Day 8 - NATURE CONVERSATIONS

ANIMAL/HUMAN INTERACTION

2 The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered. 3 Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. Genesis 9:2-3


Why can't I ever catch that bird? Why do the squirrels always run for me? Even the rabbits in the woods behind our house won't come near. There is a biblical principle here, found in Genesis. Animals were not always afraid of humans. This is yet another aspect of creation affected by sin.

NATURE CONVERSATION

When your children are trying to catch insects or chase after a bird, there is an opportunity to point them to Scripture and to the Biblical principles that animals fear human as a result of the flood, as a result of sin. Ant bites, wasp stings, mosquito bites are all results of a fallen creation.

Here also in the Scripture, God gives man the right to eat meat. It is a gift, but it was not something needed in the pre-flood world. Eventually, God will restore everything, but that's a post for another day.

NATURE JOURNALING

• Watch wild animals or insects or birds.
• Draw or take pictures of animals.  You can use the Draw Write Now books to help you get started. These also have pictures of habitats.
• Enjoy your animals that are not wild, that do not live in fear of humans.
• Write about animals, a story or poem.  Write down observations about animals.
• When on a nature walk, look for signs that animals have been there: tracks, animal droppings, burrows, nests, etc.

NATURE STUDY

• Study animals and their habitats.
• Study nutrition science. What nutrients does meat provide? How does the human digestive system differ from herbivores?  
• Study the food chain.  One resource might be Magic School Bus Gets Eaten. (Available on Netflix)  or Planet Earth.