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. 

Day 7 - NATURE CONVERSATIONS

TREES

1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.  Psalm 1:1-3

Spring is a time of new growth. It's also the rainy season, at least for us here in Texas. Water allows the trees to grow. Here the Scripture paints imagery of a tree in its prime, not withering from the heat, but blossoming because it has plenty of water. The imagery points us not just to nature, but to the blossoming believer in God - to the one who is delighting in God's Word.

NATURE CONVERSATION

Notice the trees.  Point out changes in seasons and how this affects the trees.  What is blooming right now?  What will bloom next?  When I was in school, I was too busy to notice nature, but as an adult, being outside with my kids, I look for those changes and look forward to what's next.  The wisteria blooms in March, then all the wildflowers (Indian paintbrush, bluebonnet, butter cup) in April.  Next come the roses.  I look forward to the Crepe Myrtles blooming in June.  

Find trees or other plant life blossoming because it is well watered.  Let the picture sink in as you go over Psalm 1 together.  If you continue on in Psalm 1, it gives the imagery that the wicked are the opposite of the righteous.  Those following the ways of the world and not the ways of God's word are like the chaff that the wind drives away.  The chaff is the part of the wheat plant that is so light, it blows away when tossed in the air.  It is not like a tree, well-rooted and well-watered.  For an illustration, find some cut, dry grass (hay) and toss it into the wind, to be blown away.  

NATURE JOURNALING

• Sketch trees or leaves in your journal.
• Consider doing a chalk drawing.
• Collect and press leaves to be added to your journal.
• Take note of the animal life in the trees.  Maybe squirrels or a birds nest.  Maybe caterpillar eggs or cocoons.  There have even been bats in our neighborhood.
• Take note of trees or other plants that need some extra care.  Water them. Find other ways to nurse them back to health.
• Take samples of bark, flowers, seed pods or make note of them in your journal.
• Spend time reflecting on the One who made the trees.

NATURE STUDY

• Identify types of trees in your area. What trees grow well in your area? What trees don't?
• Plant a tree of shrub. Watch it grow over time. Take care of it.
• Observe trees near a good water source (growing along a creek, river or pond) and those not well watered.  What observations can you make?
• Get a book on trees.

Day 6 NATURE CONVERSATIONS

BIRDS

26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? Matthew 6:26-27

NATURE CONVERSATION

For weeks, my daughters and I went outside about forty minutes before sunset and watched what we called "the evening migration." Every night hundreds of birds would fly toward the sun - sometimes overhead, sometimes a bit south of us. We looked forward to it every night. In fact, my oldest daughter even choice this as one of her essay topics for our co-op class.

Get outside and notice the birds. Allow the kids to spend time observing with some of the journaling activities. Then, read a few more Scriptures about birds. Here are a few suggestions:

• Psalm 104:10-18
• Matthew 10:28-30
• Ezekiel 17:22-24
• Matthew 8:20

Also consider singing a hymn that mentions creation, such as "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee," or "How Great Thou Art." Another hymn is "His Eye Is on the Sparrow."

NATURE JOURNALING

• Notice the birds. Jesus even commands, "Look at the birds." 
• Listen to the birds.  
• Record types of birds and where they go. Are they in the trees? Are they on the ground? Are they migrating?
• Sketch some birds or their nests.

NATURE STUDY

• Research what may attract differing birds to your backyard. (Flowers, a bird bath, bird feeders, etc)
• Identify and learn about types of birds. Apologia Science is a great resource.
• Check out The Homeschool Scientist for additional resources.

COLORES

Here is a video to learn the colors in Spanish.

It is to the tune of "Ants Go Marching."

Day 5 NATURE CONVERSATION

SHADOWS

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17

Maybe the words of the hymn "Great is Thy Faithfulness" is familiar to you. A line from this amazing hymn comes from James 1:17. "There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not; Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me."

NATURE CONVERSATION

Begin with some observations about shadows and how they change.  See the journaling and study section for some ideas. Then, read the verse and/or sing the hymn.  Question: Do the shadows change? How and why do the shadows change?  Does God change?

NATURE JOURNALING

• Keep a record of shadows and how they change throughout the day.  You might mark with sidewalk chalk your own shadow at different times during the day.  You could also mark where your house or trees make shade and how that changes throughout the day.
• Draw pictures with shadows - a shadow of yourself or of a tree.
• Enjoy time in the shade.

NATURE STUDY

Make a sundial.  The shadow tells what time of day it is.  The sun marks time for us.  God created the sun, moon and stars on the fourth day to measure days and months and seasons. 

BONUS SCRIPTURE

2 Kings 20:1-11  See how God moved the shadows.
Joshua 10:12-14  See what happened to the sun.

SCRIPTURE IN SPANISH

Here is Ephesians 6:1, in English, Sign Language and Spanish.

I hope that the Sign Language helps you learn the Spanish.

Ephesians 6:1 KJV "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right."

Efesios 6:1 NVI  "Hijos, obedezcan en el Señor a sus padres, porque esto es justo." 

Sign Language Guide

• children - move your hands in front of you, as if patting children on the head
• obey - start with fists at forehead and throw your hands down toward the left, opening your fists as you move your hands away from your body
• parents - sign for father and mother
• Lord - the sign for God, which is a flat, vertical righ hand, facing left, going down vertically in front of your face
• father - five hand on forehead
• mother - five hand on chin
• right - cross wrists in front of you, with fingers pointing out

Day 4 - NATURE CONVERSATIONS

WEATHER - STORMS

24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea… 26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”  

Matthew 8:24, 26-27

It's tornado season around here. We've seen the power of these storms lately. But the Lord is God and He has power over these storms. A few years ago, there were 19 tornadoes in the DFW area in one day. There was damage, but not one life was lost that night. I was struck by the power and mercy of God in one event.

NATURE CONVERSATION

With all the science and technology of modern times, humans cannot control the weather and are limited in the ability to predict the weather. God alone controls the weather and in the passage above, Jesus is confirmed as the Son of God by his authority over the wind and waves.

Remind your kids that God is in control. Seek Him for protection in the storms.

NATURE JOURNALING

• Write your thoughts and feelings on a stormy day.
• Do a chalk drawing of storm clouds.
• Observe the effects of a storm - broken branches, leaves blown, flooding, etc.

NATURE STUDY

Learn about weather.

• http://www.weatherforkids.org/
• http://www.weatherwizkids.com/
• Lesson Plan for Weather Study

Record aspects of the weather - be a meterologist.  Record rain, using a rain gauge.  Record the direction and speed of the wind.  Record humidity and temperature.