Nature study seems like a great idea in summer, autumn, and spring, but what about winter? You may think it’s too cold to brave the outdoors, but once you know what to look for, you’ll love doing nature study with your kids in winter. Here are a few ideas to help you get started:
How to do nature study in winter
- Keep a weather calendar
The winter months are full of beautiful surprises when it comes to the weather. Let your kids start a weather calendar to keep track of any changes or interesting appearances.
- Watch birds
You may think that you won’t see many birds around during winter, but you will be amazed at the number of visitors you get soon after putting up a bird feeder.
- Watch the trees
Many trees lose their leaves during the colder months. Ask your kids to spot some of them in your backyard. They can also take pictures or make drawings of the trees for their nature study journals.
- Learn about snow
Of course, winter is a great time to go watch the snow! If it doesn’t snow in your area, find out where you can go for a day trip with your kids. They can try to catch snowflakes or try to draw them in their journals.
- Try to spot animals hunting for food
During winter, many animals hibernate, but some creatures may come out to stock up on food. Go for a walk in a park close to your home and try to see which animals are out and about.
- Have a scavenger hunt
Every season has its own unique treasures in nature. Go on a scavenger hunt with your kids in the park or your backyard and collect leaves, flowers, rocks, barks, or anything else that may be unique to winter.
Doing nature study in the cold may not seem like a great idea at first. However, if you make sure you are warm and comfortable, it can be a fun experience and you can spot many interesting things outside!
If you would like to try nature study with your kid, check our free nature study resources for free download to help you to get started on your journey and check https://ourjourneywestward.com/downloads/coping-with-the-cold/ to learn how animals prepare for and survive the winter season by learning about adaptations, migration, and hibernation through a huge selection of outdoor and indoor nature study ideas!
