers. If you want children who will grown into thoughtful adults with a sense of the loveliness of Earth and their place in it, keeping them inside is possibly the most dangerous choice you can make on their behalf.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.
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79 Items found Print
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Active Filters: Science Picture Books, 2nd grade (Ages 7-8), Hardcover
Ancient Ones
by Barbara Bash
from Sierra Club Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Botany & Mycology (Location: SCI-BOT)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Baby Whale Sharp Ears
by John Y. Beaty, illustrated by Helene Carter
from J.B. Lippincott Co.
for 2nd-5th grade
in Vintage Science & Math (Location: VIN-SCI)
Bald Eagle
by Gordon Morrison
from Walter Lorraine Books
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Oversized Science Books (Location: SCI-OVER)
Bambi's Forest
by Joanne Ryder, illustrated by David Pacheco and Jesse Clay
1st edition from Disney Press
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Forests & Mountains (Location: SCI-FOREST)
$4.80 (1 in stock)
Beak Book
by Robin Page
from Beach Lane Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Birds (Location: SCI-BIRD)
$18.99
Beetle Is Shy
by Dianna Hutts Aston
from Chronicle Books
for 2nd-6th grade
in Nature Study & Journaling (Location: NAT-GEN)
$16.99
Big Red Kangaroo
by Claire Saxby, illustrated by Graham Byrne
from Candlewick Press
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Mammals (Location: SCI-MAM)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Biography of a Rhino
by Alice L. Hopf; illustrated by Kiyo Komoda
from G.P. Putnam's Sons
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Vintage Science & Math (Location: VIN-SCI)
$44.00 (1 in stock)
Black Bear Cub
Smithsonian Wild Heritage
by Alan Lind
from Soundprints
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Mammals (Location: SCI-MAM)
Butterflies and Moths
Golden Library of Knowledge
by Richard A. Martin
from Golden Press
for 1st-5th grade
in Vintage Science & Math (Location: VIN-SCI)
Butterfly Is Patient
by Dianna Hutts Aston
from Chronicle Books
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Nature Study & Journaling (Location: NAT-GEN)
$16.99 $10.00 (1 in stock)
Butterfly Is Patient
by Dianna Hutts Aston
from Chronicle Books
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Nature Study & Journaling (Location: NAT-GEN)
$8.99
Chipmunk at Hollow Tree Lane
Smithsonian's Backyard
by Victoria Sherrow, illustrated by Allen Davis
First Edition from Scholastic Inc.
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Mammals (Location: SCI-MAM)
Coral Reef Hideaway
Smithsonian Oceanic Collection
by Doe Boyle
1st edition from Soundprints
for 1st-4th grade
in Sharks & Fishes (Location: SCI-FISH)
Daylight Starlight Wildlife
by Wendell Minor
from Nancy Paulsen Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Zoology (Location: SCI-ZOOL)
$9.00 (1 in stock)
Daytime Nighttime All Through the Year
by Diane Lang, illustrated by Andrea Gabriel
from Dawn Publications
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Nature Study & Journaling (Location: NAT-GEN)
Dinosaurs by Design
by Duane Gish
from Master Books
for 2nd-6th grade
in Dinosaurs & Fossils (Location: SCI-DINO)
$14.39
Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins
by Barbara Kerley
from Scholastic Inc.
for Preschool-3rd Grade
2002 Caldecott Honor Book, NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book
in Oversized Picture Books (Location: PIC-OVER)
$16.99
Disguises and Surprises
Supersmarts
by Claire Llewellyn
from Candlewick Press
for 2nd-5th grade
in Zoology (Location: SCI-ZOOL)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Egg Is Quiet
by Dianna Hutts Aston
Library Binding from Chronicle Books
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Nature Study & Journaling (Location: NAT-GEN)
Elephants of Africa
by Gail Gibbons
from Holiday House
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Mammals (Location: SCI-MAM)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Extraordinary Life
by Laurence Pringle, illustrated by Bob Marstall
from Orchard Books
for 2nd-6th grade
1998 NCTE Orbis Pictus Award
in Insects & Arachnids (Location: SCI-BUG)
Fall Walk
by Virginia Brimhall Snow
from Gibbs M. Smith
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Nature Study & Journaling (Location: NAT-GEN)
Flowers are Calling
by Rita Gray, illustrated by Kenard Pak
from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Botany & Mycology (Location: SCI-BOT)
Forest
Our Changing World
by David Bellamy, illustrated by Jill Dow
from Clarkson Potter Publishers
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Forests & Mountains (Location: SCI-FOREST)
Fungus is Among Us!
