"....Your children shall be like olive plants all around your table." Psalm 128:3

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Nature Study - Natty and Her Butterflies

We have been having alot of activity around our Butterfly Bush lately. Butterflies of different colors and sizes have been stopping by for a visit. All of us have been enjoying watching these beautiful creatures,






but Natty, in particular, seemed especially interested in them. She began catching them in a net and looking them up in our butterfly field guide to identify them. The other children got in on it, too, by looking outside and letting her know when they spotted a species she hadn't identified yet.  It became a family activity!  :)


Next, she wrote down her discoveries in a notebook: the date, the species, and the location.

Then, she sketched several of the species in her new Nature journal.




By the way, her butterfly study continues: she is filling up her notebook and can identify virtually every species that she sees!  :)

Now some people might  think all this independent Nature study is no big deal, but I do.  Why? Because I am seeing some of the fruit of a Charlotte Mason education. Stopping, observing, sketching  - in a word: keeping. Natty will always remember these days of catching, identifying, and sketching her butterflies. And I will always remember the thrill of watching her and thanking the Lord for leading us to the CM philosophy of education.

"Let them once get in touch with Nature, and a habit is formed which will be a source of delight through life. We were all meant to be naturalists, each in his 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."
~ CM Series, Volume 1, page 61

sharing with Celeste (Keeping Company)

20 comments:

  1. Her pictures are lovely! I love butterflies and I love that quote.

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    1. Thanks, Angela. I love butterflies, too. :)

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  2. Wow, that is awesome! She is doing a fantastic job with those butterflies! And y'all really are seeing so many different species.

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  3. Thanks, Kristyn. It has been such a joy to see how much Natty is enjoying this. :)

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  4. "Now some people might think all this independent Nature study is no big deal, but I do. Why? Because I am seeing some of the fruit of a Charlotte Mason education. Stopping, observing, sketching - in a word: keeping. Natty will always remember these days of catching, identifying, and sketching her butterflies. And I will always remember the thrill of watching her and thanking the Lord for leading us to the CM philosophy of education." << I just love this and I totally agree with you about the importance of these special, independent pursuits.

    I always have trouble drawing butterflies because of the symmetry--but hers are just lovely.

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    1. I have the same symmetry problem, Celeste. I had trouble getting my sketch of the Polyphemus moth symmetrical and had to erase many times. My artsy hubby finally stepped in and gave me some pointers. :)

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  5. 'We are all meant to be naturalist' love that. Dd called me outside this morning to see five King Parrots feeding off our lilypilli tree while she took about 50 photos with my phone. So good to see the budding naturalists!

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    1. I agree, Carol....it's a wonderful encouragement to see the CM philosophy at work. :)

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  6. I've always admired so many beautiful butterflies and I think what your daughter is learning and sketching is truly wonderful. It's also a fun and creative way to learn.

    Have a lovely weekend... :)

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    1. So good to hear from you, Dee. Hope you have a womderful.week-end, too. :)

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  7. I love that quote from Charlotte Mason too and we too are experiencing such joy from our nature study. Beautiful pictures and amazing butterflies. I know so few!

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    1. So nice to "meet" you, Lucy. It is always encouraging to meet another CM mom. :)
      I hope to head over and visit your blog later today. And I will have to add it to my sidebar. :)
      Thanks for stopping by. Have a marvelous Monday!

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  8. Love her drawings!!! Great post!

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  9. WOW! Her pictures are wonderful! :) And I agree with you--she'll always remember this and I, too, am SO thankful for a CM education. :)

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  10. This is so awesome. I'm going to show my son. He nature notebooks constantly and will be so inspired!

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  11. Nice to "meet" you, Barbara, and thanks for stopping by. Heading over to visit your blog and I will be adding yours to my sidebar. :)
    Have a blessed week!

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  12. Her journal entries are beautiful, but even more beautiful is her initiative.

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    1. I agree, Heather. Her self-motivation was the most important thing.

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Thanks so much for stopping by. I love to hear from my readers, and your thoughts are welcome. And I try my best to respond to each and every comment. :)