Another book I love to use is Anna Botsford Comstock's Handbook of Nature Study. Over four years ago we started doing nature studies and right here in our neighborhood we have a pond. It has been a great source of pleasure and learning for all of us. Our very first lesson was about cattails. We learned all about them and interestingly, cattails will inevitably be the downfall of a pond. They will suck a pond dry and in our climate with not much rain, this pond is slowly losing its water. It's quite sad. We have had some great discoveries here and have seen so many birds. Here's how the pond looks as it is slowly dying. This picture is taken from the other side of the pond where you can now walk on what was once the bottom of the pond.
We have nesting red-winged blackbirds, the sparrows come out every spring, and there's ducks galore; it's also been a layover spot for migrating great blue herons and ibises. We have loved this natural little spot and it's really hard to watch it dry up. What's been awesome though is that we knew this would happen because we studied it!!! If you're looking to beef up your nature studies, I highly recommend this book. Enjoy nature and be blessed by your surroundings! Your children will love it! They will learn the cycles of life and death and become acquainted with all sorts of critters. It truly is a beautiful learning experience and is what a memorable childhood is all about! Blessings with your study of nature!
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