by Joy Keller, illustrated by Erica Salcedo
from The Innovation Press
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Botany & Mycology (Location: SCI-BOT)
$7.00 (1 in stock)
Giraffe: A Living Tower
by Christine and Michel Denis-Huot
from Reader's Digest Young Families
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Mammals (Location: SCI-MAM)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Great Kapok Tree
by Lynne Cherry
from Harcourt Children's Books
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
Grizzly Bears
by Gail Gibbons
from Holiday House
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Mammals (Location: SCI-MAM)
Honeybee
by Kirsten Hall, illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault
from Atheneum
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Insects & Arachnids (Location: SCI-BUG)
Humongous Fungus
by Lynne Boddy, illustrated by Wenjia Tang
from DK Publishing
for 2nd-4th grade
in Botany & Mycology (Location: SCI-BOT)
Into the Forest
by Christiane Dorion, illustrated by Jane McGuinness
from Bloomsbury Publishing
for 2nd-4th grade
in Oversized Science Books (Location: SCI-OVER)
$14.00 (1 in stock)
Introduction to Wild Flowers
by John Kieran, illustrated by Tabea Hofmann
1st edition from Doubleday & Company
for 1st-4th grade
in Vintage Science & Math (Location: VIN-SCI)
Jumper: A Day in the Life of a Backyard Jumping Spider
by Jessica Lanan
from Roaring Brook Press
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Insects & Arachnids (Location: SCI-BUG)
$19.99
Little Walrus Warning
Smithsonian Oceanic Collection
by Carol Young
First Edition from Soundprints
for 2nd-5th grade
in Mammals (Location: SCI-MAM)
Little Whale
by Ann McGovern, illustrated by John Hamberger
from Four Winds Press
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Whales & Dolphins (Location: SCI-OCEAN)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Living Fossils
by Caroline Arnold, illustrated by Andrew Plant
from Charlesbridge
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Dinosaurs & Fossils (Location: SCI-DINO)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Look to the North
by Jean Craighead George, illustrated by Lucia Washburn
from HarperCollins
for Nursery-2nd grade
in Dog Books (Location: SCI-MAMDOG)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Lucky Porcupine
by Miriam Schlein, illustrated by Martha Weston
from Four Winds Press
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Zoology (Location: SCI-ZOOL)
Miles and Miles of Reptiles
by Tish Rabe
from Random House Books for Young Readers
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Cat in the Hat's Learning Library (Location: EAR-CAT)
$3.60 (1 in stock)
Nature All Around: Plants
by Pamela Hickman, illustrated by Carolyn Gavin
from Kids Can Press
for 2nd-5th grade
in Botany & Mycology (Location: SCI-BOT)
Nest Full of Eggs
by Priscilla Belz Jenkins
from HarperCollins
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Birds (Location: SCI-BIRD)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Nest Is Noisy
by Dianna Hutts Aston
from Chronicle Books
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Nature Study & Journaling (Location: NAT-GEN)
$18.99
Noah's Ark and the Ararat Adventure
by John D. Morris
from Master Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Worldview & Apologetics for Kids (Location: BIBWV-APK)
Now I Know All About Seeds
by Susan Kuchalla, illustrated by Jane McBee
from Troll Associates
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Botany & Mycology (Location: SCI-BOT)
One Small Square: Woods
One Small Square
by Donald Silver, Patricia Wynne
1st edition from W. H. Freeman and Company
for 1st-3rd grade
in One Small Square (Location: SCI-1SS)
Over and Under the Canyon
by Kate Messner
from Chronicle Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Oversized Science Books (Location: SCI-OVER)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Over and Under the Pond
by Kate Messner
from Chronicle Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Oversized Science Books (Location: SCI-OVER)
Over and Under the Rainforest
by Kate Messner
from Chronicle Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Oversized Science Books (Location: SCI-OVER)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Owls
by Gail Gibbons
from Holiday House
for 1st-3rd grade
in Birds (Location: SCI-BIRD)
Pelican's Catch
Smithsonian Oceanic Collection
by Janet Halfmann
1st edition from Soundprints
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Birds (Location: SCI-BIRD)
Pigs
by Gail Gibbons
from Holiday House
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Mammals (Location: SCI-MAM)
Prairie Dog Town
Smithsonian Wild Heritage Collection
by Bettye Rogers, illustrated by Deborah Howland
from Trudy Corporation
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Mammals (Location: SCI-MAM)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Rabbits, Rabbits, & MORE Rabbits!
by Gail Gibbons
from Holiday House
for 1st-4th grade
in Mammals (Location: SCI-MAM)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
River Ran Wild
by Lynne Cherry
from Harcourt
for Preschool-3rd Grade
in River, Pond & Swamp (Location: SCI-ECO)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Rock is Lively OSI
by Dianna Hutts Aston
First Edition from Chronicle Books
for 2nd-6th grade
in Nature Study & Journaling (Location: NAT-GEN)
Sally's Caterpillar
by Anne and Harlow Rockwell
from Parents Magazine Press
for 1st-3rd grade
in Vintage Science & Math (Location: VIN-SCI)
Sea Turtle Journey
Smithsonian Oceanic Collection
by Lorraine A. Jay
1st edition from Soundprints
for 1st-4th grade
in Reptiles & Amphibians (Location: SCI-REPT)
Seahorse Reef
Smithsonian Oceanic Collection
by Sally M. Walker, illustrated by Steven James Petruccio
from Soundprints
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Alphabet & Counting Books (Location: PIC-ALPH)
Secrets of the Forest
by Alicia Klepeis, illustrated by Kristen Adam
from Neon Squid
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Nature Study & Journaling (Location: NAT-GEN)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Seed Is Sleepy
by Dianna Hutts Aston, Sylvia Long
1st edition from Chronicle Books
for 2nd-6th grade
in Nature Study & Journaling (Location: NAT-GEN)
$16.99
Shine-A-Light: Secrets of Animal Camouflage
Shine-A-Light
by Carron Brown and Illustrated by Wesley Robins
from Kane Miller
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Zoology (Location: SCI-ZOOL)
$7.00 (1 in stock)
Shine-A-Light: Secrets of Our Earth
Shine-A-Light
by Carron Brown and Illustrated by Wesley Robins
from Kane Miller
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Earth Science (Location: SCI-EARTH)
$7.00 (1 in stock)
Shine-A-Light: Secrets of the Seashore
Shine-A-Light
by Carron Brown & Alyssa Nassner
from Kane Miller
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Seashore & Tidepools (Location: SCI-ECO)
$7.00 (2 in stock)
Skunk At Hemlock Circle
Smithsonian's Backyard
by Victoria Sherrow
from Soundprints
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
Song of the Water Boatman & Other Pond Poems
by Joyce Sidman
from HMH Books for Young Readers
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
2006 Caldecott Honor Book
in Poetry for Children (Location: POET-CHIL)
Spring Walk
by Virginia Brimhall Snow
from Gibbs M. Smith
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Nature Study & Journaling (Location: NAT-GEN)
Summer Walk
by Virginia Brimhall Snow
from Gibbs M. Smith
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Nature Study & Journaling (Location: NAT-GEN)
Swordfish Returns
Smithsonian Oceanic Collection
by Susan Korman, illustrated by Daniel J. Stegos
from Soundprints
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Oceanography & Marine Biology (Location: SCI-OCEAN)
$7.00 (1 in stock)
Teddy Roosevelt's Elk
from Henry Holt and Company
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Mammals (Location: SCI-MAM)
Tiger Trail
by Kay Winters, illustrated by Laura Regan
from Simon and Schuster
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Mammals (Location: SCI-MAM)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt
by Kate Messner
from Chronicle Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Oversized Science Books (Location: SCI-OVER)
We Are Branches
by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Beth Krommes
from Clarion Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Nature Study & Journaling (Location: NAT-GEN)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Welcome to the River of Grass
by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Laura Regan
Stated First Impression from G.P. Putnam's Sons
for Preschool-2nd grade
in River, Pond & Swamp (Location: SCI-ECO)
$7.00 (1 in stock)
Why Do Birds Build Nests?
Miracle of Creation
by Susan Horner
from Moody Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Birds (Location: SCI-BIRD)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Why Do Plants Grow?
Miracles of Creation
by Susan Horner, illustrated by Nancy Munger
from Moody Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Botany & Mycology (Location: SCI-BOT)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Wild and Swampy
by Jim Arnosky
from HarperCollins
for 1st-5th grade
2001 NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book
in River, Pond & Swamp (Location: SCI-ECO)
Winter Walk
by Virginia Brimhall Snow
from Gibbs M. Smith
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Nature Study & Journaling (Location: NAT-GEN)
Wonder of Animals
by Kathleen N. Daly, illustrated by Tim and Greg Hildebrandt
from Golden Press
for 1st-3rd grade
in Zoology (Location: SCI-ZOOL)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
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